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Regionalism in Africa: Development Crises and the Growing Influence of Emerging Powers

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Abstract

There is a plethora of theories conceptualizing regionalization, focusing on processes of coordination and more demanding patterns of cooperation and integration. The existing body of literature on regionalism draws on the disciplines of international relations and economics (Schulz et al., 2001; Soderbaum and Shaw, 2004). However, it is the dominance of European knowledge production, particularly reflected in academic and policy discourse, that has had a powerful impact on how regional integration is understood. This influence, in our view, has been extensive and has, to some degree, narrowed the scope for charting new policy directions, especially in the developing world. In fact, a type of Eurocentric epistemic community developed whereby these groups acquired an authoritative claim to policy-relevant knowledge in this domain and contributed to Europe remaining the richest source of knowledge on regionalism and the diverse facets of its application.

Keywords

  • European Union
  • Regional Integration
  • African Continent
  • Gulf Cooperation Council
  • Gulf Cooperation Council Country

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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© 2012 Dimpho Motsamai and Mzukisi Qobo

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Motsamai, D., Qobo, M. (2012). Regionalism in Africa: Development Crises and the Growing Influence of Emerging Powers. In: Fioramonti, L. (eds) Regions and Crises. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137028327_9

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