ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a critical overview of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) structures for continental peace and security, in particular its framework for conflict prevention, management and resolution. It discusses the lessons learned from this quasi- or 'rudimentary' architecture for peace and security, the new African Union and its established structures for dealing with peace, security and conflict in Africa. The emerging international political economy literature on new regionalism, the state is considered as an important unit in organisation and decision-making, but only one of several actors in international and intra-regional relations. In the post-Cold War period, there has been increasing co-operation between the OAU, United Nations and sub-regional organisations on peace and security. Understanding the role and contribution of regional hegemons is important to the emerging phenomenon of regionalisation of conflict management and the maintenance of peace and security in Africa. The structure and quasi-architecture for peace and security thus established have been found wanting.
