What’s next after a united Africa? Enhancing the AU-African Civil Society Relationship

Main Article Content

Alfred Oduro University of Toronto image/svg+xml

Keywords

African civil society, the African Union, Organization of African Unity, Pan Africanism, Africa’s global governance, AU regional norms

Abstract

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) provided a foundation for African state leaders to officially unite and collectively pursue a common interest in African independence. Subsequently, the African Union (AU) replaced the OAU with a similar vision of advancing an integrated Africa that is more prosperous, peaceful, and driven by its own people in the global arena. Despite its aspiration to maintain the African Unity agenda, the AU requires a more inclusive and cooperative approach to African regional governance, one that is based on the active participation of African civil society in its decision-making processes. This paper challenges the state-centred approach to African regional governance that has hitherto existed in the OAU by exploring how the AU can effectively engage its non-state actors, especially African civil society and NGOs, in enhancing global governance in Africa. It argues that while the creation of a globally recognised institution, such as the AU, continues to unite African states in building a common interest for the continent, the idea of enhancing the AU’s relationship with African civil society groups is essential for promoting cooperation and global governance in Africa. 

Abstract | PDF Downloads

References

Abegunrin, Olayiwola. “From Organisation of African Unity to African Union.” In Africa in Global Politics in the Twenty-First Century: A Panafrican Perspective, pp. 141-172. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230623903_8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230623903_8

Ackah, William B. Africanism: Exploring the contradictions: Politics, identity and development in Africa and the African Diaspora. Routledge, 2016. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315247410 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315247410

Adejumobi, Said. “Regional initiatives on governance in Africa: ECA, AU, and ECOWAS interventions.” The African Union and New Strategies for Development in Africa (2009).

African Union, Vision and Mission, https://au.int/en/about/vision (2024)

AfriMAP. Towards a people-driven African Union: Current obstacles and new opportunities. African Books Collective, 2007.

Agupusi, Patricia. “The African Union and the path to an African Renaissance.” Journal of Contemporary African Studies 39, no. 2 (2021): 261-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2021.1874611 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2021.1874611

Ahmed, Shamima. “The Impact of NGOS on International Organisations: complexities and considerations.” Brook. J. Int’l L. 36 (2010): 817.

Ani, Ndubuisi Christian. “Three schools of thought on ‘African solutions to African problems’.” Journal of Black Studies 50, no. 2 (2019): 135-155. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934718819409 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934718819409

Armstrong, David, Valeria Bello, Julie Gilson, and Debora Spini. “Civil society and international governance: the role of non-state actors in global and regional regulatory frameworks.” (2011): XII-204. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203840054 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203840054

Arts, Bas. “The global-local nexus: NGOs and the articulation of scale.” Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 95, no. 5 (2004): 498-510. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0040-747X.2004.00335.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0040-747X.2004.00335.x

Arts, Bas. “Non-state actors in global environmental governance: New arrangements beyond the state.” New modes of governance in the global system: Exploring publicness, delegation and inclusiveness (2006): 177-200. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230372887_8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230372887_8

Auwal, Abdulmalik, and Moses T. Aluaigba. “Civil Society and Arms Control in Africa.” The Palgrave Handbook of Small Arms and Conflicts in Africa (2021): 501-515. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62183-4_24 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62183-4_24

Bach, Daniel. Regionalism in Africa: Genealogies, institutions and trans-state networks. Routledge, 2015.

Bareebe, Gerald: “Developing (and Diffusing) African Norms: The Pan-African Solidarity Norm” in: Katharina P. Coleman and Tieku K. Thomas (eds.) African Impacts on Contemporary International Peace and Security Norms: Five Pathways of Influence, pp.73-91. Boulder, CO. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781626377295-007

Barnett, Michael N., and Martha Finnemore. “The politics, power, and pathologies of international organisations.” International organisation 53, no. 4 (1999): 699-732. https://doi.org/10.1162/002081899551048 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/002081899551048

Bekele, Eskedar A. “Implications of ECOSOCC’s mandate for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa: inquiry into the relationship between ECOSOCC and the human rights organs of the African Union.” Master’s thesis, University of Pretoria (South Africa), 2006.

