Abiodun Alao is Professor of African Studies at King’s College London. He teaches on the ALC M.Sc. programmes and supervises Masters/PhD students. He is also the Chair of the Centre’s Examination Board and the Acting Chair of the Exam Board for the School of Global Affairs.
Abiodun holds a Bachelor’s in History and Masters in International Relations from the Universities of Ibadan and Ife respectively. He holds a Doctorate in War Studies from King’s College London where he was a Ford Foundation Doctoral Scholar and also held the SSRC-MacArthur Post-Doctoral Fellowship. Apart from extensive publications on African security issues, he has undertaken numerous assignments for international organisations, including the United Nations, African Union, European Union, World Bank, ECOWAS and for individual countries.
In 2000, he was part of the team that undertook a comprehensive Threat Assessment for Rwanda after the genocide and between 2001 and 2002 he was among the Team of Academic Experts that advised the Office of the UN Secretary General on the Civil War in Sierra Leone. He co-authored the Concept Note for the Common Defence and Security Policy for the Africa Union in 2003 and also co-authored the first post-Civil War National Security Strategy Framework for Liberia. He was also a member of the King’s College London team that worked on the “Development of Donor Countries Effectiveness in Fragile States”.
Previously, he held teaching and research position at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Nigeria and was a Visiting Research Associate at the University of Zimbabwe. He also holds a Visiting Professorship position at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Areas of Research Interests
• Emerging Powers and Global Leadership
• The Politics of Natural Resources Management
• Religious Radicalisation and Political Violence
• Politics, Security and International Relations in Africa
Publications
Books
Mugabe and the Politics of Security in Zimbabwe, Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press. 2012
Nigeria and the United States: Twists and Turns over 50 Years. New York: African Peace Support Publishers (Co-Edited with Shola Omoregei) 2011
Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa: The Tragedy of Endowment, Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 2007
Africa after the Cold War: The Changing Perspective on Security, Trenton, New Jersey: African World Press, 1998, (Co-Edited book with Adebayo Oyebade), 1998
Peacekeepers, Politicians and Warlords: The Liberian Peace Process, Tokyo and New York: United Nations University Press. (Co-authored with John Mackinlay and Funmi Olonisakin), 1999
The Burden of Collective Goodwill: The International Involvement in the Liberian Civil War, Aldershot: Ashgate Publishers. 1996
Brothers at War: Dissidence and Rebellion in Southern Africa, London: British Academic Press. 1994
Monographs and Occasional/Working Papers
Nigeria and the BRICs: Diplomatic, Trade, Cultural and Military Relations, South African Institute of International Affairs, Occasional Paper 101, (33 Pages) 2011
Nigeria and the Global Powers: Continuity and Change in Policy and Perceptions South African Institute of International Affairs (Occasional Papers, No 96) (28 Pages), 2011
Chinese Financial Institutions in Africa, South African Institute of International Affairs, (Occasional Paper Series No 103), (Co-authored with Riaan Meyer, Chris Alden and Christiana Alves), 2011
Nigeria: The Next Generation Report, British Council/ Harvard Institute of Public Health, Occasional Paper, August 2010. (Co-authored with David Bloom et al) (61 Pages), 2010
Chinese Economic Interest and Banking in Nigeria South African Institute of International Affairs (Occasional Paper No. 65). (14 Pages) 2010
The Mau-Mau Warrior,) Oxford: Osprey Publishing Company, 2005, ((OSPREY Warrior Series 108) (64 Pages) 2006
Security Reform in Democratic Nigeria, King’s College London Conflict Security and Development (Working Paper, No. 2). (48 Pages) 2000
The Role of African Regional and Sub-regional Organisations in Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Geneva: (UNHCR Working Paper Series, No. 23), (24 Pages) 2000
