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The Complicated and Multidimensional Roots
of African Conflicts
On Tuesday, October 16, 2007 Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, professor and head of the Department of
African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago presented "The Roots
and Resolution of African Conflicts". In his talk, Zeleza credited colonialism as the
link to Africa’s current conflicts and violence. He argued that there can be no single
explanation or resolution for Africa’s current conflicts because the conflicts have long,
complex histories and multidimensional causes and consequences.
Zeleza also presented his five typologies of war with the understanding that it is
important to dissect each in order to create possible resolutions. The five typologies
begin with Africa’s involvement in World War I and World War II, when Africa was still
under colonial rule, then into its struggle to be released from colonialism, its subsequent
regime violence, genocide and intercultural wars, to finally the continent's international
involvement in conflicts outside its borders -– particularly in the Middle East.
Given Africa's past and the multidimensional causes of the various conflicts endured
throughout its history, the continent continues to deal today with an extremely complicated
web of conflicts surrounding its many cultures and people. Understanding history and
how it has helped shaped the present conditions is key to developing possible future
resolutions within Africa.
Two new books by Zeleza were released last month on this topic of the roots and resolution
of African conflicts, The Roots of African Conflicts: The Causes and Costs and The
Resolution of African Conflicts.
This lecture was part of the GCI Seminar Series, which invite experts, practitioners, and
academics to speak on current issues and innovative research.
Download a podcast of Paul Tiyambe
Zeleza's entire presentation.
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