Quest for Unity

Sizo Nkala is Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Africa–China Studies, where he produces academic publications, manages commissioned research projects, organizes seminars and interacts with the media. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research interests include China–Africa relations in the technology, media and economic spheres, African political economy, immigration and global politics.David Monyae is Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg, and Co-Director of the Centre for Africa–China Studies. Professor Monyae is an international relations and foreign policy expert, with a PhD in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. He previously served as Section Manager: International Relations Policy Analysis at the South African Parliament, providing strategic management, parliamentary foreign policy formulation, and monitoring and analysis services.

• Foreword – Rob DaviesAcknowledgementsAcronyms and abbreviationsMap: Regional Economic CommunitiesIntroduction: The quest for regional integration in AfricaPART 1: THEORIES AND CONCEPTS OF REGIONAL INTEGRATIONChapter 1: Theories and concepts of regional integration in AfricaChapter 2: The ideological roots of regional integration in AfricaChapter 3: African lingua franca and African knowledge systems: A framework for integrationPART 2: AFRICA’S REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES AS INSTRUMENTS OF REGIONAL INTEGRATIONChapter 4: The Southern African Development Community’s pursuit of regional integrationChapter 5: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)Chapter 6: Synergy, ambition and challenges in the expanded East African CommunityChapter 7: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development and regional integration in the Horn of AfricaChapter 8: The Central African Economic Monetary CommunityPART 3: CONTINENTAL INTEGRATION MECHANISMSChapter 9: The Pan-African Parliament: A catalyst for African integration?Chapter 10: An appraisal of the AU’s Peace and Security Council, 2003–2022Chapter 11: The African Centres for Disease Control and PreventionChapter 12: The free movement of persons and African integrationPART 4: THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTSChapter 13: Who trades what with whom? Mapping intraregional tradeChapter 14: Building continental institutions: The African Continental Free Trade AreaChapter 15: The AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in GoodsPART 5: INFRASTRUCTURAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICAChapter 16: Regional electricity integration in Africa: The case of the African Single Electricity MarketChapter 17: Transport infrastructure and regional integration in AfricaChapter 18: Digital infrastructure: Creating the backbone for developmentChapter 19: Africa’s Blue Economy infrastructure and its potential for continental integrationPART 6: THE MEDIA AND EXTERNAL ACTORS IN REGIONAL INTEGRATIONChapter 20: The role of the media in driving Africa’s regional integrationChapter 21: The impact of external actors on Africa’s regional integrationConclusion: Regional integration: Mission impossible?ContributorsIndex