'This perceptive and innovative account provides vital insights into an important and under-researched aspect of peacekeeping: why and how African states became hosts of peacekeeping missions and at the same time providers of peacekeepers. In short, what has peacekeeping meant for the continent broadly speaking? With their deep understanding of peacekeeping, African politics and history, Fisher and Wilén are perfectly positioned to answer this question. They have crafted a book that is essential reading for anyone who is interested in contemporary peacekeeping, especially those who want to go to a deeper level than narrowly understand the impact of missions as they deploy.' Peter Albrecht, Danish Institute for International Studies