Hailed by Dr. Calestous Juma and Dr. Francis Mangeni “as the most significant event in Africa since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)” the T–FTA is understood by many to be a vital step towards establishing the African Economic Community (AEC) (Dari, 2015: 38; Juma & Mangeni, 2015). If successfully ratified and implemented the T–FTA would see the merging of Africa’s thee largest and most successful regional economic communities (REC) – SADC, COMESA and EAC. Consequently, the T–FTA would cover approximately 632 million Africans have a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of between $1.3- $1.6 trillion and a land area that could fit both the United States and China. Undoubtedly, a successfully implemented T–FTA would unleash Africa’s anaemic intra-regional trade level which remains stagnant at 12% (Juma & Mangeni, 2015). Increasing Africa’s intra-regional trade is regarded as a pivotal part of developing its underdeveloped and disconnected economies. Considering the T–FTA’s potential it is hard not to see Juma’s and Mangeni’s point. However, others are not as expectant. Reflecting on how the T–FTA has repeatedly missed its deadlines and considering the varying degrees of failure African regionalism has had in cases such as SADC, COMESA and EAC, it is evident that the T–FTA has a long and uncertain road ahead.
Therefore, to comprehensively discuss and evaluate T–FTA’s potential this essay looks at Africa’s history of regional integration (RI). To do so it begins by defining and contextualising RI, regionalisation and regionalism in Africa. The essay then deliberates over ‘new’ regionalism’s variants in Africa, discerning that the T–FTA and its RECs represent ‘open’ regionalism’s clear dominance. Subsequently, the discussion analyses the ‘episodes’ of African regionalism to contextualise COMESA’s, SADC’s and EAC creation and enable an insight into Africa’s integration track record. Thus highlighting the T–FTA’s context and viability. Following this, the essay unpacks the T–FTA’s raison dêtre and then discusses the views on its, potential, progress and challenges. Ultimately, this critical appraisal of the T–FTA serves to not only understand the actualities of Africa’s largest ongoing attempt at RI, but to also show that scholars of African regionalism must strive away from Afro-optimism and Afro-pessimism towards what Mo Ibrahim calls Afro-realism.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Regional cooperation, regional integration, regionalism and regionalisation and in Africa
3. ‘Old’ regionalism and ‘new’ regionalism
4. Episodes of African integration
5. SADC, COMES, EAC and the T–FTA
5.1 SADC
5.2 COMESA
5.3 EAC
5.4 SADC COMESA EAC T – FTA
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay aims to provide a critical appraisal of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (T-FTA) by examining its prospects and challenges within the context of African regional integration history and the realities of its component regional economic communities.
- Theoretical definitions of regional integration, regionalism, and regionalisation in the African context.
- Distinction between 'old' and 'new' regionalism and their application to African regional organisations.
- Analysis of the historical 'episodes' of African regional integration and their influence on current strategies.
- Evaluation of the individual regional economic communities (SADC, COMESA, EAC) and their integration achievements.
- Assessment of the T-FTA's potential, structural obstacles, and the necessity of political will for successful implementation.
Excerpt from the Book
Regional cooperation, regional integration, regionalism and regionalisation and in Africa
Apropos Professor John Akokpari, “[r]egional integration and regional cooperation, and regionalism and regionalisation are often conflated” (2008: 86). In his analysis of Africa’s RI and development dilemmas, Akokpari explains that this conflation is derived “from the fact that these terms refer to processes involved in the harmonisation of policies among states, but also activities aimed at accelerating regional development” (2008: 86). Akokpari provides useful distinctions between these overlapping terms and thus situates the T–FTA as a RI programme. Per Akokpari, regional corporation (RC) denotes “any form or basis of cooperation between states that eventually translates into formal regional integration” (2008: 87). The T–FTA agreement in which member states are still negotiating and ratifying is an example of RC. RI manifests in different forms, namely market integration and development integration. The T–FTA once implemented would allow its member states access to a single economic space and would exemplify RI. Consequently, RC can be construed as the starting point and RI the end and outcome of a process in which states, or in the T–FTA’s case, RECs economically amalgamate.
However, Akokpari, underlines a key characteristic of African integration which is useful to bear in mind when discussing the T–FTA. He asserts that although integration is frequently associated with economic and market projects it can contain political, security, economic and social processes. Given Africa’s debilitating economic restrictions, Akokpari explains that the conceptualisation of RI in Africa goes beyond the “harmonisation of markets and customs unions” (2008: 87). Rather and more significantly it is understood “as a strategy for economic development” (Akokpari, 2008: 87). The T–FTA’s and its component RECs’ raison d'êtres are intrinsically tied to this understanding and this point will be further developed in due course.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The chapter sets the stage by introducing the T-FTA as a significant regional effort and outlines the research objective to evaluate its potential against historical integration attempts.
2. Regional cooperation, regional integration, regionalism and regionalisation and in Africa: This section provides essential definitions and theoretical frameworks to distinguish between various forms of regional interaction and their specific roles in African development.
3. ‘Old’ regionalism and ‘new’ regionalism: The author contrasts the ideological origins of regional groupings, moving from security-oriented 'old' regionalism to the more inclusive, development-focused 'new' regionalism.
4. Episodes of African integration: This chapter categorizes African regionalism into chronological phases, explaining the shift from political Pan-Africanist aspirations to modern market-driven integration strategies.
5. SADC, COMES, EAC and the T–FTA: This comprehensive chapter examines the rationale and performance of the three main regional blocs before discussing the formation and current prospects of the overarching T-FTA.
6. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, emphasizing that while the T-FTA is normatively sound, its success remains uncertain due to political, financial, and structural challenges.
Keywords
Tripartite Free Trade Area, T-FTA, Regional Integration, African Union, SADC, COMESA, EAC, Economic Development, Regionalism, Regionalisation, Open Regionalism, Trade Policy, Macro-region, Industrialisation, Infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work provides a critical assessment of the prospects and challenges facing the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (T-FTA) within the broader history of African regional integration.
What are the key thematic areas discussed?
The essay covers theoretical definitions of regional integration, the evolution from 'old' to 'new' regionalism, historical episodes of African integration, and the specific dynamics of SADC, COMESA, and the EAC.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to evaluate the viability of the T-FTA by analyzing it as a product of previous regional integration efforts and identifying the structural and political hurdles that might hinder its implementation.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The research adopts a qualitative analytical approach, utilizing scholarly definitions and historical evaluations of African regionalism to contextualize current policy developments.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body systematically reviews the theoretical underpinnings of regionalism, outlines historical integration stages, details the performance of the three core regional blocs, and evaluates the potential benefits and risks of the T-FTA.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as Tripartite Free Trade Area, Regional Integration, Economic Development, Open Regionalism, and the specific regional bodies SADC, COMESA, and EAC.
How does the author characterize the role of South Africa in the integration process?
The author notes that South Africa, as a dominant economic hub, has a complex role, sometimes acting as an obstacle by prioritizing its own economic interests or delaying regional proceedings that it perceives as not providing immediate benefit.
What does the term 'Afro-realism' imply in the context of this study?
Inspired by Mo Ibrahim, it represents an analytical shift for scholars of African regionalism to move away from binary perspectives of either 'Afro-optimism' or 'Afro-pessimism' towards a more objective, realistic assessment of facts.
- Quote paper
- Jeremy Raguain (Author), 2017, What are the prospects and challenges of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/492440
