Abstract
"THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) AS A MODEL FOR CONTINENTAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICA"
The thesis is a study of integration in West Africa, within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and how it can be used as yardstick for integration elsewhere on the continent, both at sub-regional and continental levels. The main question which the study has tried to answer is therefore: How can the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) serve as a model for regional and sub-regional integration in Africa? In this study, 'region' is used to refer to the whole of Africa, in comparison with other areas covered by other organizations such as the European Union or the Association of South East Asian Nations. On the other hand, 'sub-region' is used the same way the Organization of African Unity uses it, i.e. Central, East, North, Southern and West. In that sense, ECOWAS is a sub-regional organization.
The framework for the study is provided by the proposed African Economic Community (AEC). The treaty of the AEC places much emphasis on the role of existing sub-regional organizations, and provides for the establishment of new ones where they do not exist. ECOWAS has therefore got an important role in that regard, being the largest of such organizations in Africa, and one which attempts to cover all areas of endeavour. The organization has not been able to keep to its time-table, however. All sorts of complications have entered the original programme which was supposed to cover a period of 15 years. It has therefore been thought necessary to examine how suited the organization is as model for integration elsewhere on the continent, or for the AEC itself.
The study is in six chapters. Chapter One presents the study. It contains the problem statement, the rationale for the study and the methodology employed. Chapter Two examines existing literature on integration, including definitions of the term 'integration' and integration strategies. It also contains a discussion of integration among African countries since the early days of independence. Various nuances in the definition of integration are highlighted, and then their implications are assessed. Then integration strategies such as 'federalism', 'functionalism' and 'neo-functionalism' are discussed. After a general discussion of integration in Africa, some specific organizations are examined.
Chapters three, four and five of the study are on ECOWAS. While Chapter Three discusses the structure and activities of the organization, Chapter Four examines the main problems facing it. Chapter Five contains the main assessment of ECOWAS in the light of the problem statement and the discussions in the previous chapters. The evaluation process covers areas such as organization, trade liberalization and tariff controls, socio-political provisions and collective security.
The main conclusion presented in Chapter Six is that ECOWAS is not a good model for integration in Africa as it is now. Reasons for this are provided. However, its relevance has not been put in doubt, and various suggestions have been made for improving the image of the organization, both for the member countries and for the whole of Africa.