1. Theoretical Background:
Regional Integration is a process in which
states enter into a regional agreement in order to enhance regional
co-operation through the establishment of regional institutions and rules.
Regional integration is mainly an economic strategy aimed at collective self
reliance and development in a competitive and hostile world environment.
Regional integration could also extend to the political, social, cultural and
religions spheres of co-operation. Its commercial and socio-political
objectives could be structured to achieve greater strategic and security
purposes. Further explained integration is the coming together of group of
states or organizations with shared interests, problems and expectations with
greater emphasis on collaborative behaviours rather than individualistic or
conflicting actions.
The basic assumption underlying regional integration is
the belief that integration can bring greater prosperity than individual action.
Regional integration is considered a vital element in the international
strategy for development for both developed and developing countries. The
United Nations recognized the importance of regional integration as a form of
developmental strategy hence the establishment of special commissions for some
of its backward members. An example of such commission is ECA, the Economic
Commission for Africa.
Part
efforts at regional integration have often focused on removing barriers to free
trade, in the region, increasing the free movement of people, labour, goods and
capital across national boundaries, reducing regional conflicts and wars
through enhanced security and confidence measures and adopting cohesive
regional stance on issues of international significance.
Historical Overview:
Regional Integration reflects a level of collective
agreement and solidarity among states in a given geo-political entity in
matters of trade capital, labour flows, foreign direct investment and
integrated policies in mean of common interest. Such areas may further include
the environment, climate change, Gross-border migration and international
criminal activities. Phillipe De Lambarde and Luk Van Langen have defined
Regional Integration as a World Wide phenomenon of territorial systems that
increase the interaction between their components and creates new forms of
organization co-existing with traditional forms of state-led organizations at
the national level.
According
to Hans Van Ginkel, regional integration is the process by which states within
a particular region increase their level of interaction with regard to
economic, security, political and also socio-cultural issues2.
Regional Integration involves the joining of individual states within a region
into a larger whole. The degree of integration depends on the willingness and
commitment of independent sovereign states to reduce or at best share their
sovereignty.
The
18th, 19th and early 20th centuries were
characterize by internal conflicts and rivalries among the European powers.
These rivalries had at its roots the need for integration. The process however
was impeded by the characteristics of extreme rationalism which dominated the
thinking of European leaders and statesmen of the era. The efforts of Napoleon
Bonaparte, OHo Van Bismarck and Adolf Hitler to dominate Europe and indeed the
rest of the world, during their time, were attempts at integration. These
attempts however were not based on mutual benefits for all nor were the member
countries and the people being integrated allowed determining whether they
desired to do so and on what bases. As a result, those efforts led to serious
political and economic upheavals which resulted in further European
disintegration.
According
to Van Langenhove, regional integration initiatives should fulfill at least
eight important function3.
1. The
strengthening of trade integration in the region
2. The
creation of an appropriate enabling environment for private sector development
3. The
development of infrastructure programmes in support of economic growth and
regional integration.
4. The
development of strong public sector institutions of good governance.
5. The
reduction of social exclusion and the development of the inclusive civil
society.
6. Contributions
to peace and security in the region.
7. The
building of environmental programmes at the regional level.
8. The
strengthening of the regions interaction with other regions of the world.
In
political, economic and strategic matters, the two create wars of the 20th
century marked a most dramatic turning point in the evolutionary process that
has characterized human interaction and inter state relationship in the modern
world. Europe was confronted with the sole and highly desirable objective of
establishing enduring peace and laying the foundation for economic prosperity
in the continent. This was the bases of the vigour and frenzy with which
European leaders began the process of reconstruction aimed at building a more
united and prosperous Europe from the virus of 1945.
The crises
of the post-war order led to the emergence of a new global political structure.
This new structure made obsolete the classical Westphalia concepts of a system
of sovereign states to conceptualize world polities. The concepts of absolute
sovereignty and the old legal definitions of nation states as ultimate and
fully autonomous power began to crumble as they increasingly cost their meaning
and relevance.
Regional
integration and globalization are the two new phenomena challenging the
existing global order which was anchored on sovereignty and statism. These
processes deeply affected the stability of the Westphalia state system, and the
cold war arrangement. Thus, the new world order of Brotherhoods has become old
and disorderly replaced by a rawer and more effective global order.
Closer
integration of neigh bouring economics is seen as a significant step in
creating a larger regional market for trade and investment. This works as a
spor to greater efficiency, productivity and competitiveness, not just by
lowering border barriers but by reducing other related costs and risks.
In
broad terms, the desire for closer integration is often related to a larger
desire for opening up to the outside world. Regional economic co-operation
becomes means of promoting development through greater efficiency rather than
as a means of disadvantaging others.
Integration
is not an end in itself but a process or strategy designed to support economic
growth, greater social quality and democratization.
Regional intergration arrangements are a part and
parcel of the present global economic order and this trend is now an
acknowledge future of the international system. It has achieved a new meaning
and new significance Regional integration arrangements are mainly the outcome of
necessity felt by nation-states to integrate their economics in order to
achieve rapid economic development. Decrease conflict and build mutual trusts
between the integrated units.
The
nation-state system which have been the predominant pattern since the place
treaty of west Phalia in 1948 is evolving towards a system in which regional
groupings of states is becoming more important than sovereign states.
There
is a strong perception that the idea of state and its sovereignty has been made
irrelevant by processes that are taking place at both the global and local
levels. Walter Lippman believes that “ the true constituent members of the
international order of the future are communities of state4. Henry
can shares Lippman’s view about the rise of regional arrangements and commented
that “the concept of sovereignty is likely to become in the future even more
blurred and indistinct than it is at present.5
This
work will carry out a study of four major regional integration bodies. These
are the EU, AU, ECOWAS, SADC and ASEAN.