Alpaslan Özerdem is Dean of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, USA. He is co-editor of Routledge Handbook of Turkish Politics (2019), Comparing Peace Processes (2019), and Routledge Handbook of Peace, Security and Development (2020).

Sinem Akgül-Açikmese is Professor of International Relations and Jean Monnet Chair holder on Hybrid Threats in the EU at Kadir Has University (KHAS), Turkey. She is the co-editor of the book The European Union and the Black Sea: The State of Play (2015).

Ian Liebenberg is Professor in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies (DPAS) at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and Professor Extraordinary in Politics at the Faculty of Military Science (FMS), Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He is the editor of A Far-Away War: Angola, 1975-1989 (first edition 2014, second edition 2019) and The Hidden Hand: Covert Operations in South Africa (first edition 1994, revised edition 1998).

List of figures List of tables List of contributors List of abbreviations Introduction Ian Liebenberg, Alpaslan Özerdem, and Sinem Akgül-Açikmese PART I: The theory and dynamics of conflict response and leadership 1. The evolution of conflict response: management, resolution and transformation Alpaslan Özerdem 2.Leadership in conflict response: a conceptual exploration Sezai Özçelik, Murat Yorulmaz and Serdar Yilmaz 3. Decoding the emerging world order and challenges to global leadership Tarik Oguzlu 4. Leadership from a civil society perspective Jessica Ayesha Northey 5. Leadership, conflict and negotiating sustainable socio-political frameworks in Africa Ian Liebenberg Part II: Macro-level leadership experiences in conflict response 6. Conflict response through operations: understanding the leadership roles of the EU and NATO in Africa Çigdem Üstün and Sinem Akgül-Açikmese 7. Leadership of the United Nations and African Union in Darfur, 2003-2006 Kathryn Crewe Kelly 8. The Role of IGAD in peacebuilding and conflict resolution: the case of South Sudan Billy Agwanda, Ugur Yasin Aral, Ahmad Shoaib Ghulam Nabi, and Israel Nyaburi Nyadera 9. Role of regional organizations in peace interventions: ECOWAS interventions in West Africa and macro-level leadership Burak Toygar Halistoprak 10. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and conflict response in Madagascar Mphatso Jones Boti Phiri 11. The role of the United States as a global power in responding to violent conflicts in Africa Festus Kofi Aubyn 12. Russia in the 'new scramble for Africa': a new search for leadership? Inan Ruma 13. The People's Republic of China in Africa Haluk Karadag 14. Turkey's peacebuilding response in Africa: the case of Somalia Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioglu 15. The political transformation of the North African states in the post-Arab spring period Laçin Idil Öztig 16. Maritime security off Africa: perspectives on East and West Africa Francois Vreÿ Part III: Meso/micro-level leadership experiences in conflict response 17. Community leadership and alternative approaches to Western conflict resolution models Bezen Balamir Coskun 18. Leading and misleading the flock: understanding the ambivalent record of faith leaders in peacebuilding and conflict prevention Laura Payne 19. Clan elders and traditional reconciliation in Somalia: exercising servant leadership while rebuilding legitimate state structuresAntti Pentikäinen and Oakley Thomas Hill 20. Rwenzori in Uganda: the failures of reconciliation Stefano Ruzza 21. Civil society groups' peace activism and media in Kenya Zacharia Chiliswa 22. Local communities, ICTs and conflict prevention in Africa: a critical inquiry Chas Morrison 23. Youth leadership in conflict response in South Africa Cihan Dizdaroglu 24. Youth and peacebuilding in West Africa: the experiences of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Chukwuemeka B. Eze, Levinia Addae-Mensah and Osei Baffour Frimpong 25. Making a difference in peacekeeping operations: voices of South African women peacekeepers, 2000-18 Angela Alchin, Amanda Gouws and Lindy Heinecken 26. Leadership in peacekeeping training: the contribution by KAIPTC to peace and security in West Africa Naila Salihu 27. Human rights protection and leadership in contemporary African conflicts Michelle Nel 28. The comparative role of political leadership in alleviating conflict: South Africa and Rwanda Kula Ishmael Theletsane PART IV: Recommendations for improved leadership in conflict response 29. How to improve leadership in conflict response in Africa: lessons learned Sinem Akgül-Açikmese, Alpaslan Özerdem, and Ian Liebenberg Index