ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional leadership in conflict response in Southern Africa. It explores the SADC leadership in joint mediation with the African Union (AU) in the Madagascar conflict from 2008 to 2013. The African continent is divided into Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that also define the security zones. The “global legitimacy pyramid” puts the United nations (UN) at the top of the pyramid, followed by regional and subregional organizations at the bottom of the pyramid. Leadership theory is analysed and understood through both realist and constructive ontologies and epistemologies. Shared leadership originates from a socio-constructivist epistemology, where leadership is viewed as a social phenomenon and a collective process. Reviews of the leadership literature in international relations mainly define leadership following the two epistemological and ontological approaches. The SADC provides a unique perspective of cooperation that transcends hegemonic influence.
