Regional Cooperation and Continental Integration

8/10/2019 Regional Cooperation and Continental Integration

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Regional Cooperation andContinental Integration

Dr Isaac K. ArthurDepartment of Geography and Resource Development

University of Ghana, Legon

GEOG 323: Regional Geography of Africa (East Africa)


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What is regional Co-operation?

It concerned with people and organizations in

a region working together to solve common

problems and pursue common ends.


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What is regional integration?

The study of regional integration is concerned withexplaining how and why states cease to be wholly sovereign,how and why -they voluntarily mingle, merge, and mix withtheir neighbours so as to lose the factual attributes ofsovereignty while acquiring new techniques for resolving

conflict between themselves(Haas 1970 p. 610).

Regional integration is a process in which neighboring statesenter into an agreement in order to upgrade cooperationthrough common institutions and rules.

Regional integration is the process by which two or morenation-states agree to co-operate and work closely together toachieve peace, stability and wealth.


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Regional cooperation and integration

Regional cooperation and integration is a

process by which national economies become

more interconnected regionally.


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The case for regional cooperation and

integration in Africa Africa's unique physical, economic and political geography poses many

challenges to economic development and management of shared

public goods.

Political borders are often not aligned with economic and naturalresources and many countries are landlocked.

National economies and populations are generally quite small, but

cover large geographic expanses with poor connective infrastructure.

Regional integration and cooperation offers the means to overcome

these obstacles and to be competitive in the global marketplace.

World Bank 2013


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Rationale for Regional Integration

Unity among countries to form economic bloc can

expand bargaining power of each component country.

Markets & production capacities of smaller countries

can achieve economies of scale.

Merging or pooling resources to support infrastructure

that crosses boundaries: rail, roads, air transport,shipping esp. for landlocked countries such as Uganda,

Mali, Burkina Faso, etc.


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Rationale for Regional Integration

Sharing of research and scientificinformation for challenges that cross

national boundaries:

Environmental management

Disease vector control

Tourism development

Housing settlements

Employment & labor force migration


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Regional Co-operation Under Colonial

Rule in East Africa Unionisation in the sub region was a topic of interest to

the colonial powers.

This was essential to facilitate the mobilisation of

resources and coordination of services over a larger areafor economic development.

The issue of consolidating and administration andrationalising the provision of infrastructure services British,East Central and Southern Africa came to the fore.

After the British assuming control over Tanganyika andZanzibar at the end of WW 1


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The first move was made towards closer union andcoordination of policy in East Africa and CentralAfrica.

There was little local support for the idea of theunion among the European settlers and the Africans

were probably not aware of the proposal.

The idea was revived in 1929 but it again metopposition from the white settlers in the region.

Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasalandwere later constituted into the Central AfricanFederation.


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However, the federation was disbanded under

African attack.

The three colonies became separate states and were

renamed Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

A scheme for coordination of common services in

East Africa was officially accepted in 1947.

The East African High Commission and the East

African Central Assembly was created and charged

with responsibility of implementing the scheme.


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The East African Community was set up in 1948 tooperate common services in transport and

communication, administration, education, banking andcurrency systems.

In the transition of independence, the EAC wasrecognised in 1961 and called East AfricanCommunity Organisation (EACO).

The organisation handled administration of thesocial, economic and scientific services in theregion.


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The Basis of Post-Independence Integration

Uganda is land-locked and depends on transportation network

of Kenya for access to the Indian Ocean to transact

international trade.

The problems arising from the division of several ethnic

communities by the colonial boundaries which have been

inherited by the African countries would be resolved by closer

co-operation among the three states.

Common histories & related cultures

Contiguous borders


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Common means of communicating:

Swahili is a lingua franca in the region: Uganda,Kenya, Tanzania

English is a unifying language, legacy of

colonialism.

Francophone former Belgium colony, Rwanda

adopted English as language for university

instruction


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East African Economic Community The EAC was treaty was established in 1967.

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation that aims to

promote regional integration through increased trade in the

region by ensuring free movement of people, goods and the

factors of production among the member states.

Coordinating role

It also sought to promote cooperation and integration among

member states in a wide variety of policy areas, including science

and technology, environment and natural resources management,

and health, social and cultural activities.


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Challenges of Integration

Political and ideological differences

Trans-boundary disputes

Competing industries The rise to power of Idi Amin, horrors

committed and the breakdown of Ugandas

economy.

Poor infrastructure

Now: Emergent terrorism
http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512


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The East Africa Community Revived

Following Amins ouster, leaders of the three membercountries agreed again in 1984 to explore futurepossibilities for cooperation.

A treaty was signed in 1999 to re-establish the EAC, andthis was formally reconstituted in 000 when the treaty

went into force.

In January 2005 the EAC established a customs unionthat eliminated duties on goods traded with in the EAC.

Burundi and Rwanda joined in 2007 and also becamepart of the customs union.

Intention to form a federation.

E t Af i C it
http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512http://www.google.com.gh/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.ppda.go.ug/eapf2013/&ei=upZrVOnxF5D0igLpxICgBw&bvm=bv.79908130,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNGHzhQvC4JZANxfBRQaCin_73hdRg&ust=1416423467371512


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East Africa Community

http://www.eac.int/

Member States:

Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
http://www.eac.int/http://www.eac.int/


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Organizations that promote

Regional Integration &

Cooperation


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Other Regional Organizations COMESA

Common Market for Eastern & SouthernAfrica

SADC

Southern African Development Community.Includes East African countries

ICAD (Inter-Governmental Authority forDevelopment)-regional trading bloc

consisting of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya,Uganda


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Group Presentation Exercise

The role of mineral and energy resources in

East Africa.

Why is regional integration an option for

development in East Africa.

Regional Cooperation and Continental Integration

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