ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a critical theory approach to contribute to the debate on the peace building-development nexus. It attempts to interrogate the impact of liberal peace building on securitisation in Africa beyond what Michael Pugh labels as "liberal developmentalism," implying the liberal assumption that peace building is a prerequisite for development. The chapter argues that the peace building–development nexus debate is to offer a cogent critique of liberal peace building in Africa and locate it within the ambit of the universal neo-liberal peace building project. It examines how political and economic (neo)-liberalism became embedded in the UN's approach to peace building in Africa. The chapter explores the implications of liberal peace building for broader debates about power, legitimacy and international order and challenge the narrow and abstract focus on conflict resolution based on liberalisation of security. It seeks to interrogate the liberal perspective on peace building activities such as the reconstruction of state institutions in conflicted societies in Africa based on liberal ideals.
