Development in Africa has been an issue for many years now. Since the independence of most of the states in the 1960’s, the western countries have tried to help the so- called third world countries to develop their economies and thus to lift their population out of poverty. The efforts were conducted through direct intervention or through the non-governmental organisation like the IMF or the UN. Despite decades of commitment and billion dollar efforts, most of Africa remains in a poor status with nearly half of its population living on less than one dollar per day.
Since its independence regional frameworks have existed but only obtained little attention from international as well as from national side. But with the failure of most programmes and the ever growing stronger trend to regional trade agreements throughout the whole world, the frameworks in Africa have moved in the centre of attention. International organisations promote the further integration of these; national governments put the frameworks on the top of their agendas.
The aim of this project is to show the possible influence of regional cooperation frameworks in the development process of the countries in the West-African region. The analysis was focused on two existent regional frameworks, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
During the analysis, the nature of the ECOWAS and the WAEMU is to be identified as well as possible differences in their approach of the regional development. The question that will be asked are how the influence of the unions exactly looks like, which effects this has on the members, how the unions evolved over the time and how they plan to develop in the future.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Regionalism
2.1 Regionalism and Cooperation in Africa
3 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
3.1 The ECOWAS History
3.2 Missions
3.3 External Factors
3.3.1 USA
3.3.2 European Union
3.3.3 Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s)
3.3.3.1 The WTO
3.3.3.2 The World Bank
3.3.3.3 The IMF
3.3.3.4 The United Nations
4 The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
4.1 The WAEMU History
4.2 Missions
4.3 External Factors
4.3.1 Governments
4.3.2 NGO’s
4.4 The Process of Development
5 Close up on selected states
5.1 Nigeria
5.1.1 Overview
5.1.2 Analysis
5.2 Ghana
5.2.1 Overview
5.2.2 Analysis
5.3 Togo
5.3.1 Overview
5.3.2 Analysis
5.4 Senegal
5.4.1 Overview
5.4.2 Analysis
5.5 Sierra Leone
5.5.1 Overview
5.5.2 Analysis
6 Conclusion
7 References
Objectives & Themes
This work explores the impact of regional cooperation frameworks on the industrialization and development processes within West Africa. It investigates how unions such as ECOWAS and WAEMU have evolved, their effectiveness in fostering stability and economic integration, and how external international actors influence these development paths.
- Evolution and mission of the ECOWAS and WAEMU frameworks
- Role of external factors (USA, EU, International Organizations) in African development
- Comparative analysis of industrialization policies and economic integration
- Case studies on Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone
- Evaluation of the challenges and success factors for regional stability and growth
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 External Factors
After having substantially supported various governments in middle and east Africa during the cold war (Zaire, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Sudan), the US Aid to the Sub-Saharan zone after the end of the cold war has been declining steadily.
Right after the Gulf War, the Bush senior administration started various military engagements in East Africa. But following the 1993 Mogadishu disaster a shift in the foreign policy of the newly elected Clinton administration turned the attention to more political influence on the black continent. The US sought to strengthen the political and economical ties. One major focus came then on Nigeria, the main oil producing country of the region. Other major recipients of the US attention include South Africa, Ghana and Rwanda. US Policy towards the African Region shifted from a direct influence through military or financial presence to a more diplomatic approach.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides a background on the development challenges in Africa and states the objective of examining the influence of ECOWAS and WAEMU.
2 Regionalism: Explores the concept of regionalism and its historical emergence as a tool for competition and economic integration.
3 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): Analyzes the history, missions, and the impact of external actors on ECOWAS as a regional entity.
4 The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): Details the history, missions, and the specific influence of France and other international actors on WAEMU.
5 Close up on selected states: Offers a country-specific look at Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone to demonstrate the diversity of development within the regional unions.
6 Conclusion: Reflects on the effectiveness of regional frameworks and emphasizes the necessity of internal reforms for future success.
7 References: Lists the academic, institutional, and policy documents used for this study.
Keywords
ECOWAS, WAEMU, Regionalism, Industrialization, Development, Africa, West Africa, Economic Integration, Foreign Aid, Structural Adjustment, Trade Agreements, Globalization, Political Stability, Trade Liberalization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The work examines the role of regional integration frameworks, specifically ECOWAS and WAEMU, in promoting industrialization and economic development in West Africa.
Which regional organizations are analyzed?
The study focuses primarily on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
What is the core research question?
The research asks how these regional unions influence development, how they differ in their approaches, how they have evolved over time, and what effects they have on their member states.
Which methodology does the author use?
The author reviews existing literature, annual reports, and working papers to provide a comprehensive analysis of the functioning and challenges of these regional frameworks.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the history and missions of the organizations, the impact of external international actors like the US, EU, and NGOs, and detailed case studies of five specific West African nations.
What are the characterizing keywords of the work?
Key terms include regionalism, industrialization, economic integration, structural adjustment, trade liberalization, and political stability in the West African context.
How does the author view the influence of external actors on WAEMU?
The author highlights the significant and unique role of France in providing financial and political stability to the WAEMU through its influence on the central bank and monetary policies.
What is the significance of the ECOMOG forces?
The ECOMOG forces are identified as a major milestone for regional self-governance and security, having intervened in conflicts in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone to maintain peace.
How is the impact of Nigeria on the regional framework assessed?
Nigeria is identified as a primary economic and political power within ECOWAS, whose internal stability and success are deemed crucial for the overall progress of the region.
- Quote paper
- Florian Bankoley (Author), 2003, Regionalism and Cooperation in West-Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/154892
