This thesis examines the efforts undertaken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Regional Economic Community, which has been established on August 17, 1992, and which encompasses fifteen states of the Southern Africa region. While regional economic integration and economic growth remain a primary goal of the organization, the community also decided to commence an ambitious project of establishment of the regional peace and security architecture. The analysis of this

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... is a main focus of this thesis. Security cooperation has been given a special attention by the SADC, as it was very early recognized by the community that peace and security in the region constitute necessary preconditions for creation of conductive environment for sustainable socio-economic development. However, not infrequently the SADC comes under criticism as unable and unwilling to pursue its goal pertaining security in meaningful and effective manner. Analysis and reassessment of the state of security regime development reached by the SADC, as well as its effectiveness in fostering human security are in the center of this research. In other words, the aim of the master thesis is to determine what are deficiencies and achievements of the SADC's security architecture in providing for stable peace in the region. The theoretical foundation of the research is derived from works of Emanuel Adler and Michael Barnett on security communities. Further, changing paradigms on human security and human development are discussed as a point of reference to the SADC's undertakings. The study gives an insight on the institutional structure of the SADC; provides a brief history of the organization; discusses aims and objectives of the community outlined it its documents; and elucidates its institutional structure. It also examines the community's response to the ongoing conflicts and crises in the region.