African Conflicts: The Future without the Cold War, London: Brassey Publishers for Centre for Defence Studies, King’s College London. (Brassey’s Defence Occasional Paper Series No. 26) (46 Pages) 1993
Liberia 1994: ECOMOG/UNOMIL Response to Complex Emergency, United Nations University Occasional Paper Series, No. 2, New York: United Nations Headquarters (Co Authored with John Mackinlay) (38 Pages) 1994
Chapters in Edited Books
“The Goodluck Jonathan Administration and the Management of National Security” in Adeoye Akinsanya and John Ayoade, (Eds.) Nigeria and the Jonathan Presidency: The First Year, Lanham: University Press of America, 2014
“Governance and Politics of Security in Zimbabwe”, in Martin Rupiya, Zimbabwe’s Military: Examining its Veto Power in the Transition to Democracy 2008 – 2013, Pretoria: APPRI Publishers. 2013
“Islamic Radicalisation and Political Violence in Nigeria”, in James Gow, Funmi Olonisakin, and Dijxhoorn Ernst (Eds.) Militancy and Violence in West Africa: Religion, Politics and Radicalisation, London: Routledge, 2013
“Islamic Radicalisation and Violence in Liberia” in James Gow, Funmi Olonisakin, and Dijxhoorn Ernst (Eds.) Militancy and Violence in West Africa: Religion, Politics and Radicalisation, London: Routledge, (Co-authored with Thomas Jaye) 2013
“Security in Post-Civil War Democratic Transitions in Africa”, in Akanmu Adebayo (Ed.), Managing Conflicts in Africa’s Democratic Transitions Idaho Falls: Lexington Books (Co-authored with Mike Adeyeye) 2012:
“Natural Resources and the Dynamics of Conflict” in Thomas Jaye and Stella Amadi (Eds) ECOWAS and the Dynamics of Conflict and Peace-building, Dakar: CODESRIA
“The Military Dimension in the United States/Nigeria Relations”, in Shola Omoregie and Abiodun Alao (Eds) Nigeria and the United States: Twists and Turns over 50 Years, New York: African Peace Support Publishers2011
“Natural Resource Management and Human Security in Africa”, in Ademola Abass, (ed.), Protecting Human Security in Africa, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010
“Peacekeepers Abroad, Trouble Makers at Home: The Nigeria Army, National Politics and Sub-Regional Policies”, in Layi Abegunrin and Soji Akomolafe (Eds.): Nigeria and the World: Essay in Honour of Professor Olajide Aluko: New York: Nova Publishers. 2006
“Disarmament amidst Revolving Constraints: Disarmament and Demobilisation in Liberia” in Ann Fitzgerald and Hilary Mason, (Eds.) From Conflict to Community: A Combatant’s Return to Citizenship, Shrivenham: Global Facilitation Network (With Funmi Olonisakin) 2005
“Managing Security in a Period of Change: Lessons and Conclusion from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS”, in Anne Hammerstad (ed). People States and Regions, Johannesburg: South African Institute of International Affairs. 2005
Striking a New Balance, Donor Policy Coherence and Development Cooperation in Difficult Environments, (With Robert Picciotto, Charles Alao, Eka Ikpe, Martin Kimani and Roger Slade) Background Paper for the Senior Forum on Development Effectiveness in Fragile States, OECD2005
“Privatization of Security and Security Sector Reform in Uganda” in Damien Lilly and Michael Page, Security Sector Reform and the Challenges of Privatisation of Security, London: International Alert 2002
“Globalization and the Changing Nature of Conflict in West Africa” in Ozonia Ojielo, Conflict and Conflict Resolution in West Africa, Lagos: CPA Publishers, 2002
“The Politics of Security Sector Reform in West Africa, in Brassey’s Defense Yearbook, London: Brassey Publishers, 1999
“The Problem of Failed States in Africa”, in Muthiah Alagappa and Takashi Inoguchi (eds.) Internal Security Management and the United Nations, Tokyo: United Nations University Press, 1999
“Redefining African Security, in Adebayo Oyebade and Abiodun Alao (eds.) Africa After the Cold War: The Changing Perspective on Security, Trenton, New Jersey: African World Press, (With Adebayo Oyebade) 1998
“The Environment and African Security: Implications of Continued Neglect” in ibid
“Post-Cold War Africa: Ethnicity, Ethnic Conflict and Security” in ibid, (With Funmi Olonisakin).
