Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Challenges of Regional Integration in the East Africa Community

  • Chapter
Regional Integration and Policy Challenges in Africa

Abstract

Regional integration refers to the process of states coming together to sign agreements where they agree to cooperate in certain areas common to them. This process is overseen by the governments of the specific states. Regional cooperation can take different forms which depend on the objectives of the states that are involved.1 States may want to come together for economic reasons or even further to form a political alliance or union. History shows that many states across the globe enter into regional agreements for economic purposes. In Africa in particular, there has been a clamor and trend towards integration with numerous regional blocs being formed in various regions of the continent. The Africa Union recognizes seven Regional Economic Communities (REC namely: (i) Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), (ii) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), (iii) Community for Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), (iv) East Africa Community (EAC), (v) Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS), (vi) Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and (vii) Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adar G. Korwa and M. Ngunyi (1992). “The politics of Integration in East Africa Since Independence” in Walter O. Oyugi (ed.), The Politics and Administration in East Africa, Nairobi: Konrad Adenauer Foundation, pp. 395–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adar G. Korwa (2008). “Federalism and East African Community Integration Process: the Role of the East African Legislative Assembly”, A paper presented at CIGI/GARNET conference, September.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadou, N. (July 28, 2010). “Pan African Parliament and the Potential for Development of a Strong Continental Legislative”, accessed from http://www.iss.co.za/iss_today.php?ID=1104 on 15.06.11 at 5:07 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohwasi, P. (1999). “Africa Regional Blocs: Unifying or Dividing?”, The African Executive, Zimbabwe Opportunities Industrialization Centres (ZOIC).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Curtis (2004). “NATO and EU Enlargement: Challenges for the New Europe”, accessed from http://jsis.washington.edu/cwes//file/nato_and_eu_curriculum.pdf on 05.06.11 at 6:09 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berndt Alexander (January 21, 2000). “Customs Unions”, accessed from www.tcd.ie/Economics/SER/sql/download.php?key=135 on 20.05.11 at 3:33 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohwasi, P. (November 8, 2006). “Africa Regional Blocks: Unifying or Dividing”, African Executive, December 12, 200, p. 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, A. (March 21, 2011). “Turkey and Greece, Part 1: The Aegean”, Foreign Policy Association, accessed from http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/03/21/turkey-and-greece-part-i-the-aegean/ on 19.07.11 at 2:03 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croome, P. (March 26, 2011). “Museveni, AU Toothless in Libyan Crisis, Say Critic”, accessed from http://allafrica.com/stories/201103280547.html on 15.06.11 at 5:45 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Custom Union Protocol (2009). “Economic Partnerships”, accessed from http://ec.europa.eu/trade/wider- agenda/development/economic-partnerships on 10.06.11 at 2:04 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Custom Union Protocol (2009). “For European Recovery: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Marshall Plan”, accessed from http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/marshall/mars0.html on 19.07.11 on 05.06.11 at 8:11 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Custom Union Protocol (2009). “Gaddafi Says Nigeria Should Split into Several States”, accessed from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8593355.stml on 15.06.11 at 4:11 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gathi J. Thuo (2009). “African Regional Trade Agreements as Flexible Legal Regimes”, Albany Law School, Working Series Paper No. 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hass B. Ernest (October 2004). “The Challenge of Regionalism”, International Organization, Vol. 12, No. 4, Cambridge university press

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallenbarg, J. (June 2000). “The Extension of the European Security Community to the Periphery”, A NATO Fellowship final report, National Defence College, June 2000

    Google Scholar 

  • Hettne, B., A. Inotai and O. Sunkel (eds) (1999). Globalism and the New Regionalism, London: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooghe, L. and G. Marks (November 24, 2009). “The Neofunctionalists Were (almost) Right: Politicization and European Integration”, accessed from http://asrudiancenter.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/the-neofunctionalists-were-al-most-right-politicization-and-european-integration on 05.05.11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. and C. Turner (June 19, 2010). “International Business: Themes and Issues in the Modern Global Economy”, accessed from http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm. on 08.06.11 at 11:32 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juma, C. (January 2011). The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa, Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamanyi, J. (January 1, 2005). “The East African Political Federation: Progress, Challenges and Prospects for Constitutional Development”, A paper presented at the 10th Annual Udoma Symposium. Makerere University, Kampala.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamau, S. (June 12, 2011). “EAC Monetary Union Dogged by Technicalities. 2011”, The East African Standard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ketema, M. (2009). “The Creation of the OAU”, Africa Unbound Magazine, accessed from http://africaunbound.org/index.php/aumagazine/issue-3/item/the-creation-of-the-oau.html on 09:09: 13 at 6:00 am.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kithure, K. (2007). “The Potential Role of the EAC in promoting Constitutionalism in the Region”, Moi University Journal, Vol. 1 (March).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenichi Omhae (May 15, 1996). The End of the Nation State: The Rise of Regional Economies, Fine Press. Paperbacks

