Converging Around Global Norms? Protection of Civilians in African Union and European Union Peacekeeping in Africa

This article analyzes the degree of convergence between the doctrines on the protection of civilians in peacekeeping between the African Union and the European Union and their translation into practice. We have found that in term of doctrines themselves both the African Union and European Union have aligned their understandings of protection of civilians to a significant degree with that of the United Nations, taking up increasingly similar positions on the permissible and required degree of robustness of peacekeeping missions. This may indicate that a layered system of global security governance based on strong and connected regional security organizations could be both effective and legitimate. However, when assessing convergence on the practical level by analyzing the extent to which both regional organizations have applied these norms in the Darfur conflict (African Union Mission in Sudan and European Union Force Chad/Central African Republic) and, more recently, the African Union in Somalia, we noticed that convergence remains fragile and does not necessarily convert into increased effectiveness on the local level. This should, therefore, serve as a warning sign that the convergence of doctrines should not be confused with convergence in practice or with greater effectiveness.