African Regional integration
Jonathan’s article about African Regional Integration highlights the problems faced by the continent to have an European Union style organisation. The number of regional organisations (list summarised here) within the continent doing same thing means resources are not fully maximised. Jonathan also points out:
Political constraints also play a part in inhibiting African regional integration; many African countries, including nominal democracies, have an entrenched and corrupt political class that is resistant to any attempts to reduce its authority. Creation of supranational institutions has also not been an urgent political issue for African electorates, which tend to focus on issues closer to home.
With the problem of many regional organisations carrying out the same functions coupled with lack of funds from member states, combining some of this regional organisations maybe an ideal solution.
Tags: Africa, Business, Nigeria
Comments (2)
i concur with your argument i.e political constraints and delay in contributions by member states as pitfalls of most of regional groupings in africa. the most important question is do we still need the regional groupings in africa? definitely yes. but new form of partinership in which less emphasis on ideology and political stand point on the expense of strengthening production process and widdening markert within africa. but critical question remain can economic forces operate independently without political concert?may be this call for a new debate on development paradox. i therefore suggest that regional groupings can work effectively if political, social and economic coupled with environmental aspects are treated equally.
By the way, for those of you who didn’t know, the EU (EEC) was actually based on the East African Community, wich existed until the mid 70’s.
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