Abstract
Abstract: The proponents of African regional integration hoped to create large economic spaces that allow economies of scale, increased efficiency, competitiveness and faster growth of Africa states. Whereas the linear model of regional integration seemed to have worked for the European Union, many have questioned its applicability in the African context. The applicability of the Linear model at the stages of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) like the EAC has met with significant stagnation primarily because of some bottlenecks such as poor infrastructure that limits the connectivity with the continent and lack of political will out of fear for the loss of sovereignty. The question thus lies in how the dream for a regionally united Africa will arise when its people cannot move and interact freely within the continent? By utilizing a secondary research design, this paper, therefore, sought to not only examine the effectiveness of the linear model of regional integration for Africa but also explore the possibility of incorporating the functionalist and federalist approach into an inclusive model for African regional integration. In examining the economic dynamics of regional integration, the paper identifies the benefits of economic integration, such as larger markets as a result of free movement of people and goods that could be harnessed by trading communities within Africa. Thus, the central argument in this paper does not discard the benefits and successes of the linear model of regional integration but concludes that its effectiveness can be enhanced by incorporating functionalist and at later stages federalist approaches to regional integration in Africa. The principal argument is that political and elitist integration agreements are futile when the continent is not connected physically and trade wise.
Highlights
African integration is rooted in the spirit of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance
The primary study objective looks at the linear model with regards to trade, which led to a process of economic integration; it was expected to lead to the complete economic union of Africa
It is without a doubt that the linear model has led to some successes towards integration in Africa, but its progress is stifled by many factors like poor infrastructure on the continent
Summary
African integration is rooted in the spirit of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. Tanyanyiwa & Hakuna, (2014) acknowledged that the continental hope for poverty reduction and economic development rests upon Regional integration This is further emphasized by the African Union (AU) goal of establishing an African Economic Community by 2028. This study, aims to examine an inclusive model of regional integration for Africa It considers the contribution of the functionalism and federalism theories of integration. It aims to examine the effectiveness of the linear model of regional integration far in Africa and give recommendations. This will begin with a review of the two theories of functionalism and federalism showing their relevance to the African context. The objective of this study sought to examine the effectiveness of the linear model of regional integration for Africa but as well explore the possibility of incorporating the functionalist and federalist approach into an inclusive model for African regional integration, in order to reap true benefit from an integration using the linear model
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