ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to interrogate and analyse some of the relevant issues that underlie peacebuilding conceptualisation, policies and practices in contemporary Africa. A major aspect of the conceptual and empirical focus of peace building in Africa is the predominance of liberal peace philosophy. In the vast literature on "liberal democratic peace theory," proponents have drawn an organic and seemingly universal connection between neo-liberal democracy and sustainable peace, especially in the aftermath of wars and destabilising conflicts. Epistemological issues about the normative and empirical content, underlying interests and context-relevance of the peace hitherto built in African countries and communities affected by violent conflicts are also explored and evaluated. African peace building should not be mistaken for the conventional rhetoric of "local ownership" that pervades international development and peace building discourses. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
