Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

The popular uprisings that started on the northern coast of Africa in 2011 ended with the overthrow of leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, and the bloodier conflict in Libya. These popular uprisings were unexpected by the international community, and also by the African Union, the aim of which is to accelerate the process of integration within the continent, protect peace and security, and support democracy and human rights. Under its normative framework, the Union tried not to remain silent and to play an active role in response to these unexpected developments. When deciding its position in the face of these uprisings, the African Union depended on the normative framework that was formed to prevent unconstitutional changes of government in Africa. The African Union, which replaced its precursor, the Organization of African Unity, in 2001, has made important progress in forming a normative framework aimed at preventing governmental changes through undemocratic ways on the continent, a continent that has been characterized by anti-democratic governments, military coups, rigged polls, civil wars, and human rights violations. The Arab Spring process, which affected the northern coasts of Africa, was important in showing the effectiveness of the Union’s normative framework. The aim of this study was to evaluate the policies of the African Union in the face of the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya within the context of its normative framework and its ‘African solutions to African problems’ motto.