The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality

Africa has a high concentration of sub-regional economic organisations, multilateral arrangements and institutions promoting the goals of integration. Yet, the continent has remained the least integrated of the world’s major regions. Africa has remained slow in its development trajectory and harbour...

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Main Author: Peace A. Jiboku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2015-12-01
Series:Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.apsdpr.org/index.php/apsdpr/article/view/96
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author Peace A. Jiboku
author_facet Peace A. Jiboku
author_sort Peace A. Jiboku
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description Africa has a high concentration of sub-regional economic organisations, multilateral arrangements and institutions promoting the goals of integration. Yet, the continent has remained the least integrated of the world’s major regions. Africa has remained slow in its development trajectory and harbours most of the least developed countries of the world. A large percentage of the African populace is mired in poverty while the sub-continent continues to be marginalised in global affairs. The obvious reality is that Africa is yet to benefit fully from the gains of regional economic integration and that the economic transformation of the African continent as a whole – one of the main objectives often declared in establishing regional economic integration schemes – is yet to be realised. There is, in Africa, a seemingly wide gap between the theoretical aspirations towards regional economic integration and the empirical evidence and practical reality of actual integration. Regionalism in Africa raises several issues of contradictions and debate in the world of theory. This paper examines regional economic integration challenge in Africa locating key issues within theory and practice.
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spelling doaj.art-c4534f1933454740944b6eed054c91602022-12-22T01:42:57ZengAOSISAfrica’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review2310-21952310-21522015-12-013452810.4102/apsdpr.v3i4.9695The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and RealityPeace A. Jiboku0University of KwaZulu-NatalAfrica has a high concentration of sub-regional economic organisations, multilateral arrangements and institutions promoting the goals of integration. Yet, the continent has remained the least integrated of the world’s major regions. Africa has remained slow in its development trajectory and harbours most of the least developed countries of the world. A large percentage of the African populace is mired in poverty while the sub-continent continues to be marginalised in global affairs. The obvious reality is that Africa is yet to benefit fully from the gains of regional economic integration and that the economic transformation of the African continent as a whole – one of the main objectives often declared in establishing regional economic integration schemes – is yet to be realised. There is, in Africa, a seemingly wide gap between the theoretical aspirations towards regional economic integration and the empirical evidence and practical reality of actual integration. Regionalism in Africa raises several issues of contradictions and debate in the world of theory. This paper examines regional economic integration challenge in Africa locating key issues within theory and practice.http://www.apsdpr.org/index.php/apsdpr/article/view/96Regionalismregional cooperationeconomic integrationAUNEPADSADCECOWASAfrica
spellingShingle Peace A. Jiboku
The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality
Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review
Regionalism
regional cooperation
economic integration
AU
NEPAD
SADC
ECOWAS
Africa
title The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality
title_full The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality
title_fullStr The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality
title_full_unstemmed The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality
title_short The Challenge of Regional Economic Integration in Africa: Theory and Reality
title_sort challenge of regional economic integration in africa theory and reality
topic Regionalism
regional cooperation
economic integration
AU
NEPAD
SADC
ECOWAS
Africa
url http://www.apsdpr.org/index.php/apsdpr/article/view/96
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