Stability and Sovereignty at the Expense of Democracy? The SADC Mediation Mandate for Zimbabwe, 2007–2013. Issue 3 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aeby, Michael
• Is Part Of: African security. Volume 10:Issue 3/4(2017)
• Page Start: 272
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: mediation mandate -- Southern African Development Community (SADC) -- sovereignty -- Zimbabwe; National security -- Africa -- Periodicals; Security, International -- Africa -- Periodicals; Civil war -- Africa -- Periodicals; Africa -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 303.66096
• DOI: 10.1080/19392206.2017.1348116
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1939-2206

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article investigates the Southern African Development Community's mediation mandate for Zimbabwe. The mandate was to facilitate a dialogue to promote peace, stability, sovereignty, and democracy. These aims were hard to reconcile. Short-term stability and protecting Zimbabwe's sovereignty took precedence over democratization. The article examines tensions between the mandate's components and traces the interaction between the mandators and the mediators. It shows how the mandate evolved as the conflict resolution process went through different stages.