Militancy and Violence in West Africa ─ Religion, Politics and Radicalisation

This volume provides a systematic and cross-regional analysis of radicalisation, militancy and violence in West Africa.

Concern about terrorism in, or from, West Africa, has been recognised in academic research, and the adoption of militarised approaches to addressing it questioned. However, the basis for that questioning – the need to investigate factors such as the historical and socio-economic roots of militancy – is not developed, nor is it substantiated in existing studies. The significant impact of religiously motivated radicalisation and violence in West Africa upon international security makes it essential to understand the issues of militancy and violence in the region.

In this volume, the authors draw upon empirical research in West Africa to develop understanding in these areas. Over the course of several chapters written by leading experts in the field, the book successfully blends historical and conceptual analysis with new empirical research gathered from focus group discussions and research interviews. Each of these core studies is structured around five interrelated issues: tracing the antecedents of radicalisation; monitoring trends; identifying actors; anticipating possibilities; and analysing the strength of existing preventive mechanisms.

This book will be of much interest to students of African security, African politics, radicalisation, political Islam, war and conflict studies and security studies in general.

James Gow is Professor of International Peace and Security at King's College London. He is the co-editor of the Routledge Contemporary Security Studies book series.

Funmi Olonisakin is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Conflict, Security and Development Group at King's College London.

Ernst Dijxhoorn is a member of the War Crimes Research Group in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.