Political Economy of regionalisation in Central Africa
This monograph calls for political convergence, improved domestic political and economic governance, to form building blocks of RECs and the African P
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have been heralded as the building blocks of the African Peace and Security Architecture. However, while other regions of the continent have made laudable progress towards economic and political integration, Central Africa is facing a human security and integration crisis. What explains the sad reality of human insecurity in the region? Is regional integration a policy imperative that would redress the human security situation of the region?
Drawing insights from new institutional economics, the monograph argues that until there is a positive alignment between political security and human security, the region will continue to face a human security crisis. Borrowing from comparative political economy it argues that states in the region view regionalisation as an extension of domestic politics. As such, they must maintain a precarious balance between the potential long-term gains of regionalisation and the perceived short-term political cost to their survival. Thus, regionalisation has become a mechanism more often than not used to enhance regime security rather than human security.
As a policy response, the monograph calls for political convergence, that is improved domestic political and economic governance, to form the building blocks of the RECs and the African Peace and Security Architecture.
Authors:
Dr Côme Damien Georges Awoumou is a diplomat, holder of a PhD in international relations, and is a researcher at the Paul Ango Ela Foundation of Geopolitics in Central Africa (FPAE), in Yaoundé in Cameroon. He is also a member of the Council for the Development of Social Science in Africa.
Chrysantus Ayangafac is a senior researcher in the Direct Conflict Prevention Programme of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yves Chouala is a member of the Research Group on Administrative, Political and Social Issues at the Cameroon Institute for International Relations, University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon.
Hans Hoebeke is a researcher at Egmont, the Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels.
Dr Francis Nguendi Ikome is the director of the Multilateral Programme at the Institute for Global Dialogue, a South African international relations think-tank.
Dr Tony Karbo is a programme officer at the University of Peace (UPEACE), Africa Programme. He holds a PhD and MS in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
Christine MacAulay works for the University of Peace (UPEACE), Africa Programme.
Kenneth Mpyisi is the director of the Institute for Security Studies, Addis Ababa Office, Ethiopia, and the programme head of the Direct Conflict Prevention Programme of the Institute.
Alain-Guy Tachou Sipowo is a graduate in international disputes from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon and a jurist seconded to the Victims and Counsels Division of the International Criminal Court.
Thomas Stevens is a researcher at Egmont, the Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels.
Koen Vlassenroot is the director of the Central Africa Programme of Egmont and professor of political science at the University of Ghent in Belgium.
