APCJ_1528_Win2010_00i_122_4 12/30/10 3:22 PM Page 118 118 AFRICA PEACE AND CONFLICT JOURNAL functioning and budgeting dilemmas, its conflict management position, the counterproductive principle of ‘non-interference’ in intra-state matters, and lack of leadership—affected the foundation and institutional character of the AU. In the next chapter, Kathryn Sturman and Aïssatou Hayatou review the developments that led to the launch of the peace and security architecture and outline its achievements thus far. They also detail the composition, membership dynamics, and functionality of the architecture’s first pillar, the Peace and Security Council (PSC), over a five-year period. Tim Murithi and Charles Mwaura take a look at the Panel of the Wise, an innovative and distinctive pillar of the APSA. Espousing on the cultural basis for the establishment of the panel, they discuss its composition, mandate, and modus operandi, concluding with recommendations on how it can be further supported in its singularly laudable task of preventive diplomacy. Another pillar, the Continental Early Warning System, established to monitor, analyze, and provide policy options to facilitate timely responses to threats and conflict situations, is the focus of the next chapter. The authors elaborate on its establishment and operation, which depends on an array of collaborative partners, including the United Nations and its agencies, the AU’s Regional Economic Commissions, and AU field stations. Regional early warning mechanisms collaborate with the PSC-supervised Observation and Monitoring Center, which by using clearly defined indicators provides recommendations to the AU commission chairperson, who then advices the council on the best course of action. Jakkie Cilliers and Johan Potgieter’s examine the Africa Standby Force, discussing its origins, structure, mandate and progress and also providing critical analysis. In their opinion, the force is ‘an ambitious scheme to enable Africa to play a greater role in, and assume more responsibility for, continental conflict management’ (p. 112). Engels and Gomes Porto conclude the volume with reflections on the findings of the contributors. Citing such issues as the linguistic choice of the word architecture to qualify the peace and security vision of the AU, the disparity between underlying principles and standards of behavior, the continued lack of a strong executive commission, and questions of sustainability and ownership, the editors proffer the concept of ‘regime’ as reflecting ‘an architecture that depends on a variety of actors for its implementation, effectiveness and resilience’ (p. 153). It is often quite satisfying when a book delivers what it promises, in this case ‘to provide students, academics and practitioners with an informed and critical analysis of the operationalization and institutionalization of the APSA’ (p. 143). Africa’s New Peace and Security Architecture is a well-written, well-researched contribution to the understanding of the institutions that constitute the AU’s new peace and security organ, providing detailed assessments of the potentials and challenges each one faces. The direct involvement of contributors and editors in the conceptualization and realization of the architecture makes for much-needed insightful analyses and commentary for researchers and scholars studying aspects of regionalism, African security, globalization, and other related topics. Most refreshing is the frank, sometimes scathing candor of the authors in their portrayal of some of the challenges facing the AU, ranging from the petty and outrageous (egos and rampant disregard for procedures) to the grave (commitment from member states, dwindling finances, lack of capacity, and so on). The editors’ hopeful, yet guarded language in the introductory paragraphs of their opening and closing chapters tampers unrestrained biases of the reader and sets the tone for a healthy ap-