Overview

The labels 'state fragility' and 'civil war' suggest that security within several African countries has broken down. As Tim Glawion observes, however, while people do experience insecurity in some parts of conflict-affected countries, in other areas they live in relative security. Conducting in-depth field-research between 2014 and 2018, The Security Arena in Africa is based on first-hand insights into South Sudan and the Central African Republic during their ongoing civil wars, and Somalia's breakaway state of Somaliland. Gaining valuable accounts from the people whose security is at stake, this bottom-up perspective on discussions of peace and security tells vivid stories from the field to explore complex security dynamics, making theoretical insights translatable to real-world experiences and revealing how security is created and undermined in these fragile states.

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9781108493376

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'Based on impressive fieldwork, this book explores the dynamics of security and order at the sub-state level. It shows how local, national and international actors meddle, compete and complement one another in the security arenas found in small towns in Africa's conflict-affected countries, and what this means for the inhabitants' perceptions of security. It is essential reading for anyone interested in comparative security studies.' Alice Hills, University of Durham 'Concepts like state failure, security, and order are ubiquitous yet remain opaque. Tim Glawion lifts the hood to reveal tremendous variation ranging from state repression all the way to creative non-state security provision. By approaching security from the bottom up, he enriches our conceptual toolbox and contributes to our substantive understanding.' Stathis N. Kalyvas, University of Oxford 'Based on impressive fieldwork, this book explores the dynamics of security and order at the sub-state level. It shows how local, national and international actors meddle, compete and complement one another in the security arenas found in small towns in Africa's conflict-affected countries, and what this means for the inhabitants' perceptions of security. It is essential reading for anyone interested in comparative security studies.' Alice Hills, University of Durham 'Concepts like state failure, security, and order are ubiquitous yet remain opaque. Tim Glawion lifts the hood to reveal tremendous variation ranging from state repression all the way to creative non-state security provision. By approaching security from the bottom up, he enriches our conceptual toolbox and contributes to our substantive understanding.' Stathis N. Kalyvas, University of Oxford

Author Information

Tim Glawion is a political analyst and field researcher focusing on issues of local security within fragile states. He has investigated conflict and peace in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Haiti, South Sudan, and Somaliland. Providing advice to government and civil society organizations, his research is regularly published in journals including Development and Change and the Journal of Modern African Studies.

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