Roadblocks to Economic Integration in the Igad Sub-Regional
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2002-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempts to identify the principal challenges to economic
integration in the sub-region of IGAD. The study argues that theories of
economic integration that are relevant to understanding the roadblocks to the
attempts aimed at economic integration in developing countries in general and
in the IGAD sub-region in particular require a merger of the theories of
functionalism, neo-functionalism and dynamic Customs Union and exogenous
factors.
The study tries to set out the main conditions that are necessary for successful
economic integration among developing countries which are explored from
the past experience of regional and sub-regional economic groupings within
and outside the continent of Africa. These are: the need for the existence of at
least one ‘big brother’ in the economic bloc and/or larger number of
participating member states; de-link from North and encourage South-South
cooperation; the promotion and development of infrastructure and
communications; the need for sustained and irreversible commitment on the
parts of the participating governments to honor financial contribution,
empower the sub-regional organization and incorporate regional polices into
national programmes; and the need for the existence of stability, compromise,
tolerance and political harmony, and confidence among member states.
The assessment of this study reveals the prevalence of major challenges that
work against the attempt to effective economic integration in the IGAD subregion. The principal challenges identified are: excessive dependence of
member states on external agents ( the Western countries and their
institutions), the impact of the triad trading blocs ( Europe, America, East
Asia), the incompatibility of the Lome Convention and Structural Adjustment
Programmes (SAPs) on the promotion of regionalism, poor communication.
performance, lack of sustained and irreversible commitment by the
participating governments, and mistrust, suspicion and lack of confidence
between and among the partners.
The conclusion that emerges from such analysis is that the economic
integration attempt in the IGAD sub-region is far from success. Thus, this
study stresses that if genuine and sustainable economic integration is to be
pursued in the sub-region, IGAD needs to minimize its ties with the North and
enhance South-South cooperation, ensure the harmonization of national and
sub-regional policies, promote an active involvement of people in the
economic integration process, make sustained and irreversible commitment on
the progress made, develop a climate of trust and confidence among the
nations and populations, and make short-term compromises in the interest of
long-term goals and benefits.
Description
Keywords
International Relation