EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY (EAC) PACE TOWARDS GLOBALIZATION

Linus , 2018

Globalization, one of the realities of the world has led to the adoption of regional integration across the world to expand the influence of various nations. Countries have integrated economically and politically so as acquire greater military capacity, increase political influence or to reap from the benefits of a larger markets. This study thus investigates the implication of establishing East African Political Federation; the last stage of East African Community integration process. The study examines the history and development of federalism with focus on established federal units such as United States of America and United Kingdom. It also focus on history of East African Community and investigates contribution of economic and social factors within the region towards achieving a political federation within the region. This study employed primary and secondary data to conduct the research. Primary data was collected through interviews and questionnaires while secondary data was garnered from already published scholarly works on the topic. Further, content analysis was employed to analyze the information. The study concluded that economic and social factors plays a major role towards the achievement of a political federation. The study concludes that East African Community has made significant strides towards establishing a political federation especially by ensuring economic integration is achieved. Further, the study found out that East African Community still faces several hurdles towards achieving a political federation, such as lack of political good will, citizen awareness and participation and mistrust among leaders from the various countries.

2012

A Conceptual Clarification A formal interest in the unfolding events in the realm of international politics brings to the immediate fore two overlapping if not mutually inclusive tendencies: on the one hand, there is an increasing drive towards a robust revitalisation and a steady proliferation of regional integration efforts 1 ; and on the other, and particularly within the historical framework of post-Cold War era, the erratic and, sometimes, violent fracturing of national entities into irredentist sub-national claims, variably shaped by the potential for internecine conflicts. Whichever of these historical trends captures the real spirit of the time remains a moot question. It is mute because the rip-tide of globalizationfragmentation of national entities increasingly seems to go hand in hand. It is, however, necessary to observe that the two tendencies are not necessarily mutually exclusive. In fact, in one way or another, they enjoy mutual interpenetration, particularly in a sense that betrays strategic overlap and mutual embededness. To be sure, they all serve the social forces, the strategic interests of which either conflate or repel each other as these inform the historical character and logic of neo-liberal globalization.

2014

The East Africa Community (EAC) is one of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa, with integration in the region dating back to pre-colonial times. However, the integration process has achieved less than desired as witnessed with the collapse of the previous EAC in 1977. This study critically reviews the challenges facing economic integration in the EAC by first tracing the history of the integration process, its successes and failures, and identifies the challenges of the present EAC economic integration process. The major conclusions that emerge from the study are: First, the overlapping REC's membership by partner states continue to posing harmonization and coordination challenges. In addition this indicates a lack of political commitment among partner states. Second, the EAC institutions are weak as they lack the capacity to enforce sanctions against partner states who fail to implement agreements. The selection process of the members of these institutions is not democratic as they are handpicked by partner states with the absence of the citizens' views. Finally, issues of Non-Trade barriers (NTBs), poor infrastructure and limited private sector engagement are an impediment to economic growth in the region. These problems seem to have made building a successful integration process a daunting task for the EAC, despite its perceived importance in the increasingly globalized world. Thus, partner states need to take integration not only as a pan-African ideology but more importantly as economic survival strategy. vi ABBREVIATIONS AFRICAN UNION African Union CET Common External Tariff COMESA Common Market East and Southern EABC East African Business Council EAC East Africa Community EACJ East Africa Court of Justice EACSO East African Common Services EAHC East African High Commission EALA East Africa Legislative Assembly ECCAS Economic Community of Central African States ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EEC European Economic Community EPA Economic Partnership Agreement EU European Union FDI Foreign Direct Investments FTA Free Trade Agreement GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GDP Gross Domestic Product LPA Lagos Plan of Action MFN Most-Favour Nation NBT Non Trade Barriers OAU Organisation of Africa Unity PTA Preferential Trade Agreements REC Regional Economic Community RIA Regional Integration Agreements RTA Regional Trade Agreements SADC Southern African Development Cooperation vii LIST OF TABLES

Springer eBooks, 2022

is a magnun opus for everyone interested in regional integration particularly in the East African region. It is the only text that comprehensively traces and puts into proper conceptual and theoretical corpus as well as historical trajectory the evolution of integration of the East African region. The book is a useful addition to African History, African International Relations, African Politics, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Relations, and Regional Integration courses, as well as a tool for policy makers, diplomats, and the NGO community."

Recht in Afrika, 2018

The effects of regional economic integration on trade and development of the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was chosen as topic for this article to examine how much impact regional integration has made among Member States. The history of regional economic integration is discussed to highlight the developmental trajectory of different regional groups. This paper has a critical look at the formation of regional economic blocs around the globe, with a view to show how they operate for the purpose of fostering regional cooperation among members. The history of the formation of the Economic Community of West African States and the challenges which have constrained its transformation into a complete regional economic union is also discussed.

Singaporean Journal of Business , Economics and Management Studies, 2012

Interactions existed among the people of West Africa in pre-colonial era while colonialism and early post colonial experiences significantly eroded the gains of integration. Post-colonial efforts towards integration manifested in the formation of ECOWAS in 1975. The gains derived from integration and the hope of fast tracking the prospect motivated this study. The study found that achievements were recorded in sensitization efforts, treaties directed at removal of obstacles to free movement of persons, goods and capital, management of conflicts and trade liberalization. However, conflicts, crisis of confidence, and inability of member states to implement protocols, foreign intervention, language barriers and lack of single currency were among the noticeable challenges. The study concludes that the challenges could be overcome in the interest of member states. It recommends the removal of unfair trade laws, custom and immigration restrictions imposed by corrupt officials, while the immigrations and customs of member states be adequately carried along to ensure compliance with existing protocols.

Confluence Journal of History and International Affairs (CJHIA), 2022

Giving the socio-political contradictions enhanced by the artificial creation of colonial states in East and West Africa, regional integration has remained a management strategy to keep African emergent states running. That notwithstanding, since the early years of colonialism and particularly in post-colonial times, the consequences of an unsolicited integration made by the colonialist in their scramble for and partition of Africa has left with Africa myriads of almost intractable problems to fix, ranging from ethnic rivalries, minority agitations, religious intolerance to civil wars. Unpalatably, these experiences have continuously taken bloodletting, violent and high profiled murderous approaches, to talk less of its influence in clogging the political stability and economic development of the African states in post-colonial times. The current study touches on the integration efforts in East Africa and West Africa since the early years of colonialism in the integrated into the EAC and ECOWAS respectively to create a stronger font for integration within the regions.

1984

b. From Addis Ababa (1963) to Accra (1965) 86-98 C. References and Footnotes 99-100 226d. References and Footnotes 234-CHAPTER 8 : FORMATION OF THE COMMUNAUTE ECONOMIQUE de L'AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE (CEAO) 1970-1973 236 a. France and the CEA() 238b. The Ivory Coast and the CEA() 239-244 c. Senegal and the CEA() 244d. e. Creation of the CEA() 248-Reconciliation Between the Ivory , f.