Editors:
Most comprehensive scholarly examination of the subject to date. Examines regionbuilding and regionalintegration across all five African subregions and more than five decades of experience, covers all the major themes that will shape debates on the topic
Considers regional integration in both its political and economic aspects, arguing that regional integration is as much a political project as an economic one
Diverse international perspectives from African and nonAfrican contributors (both practitioners and academics). Contributors include Louise Fawcett, John Ravenhill, Daniel Bach, Rene Lemarchand, Piers Ludlow, S.K.B. Asante, Gilbert Khadiagala, and Scott Taylor
Comparative framework. Situates Africa within broader studies of regionalism and regional integration; draws lessons from the experiences of other regional blocks, including the EU, ASEAN, and the Southern Common Market
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Table of contents (19 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Introduction
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Themes and Concepts of Region-Building and Regional Integration in Africa
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Front Matter
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The Political Economy of Africa’s Region-Building and Regional Integration Initiatives
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Front Matter
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The African Union (AU) and Subregional Organizations and Initiatives
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Front Matter
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Comparative Regional Schemes: Lessons for Africa
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Front Matter
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About this book
This landmark book is the first of its kind to assess the challenges of African region-building and regional integration across all five African sub-regions and more than five decades of experience, considering both political and economic aspects. Leading scholars and practitioners come together to analyze a range of entwined topics, including: the theoretical underpinnings that have informed Africa's regional integration trajectory; the political economy of integration, including the sources of different 'waves' of integration in pan-Africanism and the reaction to neo-liberal economic pressures; the complexities of integration in a context of weak states and the informal regionalization that often occurs in 'borderlands'; the increasing salience of Africa's relationships with rising extra-regional economic powers, including China and India; and comparative lessons from non-African regional blocs, including the EU, ASEAN, and the Southern Common Market. A core argument of this book, running through all chapters, is that region-building must be recognized as a political project as much as if not more than an economic one; successful region-building in Africa will need to include the complex political tasks of strengthening state capacity (including states' capacity as 'developmental states' that can actively engage in economic planning), resolving long-standing conflicts over resources and political dominance, improving democratic governance, and developing trans-national political structures that are legitimate and inclusive.
Keywords
- Arab Maghreb Union
- Economic Community of Central African States
- Pan-Africanism
- developmental regionalism
- developmental state
- economic integration
- region-building
- regional economic communities
- regional integration
- regionalism
- Africa
- Arab Maghreb Union
- developmental regionalism
- developmental state
- region-building
- regional integration
- ASEAN
- desegregation
- development
- East Asia
Reviews
“Rich with lessons of success and limited gains in advancing regional integration, the probing of historical, conceptual, and technical issues in Africa’s continental and regional quest for integration and avoiding fragmentation makes this volume an enlightening contribution to contemporary social science. The span of scholarship and lived experiences of regional integration processes deserve to be pondered by politicians and technocrats alike.” (Patrick I. Gomes, Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States)
“This is a comprehensive, dynamic, and insightful collection of pieces about a diverse range of issues confronting efforts at region-building with a view to ensure human well-being, the protection of the environment, strong statehoods, and effective economies of scale. The book opens new vistas of opportunities for those looking for fresh ideas for research and pointers for policy action on region-building.” (Siphamandla Zondi, Director, Institute for Global Dialogue, University of South Africa)
“This volume brings together an impressive range of authors, including well-known names, emerging scholars, practitioners, and importantly a number of authors based in African institutions from across the continent. It is an important and interesting book which will make a significant contribution to the discipline.” (Carl Death, Senior Lecturer in International Political Economy, University of Manchester, UK)
About the authors
Daniel H. Levine is a consultant to the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa, and a Research Fellow at the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland, USA.
Dawn Nagar is a Researcher at the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Region-Building in Africa
Book Subtitle: Political and Economic Challenges
Editors: Daniel H. Levine, Dawn Nagar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137586117
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York
eBook Packages: Political Science and International Studies, Political Science and International Studies (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-58610-0Published: 04 April 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-137-60157-5Published: 10 March 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-58611-7Published: 19 May 2016
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XXV, 348
Topics: International Relations, African Politics, Regional/Spatial Science, Development Theory, International Political Economy, Development Economics