Beswick, Danielle, and Anne Hammerstad. “African agency in a changing security environment: sources, opportunities and challenges.” Conflict, Security & Development 13, no. 5 (2013): 471-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2013.849470 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2013.849470

Betsill, Michele M., and Elisabeth Corell. “NGO influence in international environmental negotiations: a framework for analysis.” Global environmental politics 1, no. 4 (2001): 65-85. https://doi.org/10.1162/152638001317146372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/152638001317146372

Bernstein, Steven. “Legitimacy in intergovernmental and non-state global governance.” Review of international political economy 18, no. 1 (2011): 17-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/09692290903173087 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09692290903173087

Biermann, Frank, Norichika Kanie, and Rakhyun E. Kim. “Global governance by goal-setting: the novel approach of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 26 (2017): 26-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2017.01.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2017.01.010

Bischoff, Paul-Henri. “The politics of regional integration in Africa.” In the Oxford research encyclopedia of international studies. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.612 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.612

Blaauw, Lesley. “African Agency in International Relations: Challenging great power politics?” In Africa in global international relations, pp. 85-107. Routledge, 2015. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315693781-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315693781-5

Bratton, Michael. “Non‐governmental organisations in Africa: can they influence public policy?” Development and change21, no. 1 (1990): 87-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.1990.tb00369.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.1990.tb00369.x

Cáceres, Sigfrido Burgos. “NGOs, IGOs, and International law: gaining credibility and legitimacy through lobbying and results.” Geo. J. Int’l Aff. 13 (2012): 79.

Chirisa, Innocent EW, Artwell Mumba, and Simbarashe O. Dirwai. “A review of the evolution and trajectory of the African union as an instrument of regional integration.” SpringerPlus 3 (2014): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-101

Clark, Ann Marie. “Non-governmental organisations and their influence on international society.” Journal of International Affairs (1995): 507-525.

Cogan, Jacob Katz. “International organisations.” Concepts for International Law (2019): 540-548.

Demana, Nkhumiseni John. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the Isolation of South Africa, 1963-1984. University of Johannesburg (South Africa), 1996.

Dersso, Solomon A. “International law and the self-determination of South Sudan.” Institute for Security Studies Papers 2012, no. 231 (2012): 12.

Dirar, Luwam. “Norms of Solidarity and Regionalism: Theorizing State Behavior Among Southern African States.” Mich. St. Int’ l L. Rev. 24 (2015): 667.

Edo, Victor Osaro, and Michael Abiodun Olanrewaju. “An Assessment of the Transformation Of The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) To The African Union (AU), 1963-2007.” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria (2012): 41-69.

Edozie, Rita Kiki, and Keith Gottschalk. The African Union’s Africa: New Pan-African Initiatives in Global Governance, Michigan State University Press, 2014.

Engel, Ulf, and João Gomes Porto, eds. Africa’s New Peace and Security Architecture: Promoting Norms, Institutionalising Solutions. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2010.

Fagbayibo, Babatunde. “The legal regime of compliance with regional norms in Africa: reframing the paradigms of engagement.” African Journal of International and Comparative Law 27, no. 3 (2019): 446-465. https://doi.org/10.3366/ajicl.2019.0283 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3366/ajicl.2019.0283

Falola, Toyin. “Diplomacy and Politics.” The Palgrave Handbook of Africa and the Changing Global Order (2022): 1049-1064. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77481-3_51 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77481-3_51

Falk, Richard. “10 Global civil society and the democratic prospect.” In Global Democracy, pp. 162-178. Routledge, 2013.

Fernando, Jude L., and Alan W. Heston. “Introduction: NGOs between states, markets, and civil society.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 554, no. 1 (1997): 8-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716297554001001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716297554001001

Finizo, G. “Civil society involvement and ownership in the African Union integration process.” Building Regionalism from Below. The Role of Parliaments and Civil Society in Regional Integration in Africa (2018): 299-321.

Fisher, Jonathan. “African agency in international politics.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.709 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.709

Franke, Benedikt F. “Competing regionalisms in Africa and the continent’s emerging security architecture.” African Studies Quarterly 9, no. 3 (2007): 31-64.

