Challenges of regionalism in Africa and regional integration in Africa. a case study of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), 1992-2014

Abstract

There has been general consensus that regional integration is the way forward for underdeveloped countries and in particular those in Southern Africa. While it is true that regional integration is the solution to some if not many of the problems being faced by these countries as seen from successful integration initiatives in Europe for example the European Union (EU), very few scholars focus on the challenges of regionalism and regional integration in Southern Africa. The study focuses on the challenges of regionalism and regional integration in Southern Africa. The challenges focused on by this study include both with achieving regionalism and regional integration in Southern Africa and those challenges which might be faced if deeper integration is eventually achieved in the region. The study also focuses on the role of SADC as far as regional integration is concerned in the region. This study also traces the formation of SADCC and its subsequent transformation to SADC so as to carter for new developments such as economic integration. The study also traces the beginning of regionalism and regional integration in southern Africa. Besides tracing the origins of regionalism and regional integration in Africa the study also gives the current position of regional integration in Southern Africa and what it intends to achieve in the future. The study also examines the current challenges being faced by SADC to achieve deeper regional integration such as the issue of rules of origin and infrastructure. Besides being guided by the integration theory and other theories the study also made use of secondary sources by comparing and analyzing data. Apart from these the study was also informed by questionnaires. The research purpose was to highlight and examine the challenges to regionalism and regional integration in Africa using SADC as a case study.