Development in Africa has been an issue for many years now. Since the independence of most of the states in the 1960’s, the western countries have tried to help the so- called third world countries to develop their economies and thus to lift their population out of poverty. The efforts were conducted through direct intervention or through the non-governmental organisation like the IMF or the UN. Despite decades of commitment and billion dollar efforts, most of Africa remains in a poor status with nearly half of its population living on less than one dollar per day.
Since its independence regional frameworks have existed but only obtained little attention from international as well as from national side. But with the failure of most programmes and the ever growing stronger trend to regional trade agreements throughout the whole world, the frameworks in Africa have moved in the centre of attention. International organisations promote the further integration of these; national governments put the frameworks on the top of their agendas.
The aim of this project is to show the possible influence of regional cooperation frameworks in the development process of the countries in the West-African region. The analysis was focused on two existent regional frameworks, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
During the analysis, the nature of the ECOWAS and the WAEMU is to be identified as well as possible differences in their approach of the regional development. The question that will be asked are how the influence of the unions exactly looks like, which effects this has on the members, how the unions evolved over the time and how they plan to develop in the future.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Regionalism
- 2.1 Regionalism and Cooperation in Africa
- 3 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- 3.1 The ECOWAS History
- 3.2 Missions
- 3.3 External Factors
- 3.3.1 USA
- 3.3.2 European Union
- 3.3.3 Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's)
- 3.3.3.1 The WTO
- 3.3.3.2 The World Bank
- 3.3.3.3 The IMF
- 3.3.3.4 The United Nations
- 4 The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
- 4.1 The WAEMU History
- 4.2 Missions
- 4.3 External Factors
- 4.3.1 Governments
- 4.3.2 NGO's
- 4.4 The Process of Development
- 5 Close up on selected states
- 5.1 Nigeria
- 5.1.1 Overview
- 5.1.2 Analysis
- 5.2 Ghana
- 5.2.1 Overview
- 5.2.2 Analysis
- 5.3 Togo
- 5.3.1 Overview
- 5.3.2 Analysis
- 5.4 Senegal
- 5.4.1 Overview
- 5.4.2 Analysis
- 5.5 Sierra Leone
- 5.5.1 Overview
- 5.5.2 Analysis
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This project aims to analyze the influence of regional cooperation frameworks on the development process of West African countries. The focus is on two key regional frameworks: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The analysis will identify the nature of these frameworks, compare their approaches to regional development, and examine their impact on member states, their evolution over time, and their future plans.
- The role of regional cooperation in West African development.
- A comparative analysis of ECOWAS and WAEMU.
- The impact of external factors on regional frameworks.
- The diverse levels of development within the regional unions.
- The evolution and future plans of ECOWAS and WAEMU.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of development challenges in Africa since independence, highlighting the persistent poverty despite decades of international aid. It emphasizes the increasing importance of regional cooperation frameworks, such as ECOWAS and WAEMU, in addressing these challenges, and introduces the project's objective to analyze their influence on the development process of West African countries. The chapter outlines the structure of the study, previewing the in-depth analyses of ECOWAS and WAEMU that will follow.
2 Regionalism: This chapter likely provides a general overview of regionalism in the context of African development, laying the theoretical groundwork for subsequent chapters that delve into specific frameworks. It may discuss different models of regional cooperation and their effectiveness, examining the historical context and political-economic factors that shape regional integration efforts. This chapter is likely to set the stage for the detailed examination of ECOWAS and WAEMU in the following sections.
3 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): This chapter offers a detailed analysis of ECOWAS, exploring its history, missions, and the influence of external factors. The summary would discuss the organization's genesis, key milestones in its evolution, and the impact of external actors such as the USA, European Union, and various NGOs (including international financial institutions like the World Bank, IMF and WTO, as well as the UN). The analysis would synthesize the complex interplay of internal dynamics and external pressures that have shaped ECOWAS's trajectory and impact on its member states.
4 The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): This chapter presents an in-depth examination of WAEMU, Africa's most successful regional framework, focusing on its history, missions, and external factors. The summary would include a comparison with ECOWAS, exploring the reasons for WAEMU's relative success and its development within the broader context of the ECOWAS framework. It would likely delve into the specific policies and mechanisms that contributed to WAEMU's achievements and lessons learned for other regional initiatives.
5 Close up on selected states: This chapter provides case studies of specific West African states (Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone) to illustrate the diversity and varying levels of development within ECOWAS and WAEMU. The summary would synthesize the findings from these case studies, highlighting commonalities and differences in their development trajectories and the role of regional frameworks in shaping their economic and political landscapes. This allows for an in-depth understanding of the varied impacts of regional cooperation across different national contexts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Regionalism, West Africa, ECOWAS, WAEMU, Development, Industrialization, Cooperation, Integration, External Factors, Case Studies, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Poverty, Regional Trade Agreements.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Analysis of Regional Cooperation in West Africa
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of regional cooperation frameworks in West Africa, focusing on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). It examines their history, objectives, impacts on member states, and the influence of external factors.
What regional organizations are discussed?
The main focus is on ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union). The document compares and contrasts these two organizations, analyzing their approaches to regional development and their effectiveness.
What are the objectives and key themes of the analysis?
The analysis aims to understand the role of regional cooperation in West African development, compare ECOWAS and WAEMU, assess the impact of external factors (USA, EU, NGOs, international financial institutions), explore the diverse development levels within the unions, and examine the evolution and future plans of both organizations.
Which countries are examined as case studies?
The document includes detailed case studies of five West African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. These case studies illustrate the diverse impacts of regional cooperation on individual states.
What are the key chapters and their content?
The document is structured as follows: An introduction sets the context; a chapter on regionalism provides theoretical background; chapters on ECOWAS and WAEMU offer in-depth analyses; and a final chapter presents the case studies. Each chapter includes a detailed summary within the document.
What external factors are considered?
The analysis considers the influence of various external actors, including the USA, the European Union, numerous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and international financial institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United Nations.
What are the key findings or conclusions (as previewed)?
While the full conclusions are not explicitly stated in this preview, the document suggests a comparative analysis of ECOWAS and WAEMU's effectiveness, an examination of the influence of external actors on their development, and an assessment of the diverse levels of development among member states.
What are the keywords associated with this document?
Keywords include: Regionalism, West Africa, ECOWAS, WAEMU, Development, Industrialization, Cooperation, Integration, External Factors, Case Studies, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Poverty, Regional Trade Agreements.
For whom is this document intended?
This document is intended for academic use, allowing for the analysis of themes related to regional cooperation in West Africa in a structured and professional manner.
Where can I find more information?
This document provides a preview of a more extensive work. The complete study would offer a more thorough and detailed analysis of the topics presented here.
- Quote paper
- Florian Bankoley (Author), 2003, Regionalism and Cooperation in West-Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/154892