    Google Scholar 

  • Langehove, L. (2008). “Europe’s World: Power to the Regions, but Not Farewell to the Nation State”, Europe’s World, Spring.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langehove, L. V. and A. Cristina Costea (2005). “UNU-CRIS Occaisonal Papers”, Inter Regionalism and the Future of Multilateralism.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ligami, C. (2009). “Plans for Joint EAC Axle Load Limits in Trouble”, The East African Standard, March 3, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugongo, B. (2011, August 28). “Tanzania Backs AU Stance On Refusing to Back Rebels”, accessed from http://allafrica.com/stories/201108280023.html on 02:09:11 at 4:33 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhyia-History and Cultural Relations. http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Luyia- History-and-Cultural-Relations.html#ixzz1Pv6u8KSH

  • Malamud, A. (November 9, 2010). “Regional Integration in Latin America: Comparative Theories and Institutions”, accessed from http://www.scielo.oces.mctes.pt/pdf/spp/n44/n44a07.pdf on 14.06.11 at 4:34 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazrui, A. (December 26, 1999). “Nyerere and I”, accessed from http://www.africaresource.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56:nyerere-and-i&catid=85:oral-history&Itemid=341 on 30.07.11 at 10:53 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattli, W. (1999). The Logic of Regional Integration: Europe and beyond England: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • McGowan Lee (May 25, 2007). “Theorizing European Integration: Revisiting Neo-functionalism and Testing its Suitability for Explaining the Development of EC Competition Policy”, accessed from http://www.rochester.ican.net/~fjzwick/ail98–35.html on 16.05.11 at 2:00 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mengisteab, T. (June 15, 2011). “Africa Union: New Wine in Old Bottles”, accessed from http://www.dehai.org/demarcation on 15.06.11 at 3:00 pm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugisa, E., C. Onyango and P. Mugoya (). “An Evaluation of the Implementation and Impact of the EAC Custom Union”, EAC Report, March 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutiga, M. (August 25, 2011). “Raila Urges Gaddafi to Surrender”, Daily Nation, accessed from http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Raila+urges+Gaddafi+to+surrender/-/1066/1225382/-/l4mj2kz/-/index.html on 06:09:11 at 6:20 pm.

  • Mwamunyang, J. (2011). “Fresh Trade War Looms in EA Over Wheat Exports”, The East African, 26.06.11

    Google Scholar 

  • Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER, Ibadan). “Reflection on Africa’s Historic and Cur rent Initiatives for Political and Economic Unity”, accessed from http://www.uneca.org/adfiii/docs/niser.pdf on 16.05.11 at 4:56 pm.

  • Ngeno, N. and G. Ikiara (January 9, 2009). “Regional Integration Study of East Africa. the Case Study of Kenya”, Working Paper 9, January 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nkrumah, K. (1965). Africa Must Unite, New York, International Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nsimbambi, A. (1989). “Regional Cooperation for African Development: Proceedings of the East African PWPA” in A. Nsimbambi and T. Wangusa (ed.), The collapse of the EAC. East African PWPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obbo O. Charles (May 2011). “Museveni’s Crackdown on Besigye Brings Tough Integration Issues into the Open”, The East African Standard, May 16–20, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, A. (April 20, 2010). “EAC External Tariffs Spurs Imports Surge”, Business Daily, January 8, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okungu, J. (June 1, 2010). “Give The EAC an Efficient Transport System and Free Trade to Eradicate Poverty”, Africa News Online, accessed from http://africanewsonline.blogspot.com/2008/08/give-eac-efficient-transport-system-and.html on 30.07.11 at 11:01 pm.

  • Omoro, A. (2008). “Mariam, Organizational Effectiveness of Regional Integration Institutions: A Case Study of the EAC”, A Dissertation Presented to UNISA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ongiri, I. (April 1, 2011). “Scrap EAC Non-Tariff Barriers, Says Kagame”, accessed from http://allafrica.cosm/stories/201104040181.html (All Africa.com) on 05.07.11 at 2:00 am.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onyango J. Oloka (2005). “Who owns the EAC?”, Presentation at DENVIA Public Dialogue on the EAC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onyango-Obbo, C. (2011). “The First East African War Could Be Fought Over Fish”, The East African Standard, Sunday, May 22–28, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organization of African Unity (OAU). “What-When-How”, accessed from http://what-when-how.com/social-sciences/organization-of-african-unity-oau-so-cial-science/ on 15.06.11 at 3:05 pm.

  • Puchala J. Donald (1999). “Institutionalism, Intergovernmentalism and European integration: A Review Article”, Journal of Common Market Studies, June.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raheem A. Tajudeen (2006). “African Without Borders”, Pambazuko Magazine, No. 28. Report on the Committee on Fast Tracking of the EAC Federation, accessed from www.eac.int on 30.07.11 at 8:16 pm.

Download references

Authors
  1. Patricia Mukiri Mwithiga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Macroeconomic Policy Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia

    Adam B. Elhiraika (Director) (Director)

  2. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia

    Allan C. K. Mukungu (Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Special Envoy) (Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Special Envoy)

  3. Development Planning Consultant, Capacity Development Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia

    Wanjiku Nyoike

Copyright information

© 2015 Patricia Mukiri Mwithiga

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mwithiga, P.M. (2015). The Challenges of Regional Integration in the East Africa Community. In: Elhiraika, A.B., Mukungu, A.C.K., Nyoike, W. (eds) Regional Integration and Policy Challenges in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137462084_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation