The structure and operation of the SADC: a comparative assessment of its conflict management approach: case study-Madagascar

Abstract

This research intends to attempt to investigate why the constitutional crisis has ranged on in Madagascar in spite of mediation efforts by SADC. In answering this question, the paper is looking into exogenous and endogenous reasons for SADC's failure in bringing peace to Madagascar. As such, the study shall attempt to answer the question, has the structure and/or the conflict management of SADC affected mediation efforts in the Madagascan conflict? The main objectives of this research shall be: To assess the structure and operation of SADC, to carry out a comparative assessment of its conflict management approach and to investigate SADC's conflict management efforts in Madagascar. To guide this study, the concept of mediation shall be employed throughout. The hypotheses that are tested in the research are: Competing interests within SADC contribute to SADC's failure in Madagascar conflict management, competing/conflicting interests in Madagascar by the parties contribute to mediation efforts failure and that the structure and conflict management strategies of SADC are party to mediation failure in Madagascar. The methodology used describes the research design which in this case is case study, research site being SADC, sampling procedures, research instruments, that is, questionnaires and interviews and data collection which shall be questionnaires and interviews as well.