This book examines the role of the emerging African nations in the new international order of the twentyfirst century. Since the end of the Cold War little significance has been placed on the African continent in the security and political considerations of the Western world. However post911 international security has been redefined and new challenges have been identified. Thus at the beginning of the twentyfirst century Africa is facing a variety of new security challenges. Africa has become an increasingly important battleground in the fight against terrorism. Since the beginning of 2011 the new revolutions now known as the Arab Spring that swept through North Africa have created new challenges for the African continent and are compounding the African peoplesamprsquo struggles for poverty alleviation state stability security sociopolitical and socioeconomic development democracy and good governance. In addition to these crises of civil war ethnic conflict state insecurity and rampant corruption at all levels the HIVAIDS pandemic has ravaged the continent for the past four decades. The only major panAfrican organizationampmdashthe African Unionampmdashis unable to lead and defend the continent effectively. At this crucial period when the continent is confronted with these myriad of security challenges it needs effective strong leadership that possesses both human and natural resources to play a leadership role in Africa and lead the continent in the new global order of the twentyfirst century. The contributors to this volume analyze many of these issues and place them in the wider context of global security.