“Democracy and Security in Africa: The Changing Nature of a Linkage” in ibid, (With Amadu Sesay)
“A Short Peep into a Long Future” in ibid, (With Adebayo Oyebade)
“Southern Africa after Apartheid: Opportunities and Limitations, in Sola Akinrinade and Amadu Sesay (eds.) Africa In the New International Order (Essays in Honour of Professor James Mayall) London: Pinter Publishers, 1998
“Managing Potential Security Problems in Liberia” in Kayode Fayemi (ed) State Rebuilding after State Collapse: Security, Democracy and Development in Post War Liberia, London: Centre for Democracy and Development, 1998
“The Metamorphosis of the Unorthodox: The Integration and Early Development of the Zimbabwean National Army” in Nguabi Bhebe and Terence Ranger (eds.) Soldiers in Zimbabwe’s Liberation War, London: James Currey, 1995
“Angola’s Second Civil War” in The World in Conflict 1994/95, London: Jane’s Information Group, 1995:
“One Step Forward, Two Steps Backward: Liberia 1994”, in The World in Conflict 1994/95, London: Jane’s Information Group, (With Amadu Sesay) 1995
“Anarchy and Tranquillity in the Horn of Africa” in Brassey Defence Yearbook, 1994, London: Brassey Publishers, 1994
“Peacekeeping in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Liberian Civil War”, in Brassey Defence Yearbook 1993, London: Brasseys Publishers. 1993
“The OAU and the Problem of Western Sahara”, in Olakunle Lawal (Ed), The OAU and the Changing Nature of Conflict in Africa, Lagos: Bumason Publishers1990
“Nigeria and European Economic Community” in Bolaji Akinyemi, Femi Otubanjo and Olu Agbi (eds.), Nigeria: The First Twenty Five Years (Part of the Official History Project Commissioned by the Federal Government of Nigeria), Ibadan: Heinemann, (With Aderemi Ajibewa) 1988
Refereed Articles in Journals
“The Message from the Mess: The Past in the Present and Future of West Africa”, Ife Journal of History, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2007
“Youth in the Interface of Security and Development”, in Conflict Security and Development, Issue 1, No. 1. March 2007. (With Olawale Ismail) 2007
“Cut Short for Taking Shortcuts: The Lome Peace Agreement on Sierra Leone”, Journal of Civil Wars, Vol. 4, No. 3, autumn, 2001. (With Comfort Ero) 2001
“Between Economic Fragility and Political Fluidity: Natural Resource Conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, Journal of International Peacekeeping, Vol. 7, No. 4 Winter, 2000, (With Funmi Olonisakin), 2000
“Diamonds are Forever … But so also are Controversies: Diamonds and the Actors in the Sierra Leone Civil War”, Journal of Civil Wars, Vol. 2, No. 3.1999
“Sierra Leone: A New Dawn”, in African Business Focus, The Official Yearbook of the British Business Association, London: African Business Association 1999
“Comparative Evaluation of the Arms Struggles in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe”, Journal of Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 8, No. 4, Winter, 1996
“Analysis of Liberian Peace Agreements: 1990 – 1996”, Accord: An International Review of Peace Initiatives, Issue 1, 1996
“Africa and the Refugee Problem: The Case of the Horn of Africa”, Renaissance Universal Journal, (Canada) Vol. 5. No. 4, 1998
Policy-Oriented and Public-Audience Reports
“Strategies for Implementing the Natural Resource Governance Module of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework”. (Submitted to ECOWAS) 2010
“Climate Change and Conflict over Natural Resources in Africa” (Submitted to the Office of the United Nation’s Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) 2009
“Addressing the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in Africa”, (Submitted to the United Nation’s Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) 2009
Striking a New Balance, Donor Policy Coherence and Development Cooperation in Difficult Environments, (With Robert Picciotto, Charles Alao, Eka Ikpe, Martin Kimani and Roger Slade) Background Paper for the Senior Forum on Development Effectiveness in Fragile States, OECD, 2005
“Overview of Conflict in West Africa and the Crisis in Cote d’Ivoire”, in OECD Concept Paper Document on Regional Dynamics and the Crises in West Africa, Geneva: OECD 2002.
“Africa 2001 –2002: Possible Conflict Hotspots and Likely Scenario for Massive Population Displacement”, (For the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) June 2001.
“Policy Paper on ECOWAS and Child Protection in West Africa” (Produced for ECOWAS and the Canadian Department for Trade and International Development) 1999
“Investment and the Security Situation in Guinea”, (For the World Bank) 1998
“The Genesis and Developments of the Crisis in Sierra Leone”, Briefing Paper for the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), June 1998
“Abacha and Nigeria: Legacies of a Rule and the Challenges of a Demise”, Jane’s Intelligence Review, August, 1998
“Crisis in Central Africa”, Special Report 13 of Jane’s Intelligence Review, with Andrew Rathmell, John Mackinlay, Clive Schfield, Frank Smyth and William Wallace, 1996
“The Civil War in Sierra Leone: West Africa’s Forgotten Civil War”, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Vol. 7, No. 5, (With Amadu Sesay) 1995
“Nigeria: The Return of the Military”, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Vol. 6, No. 3, September 1994
“The Rwandan Tragedy: Incidence, Prelude or Warning”, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Vol. 6, No. 10, 1994
“ECOMOG in Liberia: The Anaemic Existence of a Mission”, Jane’s Intelligence Review, Vol. 5, No. 4, 1993