Discussion On Integration In Africa : Getting Started, Development And Future Challenges

"Integration", one of the most significant movements in the post-independence history of Africa, constitutes an inseparable part of African politics. Through studies related to the topic of "African integration", a better understanding on the evolution of African politics in the second half of the 20th century will be acquired, moreover, a micro research perspective tegarding regional integration in the post-WWII world could also be provided. This dissertation selects integration activities on the African continent as the objects of the study. By means of recalling history of African integration, making comparison between mode of African integration and its European counterpart and analysing relations between African native factors and integration, this study is dedicated to briefly introducing development history of African integration, narrating its main achievements and obstacles and finally looking into the future of integration career in Africa. The research is carried out in four parts. PART I on the one hand makes introduction of international political theories pertinent to regional integration, exemplifying influences exerted by corresponding behaviours towards integration, on the other hand discusses relations between structure of international organizations and development level of integration through comparison of different regional modes. PART II primarily lays emphasis on the origin of African integration, discussing various factors that put African integration into practice. Then by recalling initiatives made by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the passage will list main obstacles that hinder development of African integration. PART III, from the perspective of OAU's reform, the dissertation narrates new impetus provided by the establishment of two new frameworks, namely the African Economic Community (AEC) and the African Union (AU) to the new development of integration. Subsequently, relevant African integration organizations together with their achievements are illustrated in this part. PART IV predicts future challenges that African integration will face. Upon the basis of four parts above mentioned, several suggestions are given in the final conclusions, hopefully making probes for possible future studies on the same topic.