Gelot, Linnéa, and Fredrik Söderbaum. “Legitimation struggles in international organisations: the case of the African Union.” Globalizations 21, no. 5 (2024): 821-838. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2023.2275819 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2023.2275819

Glas, Aarie, and Emmanuel Balogun. “Norms in practice: people-centric governance in ASEAN and ECOWAS.” International Affairs 96, no. 4 (2020): 1015-1032. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa013

Hartmann, Christof. “Overlapping regionalism and region-building in Africa.” In The Relevance of Regions in a Globalised World, pp. 49-63. Routledge, 2018. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315149141-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315149141-4

Hearn, Julie. “African NGOs: the new compradors?” Development and change 38, no. 6 (2007): 1095-1110. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00447.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00447.x

Held, David. “Regulating globalisation? The reinvention of politics.” International sociology 15, no. 2 (2000): 394-408. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580900015002015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580900015002015

Held, David. A Globalising World?: Culture, Economics, Politics. Routledge, 2004.

Hettne, Björn. “Globalisation and the new regionalism: the second great transformation.” In Globalism and the new regionalism, pp. 1-24. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27268-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27268-6_1

Houghton, Irungu. “Identifying the Domains of Competence and the Possible Impact of the Establishment of a Union Government on the Sovereignty of States.” Towards a Union Government for Africa: Challenges and Opportunities (2008): 79-89.

Houghton, Irungu. “Reflections on African Union, NEPAD and African CSO Engagement with an eye on Continental Citizenship, Public Accountability and Governance.” Development (2005).

Jönsson, Christer, and Jonas Tallberg. Transnational actors in global governance: patterns, explanations and implications. Springer, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230283220 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230283220

Kanneh, Kadiatu. African Identities: Pan-Africanisms and Black Identities. Routledge, 2002. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203005392 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203005392

Keck, Margaret E., and Kathryn Sikkink. “Transnational advocacy networks in the movement society.” The social movement society: Contentious politics for a new century 221 (1998): 217-237.

Kodero, Cliff Ubba. “Rethinking African Regionalism: Assessing How Regimes Use the African Union.” Journal of Global South Studies 40, no. 2 (2023): 383-417. https://doi.org/10.1353/gss.2023.a917370 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/gss.2023.a917370

Knight, W. Andy. “Global governance as a summative phenomenon.” In Palgrave Advances in Global Governance, pp. 160-188. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230245310_9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230245310_9

Legler, Thomas, and Thomas Kwasi Tieku. “What difference can a path make? Regional democracy promotion regimes in the Americas and Africa.” Democratisation 17, no. 3 (2010): 465-491. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510341003700337 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13510341003700337

Leininger, Julia. “A strong norm for democratic governance in Africa.” Available at SSRN 2544090 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2544090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2544090

Ma, Vaunne, and Thomas J. Schoeneman. “Individualism versus collectivism: A comparison of Kenyan and American self-concepts.” Basic and applied social psychology 19, no. 2 (1997): 261-273. https://doi.org/10.1207/15324839751037093 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/15324839751037093

MacKenzie, Heather. “Principles for civil society engagement with multilateralism.” (2012): 159-166.

Mbaya, Sue. “African Union–civil society relations.” Institute for Security Studies Monographs 2023, no. 208 (2023): 5-46.

Mbembe, Achille. On the postcolony. Vol. 41. Univ of California Press, 2001.

Mickler, David, and Kathryn Sturman. “Pan-Africanism, Participation and Legitimation in the African Governance Architecture.” JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 59, no. 2 (2021): 446-458. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13172

Mittelman, James H. Whither globalisation?: The vortex of knowledge and ideology. Routledge, 2004.

Moyo, Bhekinkosi. “Civil Society and the African Union Architecture: Institutional Provisions and Invented Interfaces.” The African Union and New Strategies for Development in Africa 275 (2008).

Muchie, Mammo, Adam Habib, and Vishnu Padayachee. “African integration and civil society: the case of the African Union.” Transformation: critical perspectives on Southern Africa 61, no. 1 (2006): 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1353/trn.2006.0014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/trn.2006.0014

Mule, Harris. “Challenges to African governance and civil society.” Public Administration and Development 21, no. 2 (2001): 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.162

Muldoon Jr, James P. The architecture of global governance: an introduction to the study of international organisations. Routledge, 2018

Mumford, Densua. “How regional norms shape regional organisations: The Pan-African rhetorical trap and the empowerment of the ECOWAS Parliament.” African Affairs 120, no. 478 (2021): 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa033

Munck, Ronaldo. Globalisation and social exclusion: A transformationalist perspective. Kumarian Press, 2005.

