The ongoing debate about the need for social, economic and political reforms in Africa centres on issues of peace, security and development. Peace. Security and development are viewed as necessary conditions for social stability and the promotion of human security.

Conflict in a significant number of African countries has often resulted in severe disruption of social and economic development. Consequently, efforts to reduce poverty and sustain basic human rights have been severely constrained; leading to recurrence of violence where peace agreements have been sealed and the escalation of violence where conflicts have hitherto been latent.

Another significant problem faced by Africans is the acute shortage of books and journals. Too often as a result, students depend far too much on lecturers' notes which they copy assiduously, learn religiously and reproduce faithfully in examinations. This re-cycling of old and worn material cannot engender the culture of creativity, critical thinking and ingenuity. Such creativity cannot be engendered if African scholars and other Africanists do not engage one another on the critical issues facing the continent. Understanding of the fundamental causes and conditions of violence and approaches to peace in Africa with all its peculiarities can only be achieved when Africans and others engage in the critical exploration of the African realities. It is in view of this, that the University for Peace, Africa Programme has launched a peer reviewed journal; "Africa Peace and Conflict Journal (APCJ)".

The aim of the APCJ peer review process is to be rigorous and free of bias, ensuring that only high-quality, innovative work is published. The interdisciplinary emphasis of APCJ seeks to encourage the building of the field, combining the disciplines of peace and conflict studies, development, and human and social security in Africa. Gender is viewed as a cross-cutting research strategy and tool, consistent with the UPEACE policy of mainstreaming gender. Diverse regional, gender, experience and interest representation on the peer review panel is given high priority, to ensure article contents and methods are at the forefront of new thinking and practices. APCJ uses a double-blind review process, where the writer does not know his or her reviewer, and the reviewer does not know the author. This method seeks to prevent both positive and negative bias stemming from name recognition.