Suchergebnisse

This article is an attempt to contribute to the debate related to the effectiveness of regional organizations as forums of security cooperation. Realists argue that there is no substantive role for regional organizations in conflict prevention in a world characterised by anarchy and relentless competitions for power and security among states. On the other hand, the United Nations and other international bodies believe regional organisations can play significant role in conflict prevention by building trust among states through the provision of local forums for frequent interaction among states. The article discusses the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in three of its periods: 1) the period with no mandate on security; 2) the period of its renewed mandate for security cooperation and its limited success; and 3) the present period of impasse in implementing its mandate. Three main factors are discussed: 1) domestic politics of the member countries influencing the posture, policies and decisions of member states in relation to regional politics and the regional organization; 2) intra state conflicts of member states and absence of a common ground among them on the regional cooperation; and 3) the support of a favourable international political environment for such a regional security co-operation. The paper concludes that shared interests and problems among member states drive effective regional cooperation in conflict prevention. Regional mechanism in the absence of such a commonality is only limited to providing a platform for dialogue rather than effective security cooperation.

IGADD was established in 1986 and transformed into IGAD in 1996 with expanded mandate to include economic cooperation and integration agenda and to achieve plans set in Abuja Treaty (1991). Considering the eight regional economic communities that are officially recognized by the African Union, the objective of this study was to compare trade performance between IGAD and other African Union recognized economic communities. The study relied on secondary sources of data and employed judgmental sampling techniques. Analyses were made both at regional and country levels. Findings from descriptive analysis of aggregate and disaggregate level panel data covering 1996-2012 indicated that intra-bloc and extra-bloc trade performance of IGAD region was low compared to other African Union recognized economic communities. In addition, there existed no significant sectoral variation of exports between IGAD and other African Union recognized economic blocs. The casual analysis done using gravity model revealed that IGAD did not contribute to the creation of trade in the sense of Viner (1950). IGAD failed to meet its trade related objectives set both in the Agreement Establishing IGAD (1996) and the plans set in Abuja Treaty (1991). Internal reliability of gravity model variables was within acceptable limit. Overlapping membership, under developed trade logistics, fear of customs revenue loss, lack of political commitment and leadership, lack of trust among the member states were the major factors constraining integration process. The study suggests that real political will and leadership, being strategically selective and sequencing, improving trade logistics, strengthening implementation capacity of IGAD secretariat, encouraging and promoting the involvement of private sectors, and people-to-peoples interaction will help realize economic integration plans. Key words: IGAD, economic integration, RECs, trade creation, Gravity model, Abuja Treaty

"Regional Organizations and Conflict Management in Africa: The Case of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the Horn of Africa Region" published on by Oxford University Press.