Murray, Rachel. The African Charter on human and peoples’ rights: A commentary. Oxford University Press, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198810582.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198810582.001.0001

Murithi, Tim, and Angela Ndinga-Muvumba. “Building an African Union for the 21st Century: Relations with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), NEPAD and Civil Society.” (2005).

Musila, Godfrey. “African Union and the Evolution of International Criminal Justice in Africa: challenges, controversies and opportunities.” Controversies and Opportunities. (June 5, 2013) (2013). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2391140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2391140

Nash, Kathryn. “African peace: Regional norms from the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union.” In African peace. Manchester University Press, 2021. https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526152824 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526152824

Nathan, Laurie. “African solutions to African problems: South Africa’s foreign policy.” (2013).

Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Sabelo J. “African decolonisation’s past and present trajectories.” Current History 119, no. 817 (2020): 188-193. https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2020.119.817.188 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2020.119.817.188

Nyaxo, Olympio Francisco Kofi. “Transformation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU): A New Vision for the 21st Century, or Political Rhetoric?” (2004).

Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian. “South Africa’s NGOs and the quest for development.” International NGO Journal , vol. 3, no. 5 (2008): 90-97.

Oloruntoba, Samuel Ojo, and Toyin Falola. “The Political Economy of Africa: Connecting the Past to the Present and Future of Development in Africa.” The Palgrave Handbook of African Political Economy (2020): 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38922-2_1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38922-2_1

Oloruntoba, Samuel Ojo. “The politics of paternalism and implications of global governance on Africa: A critique of the sustainable development goals.” Pan Africanism, Regional Integration, and Development in Africa (2020): 165-179. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34296-8_9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34296-8_9

Opuku-Mensah, Paul. “Civil society and African integration: the challenge of incorporating the African diaspora.” Transformation: critical perspectives on Southern Africa 61, no. 1 (2006): 25-39. https://doi.org/10.1353/trn.2006.0010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/trn.2006.0010

Oxfam, Oxfam, and AfriMap, eds. Strengthening popular participation in the African Union: A guide to AU structures and processes. African Books Collective, 2010.

Packer, Corinne AA, and Donald Rukare. “The new African Union and its constitutive act.” American Journal of International Law 96, no. 2 (2002): 365-379. https://doi.org/10.2307/2693932 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2693932

Princen, Thomas, Matthias Finger, and Jack P. Manno. “Translational linkages.” In Environmental NGOs in world politics, pp. 217-236. Routledge, 2013.

Rai, Prahlad. “NGO Relations with Inter-Governmental Organisations.” In Non-Governmental Organisations and International Law, pp. 135-160. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-5469-4_6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-5469-4_6

Rebasti, Emanuele --- “Beyond Consultative Status: Which Legal Framework for an Enhanced Interaction between NGOs and Intergovernmental Organisations?” [2008] ELECD 145; in Dupuy, Pierre-Marie; Vierucci, Luisa (eds), “NGOs in International Law” (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008). https://doi.org/10.4337/9781848441330.00006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781848441330.00006

Reimann, Kim D. “A view from the top: International politics, norms and the worldwide growth of NGOs.” International studies quarterly 50, no. 1 (2006): 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2478.2006.00392.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2478.2006.00392.x

Rosenau, James N. “Governance in the twenty-first century.” Global Governance. Critical Concepts in Political Science(2004): 179-209.

Rosenau, James N. “Governance in the Twenty-first Century.” In Understanding Global Cooperation, pp. 16-47. Brill, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004462601_003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004462601_003

Saideman, Stephen M. “International organisations and secessionist crises: The relevance of agenda setting.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 17, no. 3 (1994): 275-291. https://doi.org/10.1080/10576109408435956 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10576109408435956

Schoener, Wendy. “Non-governmental organisations and global activism: Legal and informal approaches.” Ind. J. Global Legal Stud. 4 (1996): 537.

Scholte, Jan Aart. “A more inclusive global governance? The IMF and civil society in Africa.” Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organisations 18, no. 2 (2012): 185-206. https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-01802004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-01802004

Smith, Gordon. “G7 to G8 to G20: Evolution in Global Governance.” (2011).

