African states have become testing grounds for Western conflict-resolution experiments, particularly power-sharing agreements, supposedly intended to end deadly conflict, secure peace, and build democracy in divided societies. This volume examines the legal and political efficacy of transitional political power-sharing between democratically constituted governments and the African warlords, rebels, or junta that seek to violently unseat them. What role does law indicate for itself to play in informing, shaping, and regulating peace agreements? This book addresses this question and others through the prism of three West African case studies: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau. It applies the Neo-Kadeshean Model of analysis and offers a framework for a 'Law on Power-sharing.' In a field dominated by political scientists, and drawing from ancient and contemporary international law, this book represents the first substantive legal critique of the law, practice, and politics of power sharing.

The principal aim of this work is to provide a forum for leading international lawyers with experience and interest in Africa to address a broad range of intellectual challenges concerning the contribution of African states and peoples to international law. As such, the volume addresses orthodox topics of international law - such as jurisdiction and intervention - but tackles them from an African perspective, and seeks to ask whether, in each case, the African perspective is unique or affirms existing arrangements of international law. The book cannot come at a more important time. While international legal discourse has been captured by the challenge of terrorism since September 11, 2001, there are clear signs that other issues are returning to the fore. Political interest in Africa has undergone a global revival, and the OAU has been transformed into the African Union. Infrastructural challenges, along with those taking place in regional contexts, have effectively mapped a new politico-legal landscape for Africa. This, and more, is explored, and the key normative questions are addressed in a series of essays by leading Africanist scholars. 'This is a remarkable collection of essays that clearly and concisely demonstrates that Africa has and will continue to play a major role in fashioning new norms of international law and policy and contribute to its progressive development by affirming existing norms. Professor Levitt is to be commended for having the vision, leadership and intellectual prowess to produce this excellent text. The book signals a major shift from the study of Africa as a basket case to a normative market place.' Akua Kuenyehia, Vice President, International Criminal Court 'Professor Levitt's work, Africa: Mapping New Boundaries in International Law, is pathbreaking in the true sense of that word. Through old and new voices, it excavates the singular contributions of Africa to a discipline that is marked by Eurocentrism and imperial aspirations. The authors, taking their cue from the indefatigable and insightful Professor Levitt, establish beyond a shadow of a doubt the enormity of the normative contributions that Africa has made to international law. The book must therefore be seen as a defining contribution to the multiculturalization of international law. It is for this reason that Professor Levitt is among the most important American academics working and thinking in international law today.' Makau Mutua, Interim Dean, SUNY Distinguished Professor, State University of New York Buffalo Law School

African states have become testing grounds for Western conflict-resolution experiments, particularly power-sharing agreements, supposedly intended to end deadly conflict, secure peace and build democracy in divided societies. This volume examines the legal and political efficacy of transitional political power-sharing between democratically constituted governments and the African warlords, rebels, or junta that seek to violently unseat them. What role does law indicate for itself to play in informing, shaping and regulating peace agreements? This book addresses this question and others through the prism of three West African case studies: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. It applies the neo-Kadeshean model of analysis and offers a framework for a 'Law on Power-sharing'. In a field dominated by political scientists, and drawing from ancient and contemporary international law, this book represents the first substantive legal critique of the law, practice and politics of power-sharing.

From Compton to Cairo, Bahia to Brixton, black women have been disproportionally affected by poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, discrimination and violence. Despite being one of the largest and geographically dispersed groups in the world, they are rarely referenced or considered as a subject of analysis in international law literature. Thus, it is vital that scholars refashion global discourse by re-conceptualizing international law and relations from their unique experiences and perspectives. This collection covers a broad range of topics and issues that examine the complex interactions - as subjects and objects - between black women and international law. The book critically explores the manifold relationship between them with a view toward highlighting the historic and contemporary ways in which they have influenced and been influenced by transnational law, doctrine, norms, jurisprudence, public policy, public discourse and global governance. It purports to unearth old law and fashion new paradigms born out of the experiences of black women.

From Compton to Cairo, Bahia to Brixton, black women have been disproportionally affected by poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, discrimination and violence. Despite being one of the largest and geographically dispersed groups in the world, they are rarely referenced or considered as a subject of analysis in international law literature. Thus, it is vital that scholars refashion global discourse by re-conceptualizing international law and relations from their unique experiences and perspectives. This collection covers a broad range of topics and issues that examine the complex interactions - as subjects and objects - between black women and international law. The book critically explores the manifold relationship between them with a view toward highlighting the historic and contemporary ways in which they have influenced and been influenced by transnational law, doctrine, norms, jurisprudence, public policy, public discourse and global governance. It purports to unearth old law and fashion new paradigms born out of the experiences of black women.

The principal aim of this work is to provide a forum for leading international lawyers with experience and interest in Africa to address a broad range of intellectual challenges concerning the contribution of African states and peoples to international law. The volume addresses orthodox topics of international law such as jurisdiction and intervention, from an African perspective, and seeks to ask whether in each case, the African perspective is unique or affirms existing arrangements of international law. Political interest in Africa has undergone a global revival, and the OAU has been transformed into the African Union. Infrastructural challenges, along with those taking place in regional contexts, have effectively mapped a new politico-legal landscape for Africa. This, and more, is explored, and the key normative questions are addressed in a series of essays by leading Africanist scholars. 'This is a remarkable collection of essays that clearly and concisely demonstrates that Africa has and will continue to play a major role in fashioning new norms of international law and policy and contribute to its progressive development by affirming existing norms. Professor Levitt is to be commended for having the vision, leadership and intellectual prowess to produce this excellent text. The book signals a major shift from the study of Africa as a basket case to a normative market place.' Akua Kuenyehia, Vice President,International Criminal Court 'Professor Levitt's work, Africa: Mapping New Boundaries in International Law, is pathbreaking in the true sense of that word. Through old and new voices, it excavates the singular contributions of Africa to a discipline that is marked by Eurocentrism and imperial aspirations. The authors, taking their cue from the indefatigable and insightful Professor Levitt, establish beyond a shadow of a doubt the enormity of the normative contributions that Africa has made to international law. The book must therefore be seen as a defining contribution to the multiculturalization of international law. It is for this reason that Professor Levitt is among the most important American academics working and thinking in international law today.' Makau Mutua, Dean, SUNY Distinguished Professor, State University of New York Buffalo Law School 'The multiple-author analysis of the varied contemporary results provides fascinating reading for one who seeks a better appreciation of the importance of this continent to the future of mankind. This vividly-written and well-edited collection is fully supported by references that make it a veritable encyclopaedia of information on the evolution of International Law on the African continent.' American Society of International Law newsletter, Issue 39, May 2009.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana and Mississippi. The storm devastated the region and its citizens. But its devastation did not reach across racial and class lines equally. In an original combination of research and advocacy, "Hurricane Katrina: ""America's Unnatural""Disaster" questions the efficacy of the national and global responses to Katrina's central victims, African Americans.
This collection of polemical essays explores the extent to which African Americans and others were, and are, disproportionately affected by the natural and manmade forces that caused Hurricane Katrina. Such an engaged study of this tragic event forces us to acknowledge that the ways in which we view our history and life have serious ramifications on modern human relations, public policy, and quality of life.