Söderbaum, Fredrik. “African regionalism and EU-African interregionalism.” In European Union and New Regionalism, pp. 201-222. Routledge, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57303-2_11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57303-2_11

Söderbaum, Fredrik. “Regionalisation and civil society: The case of Southern Africa.” New Political Economy 12, no. 3 (2007): 319-337. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563460701485276 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13563460701485276

Soulé, Folashadé. “‘Africa+’ 1’summit diplomacy and the ‘new scramble’narrative: Recentering African agency.” African Affairs 119, no. 477 (2020): 633-646. https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa015

Stagner, Ross. “Personality dynamics and social conflict.” Journal of Social Issues 17, no. 3 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1961.tb01681.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1961.tb01681.x

Steffek, Jens. “Explaining cooperation between IGOs and NGOs–push factors, pull factors, and the policy cycle.” Review of international studies 39, no. 4 (2013): 993-1013. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210512000393 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210512000393

Stroup, Sarah S. “NGOs’ interactions with states.” Routledge handbook of NGOs and international relations (2019): 32-45. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315268927-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315268927-3

Stroup, Sarah. S., and Wong, Wong. H. “The Authority Trap: Strategic Choices of International NGOs.” Cornell University Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501709777 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501709777

Sturman, Kathryn, and Jakkie Cilliers. “ECOSOCC: Bringing people’s power to the African Union.” African Security Studies 12, no. 1 (2003): 71-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627572 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627572

Tallberg, Jonas. “Transnational access to international institutions: Three approaches.” In Transnational actors in global governance: patterns, explanations and implications, pp. 45-66. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230283220_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230283220_3

Tallberg, Jonas, Lisa M. Dellmuth, Hans Agné und Andreas Duit. “NGO influence in international organisations: Information, access and exchange.” British Journal of Political Science 48, no. 1 (2018): 213-238. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712341500037X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712341500037X

Tallberg, Jonas, Thomas Sommerer, and Theresa Squatrito. The opening up of international organisations. Cambridge University Press, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107325135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107325135

Thomas, G. Weiss. “Governance, good governance, and global governance: conceptual and actual challenges.” In Thinking about global governance, pp. 168-189. Routledge, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203807057

Tieku, Thomas Kwasi. “Collectivist Worldview: its challenge to international relations.” Africa and international relations in the 21st century (2012): 36-50. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230355743_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230355743_3

Tieku, Thomas Kwasi. Governing Africa: 3D analysis of the African Union’s performance. Rowman & Littlefield, 2017.

Tieku, Thomas Kwasi, and Linnéa Gelot. “An African perspective on global governance.” Global Governance from Regional Perspectives: A Critical View (2017): 119. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198793342.003.0006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198793342.003.0006

Triandafyllidou, Anna, ed. Global governance from regional perspectives: A critical view. Oxford University Press, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198793342.003.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198793342.001.0001

Vabulas, Felicity A. “Consultative and observer status of NGOs in intergovernmental organisations.” In Routledge Handbook of International Organisations, pp. 189-202. Routledge, 2013.

Vakil, Anna C. “Confronting the classification problem: Toward a taxonomy of NGOs.” World development 25, no. 12 (1997): 2057-2070. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(97)00098-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(97)00098-3

Van Walraven, Klaas. Dreams of power: The role of the Organisation of African Unity in the politics of Africa 1963-1993. Routledge, 2019. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429026676 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429026676

Weiss, Thomas G. Thinking about global governance: why people and ideas matter. Taylor & Francis, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203807057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203807057

Welch, Claude E. “The Organisation of African Unity and the promotion of human rights.” The Journal of Modern African Studies 29, no. 4 (1991): 535-555. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X00005656 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X00005656

Welz, Martin. “The African Union beyond Africa: Explaining the limited impact of Africa’s continental organisation on global governance.” Global Governance 19, no. 3 (2013): 425. https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-01903005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-01903005

Willetts, Peter. Non-governmental organisations in world politics: The construction of global governance. Routledge, 2010. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203834305 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203834305

Witt, Antonia. “Where regional norms matter: contestation and the domestic impact of the African Charter on democracy, elections and governance.” Africa Spectrum 54, no. 2 (2019): 106-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002039719848513 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0002039719848513

Zürn, Michael. “Global governance as multi-level governance.” In Handbook on multi-level governance. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2010. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849809047.00011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849809047.00011