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| Expansion of the European Union: Implications for Africa (and other regions) |
 PRINTABLE VERSION |
5. Economic, social and cultural benefits will emerge as Africa takes advantages of the growth that will result from integration. Well-connected countries will create greater access to African products and business within Africa, fuelling GDP growth. A Mozambican fisherman can sell his products to a Zambian supermarket chain without the currently difficulties and barriers. Zimbabwe could provide IT solutions to Namibia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. South African manufacturers could have more access to West African markets.
Integration will also enable Africans to build strong ties with one another. One of the common features of closely tied nations is that of free movement and access. People can feely move from one country to another, sharing each other’s cultures and creating a much more informed African population than that which currently exists. As people connect and explore each other’s differences, a strong sense of identity will develop—an African identity. This African identity will also have a major influence on the economic output of the continent. Africa also has vast resources in terms of its culture and the impact in can have internationally. The potential for business growth in the global entertainment (music, movies, literature etc), fashion, and media industries is well worth exploring for African companies. The current international market dominated by Western influences would eventually yield some of its share to that which Africa has to offer.
Some important steps—how to achieve the vision of an integrated Africa
Currently, Africa has got regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bringing together countries in Southern African and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) whose effectiveness is limited. These bodies help to create common lobbying positions and loose cooperation. Over the next few years, regional blocs such as these two could begin the groundwork for integration, creating mini mega-states. They could closely follow the model of the EU and have as their ultimate vision, an integrated Africa in, say, twenty years from now.
ECOWAS and SADC both fall within the current framework of the African Union (AU). The AU has a lot ambitious goals about unifying Africa. However, a lot of what the AU tries to achieve is between countries whose sense of interdependence and unity is very rhetorical, and far from being at any practical level. Nations in conflict remain a part of the Union (such as the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, etc). Perhaps there is not enough at stake for them to put a greater amount of work into ending these conflicts. Other nations may feel that these conflicts do not directly impact them, and thus they too, are not as energetic about stamping them out. I would like to argue that genocide like that which Rwanda saw ten years ago would have little chance of occurring in an Africa where member states were closely linked to one another. What happens in one country really matters to another.
Involve the People!
The current integration of Africa, through the AU is very much a top-down, government-driven process. Whilst it is important for it to happen this way to some extent, as any of these interstate agreements can only be made by governments, the role of civil society must not be neglected. Africa’s people needed to be involved in developing this vision, as well as in implementing it. Otherwise, Africa’s unity will only belong to these governmental institutions and not its people—something that would be most tragic.
Governments, the AU and other regional bodies need to create the appropriate institutions and structures to facilitate African integration. However, they need to reach out and get the people themselves to be a part of the journey towards a more unified Africa. The large numbers of Africans that are not literate, or who do not have access to technology, or transport networks and markets will need to be carefully accommodated. With the involvement of all on the continent, this process will be far more successful and rapid than through a strictly bureaucratic, governmental approach.
What needs to be happening now, more than ever, is an increased dialogue about this topic. This is where the media (newspapers, TV, radio etc) plays an important role. Africa needs to generate a continent wide conversation on its future. The internet can also play a very powerful role in generating discussions on what it means for 54 countries to come together in the interests of Africa as a whole.
The Role of Youth
Information and Communication Technologies will play crucial role in Africa’s establishment of a sense of unity. The ability of people to have a sense of connectivity is extremely important. Youth are the greatest users of these technologies. Therefore, the role they play in shaping the future of the continent is crucial, given the fact that a large amount Africa’s development this century will be dependent on technology. The fact that, according to the BBC, Africa is the world’s largest growing market for cellular phones is very telling.
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Dumisani
I write because I believe in the power of ideas! Thoughts are what have changed the world... Every revolution, every legislation, every act started off as a thought. All thoughts are inspired by other thoughts expressed in song, essays, research, poetry, spoken word, action...
I write because I love. I hope that my writing inspires and informs you as much as the writings of others has done to me in my life.
~dumisani
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Comments
Africa will be stronger? EKHATOR CHRISTIAN OSAZEE | May 14th, 2004
"Poverty is by far Africa
homelessnes what can we do odufaderin | May 22nd, 2004
THE WORLD WE LIVE NOW IS NOW PUTTING EVERY YOUTH AND EVERY MIND INTO A challenging AGE
HOMELESSNESS IS ONE THING I WILL LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NOW FISRT AND FORMOST WHATS IS HOMELESSNESS? THIS IS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL HAS NO WHERE TO LAY HIS OR HER HEAD WE DISCOVER THAT IN THIS YEARS THAT CHILDREM HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY HOMELESNES BUT ALSO ORPAHNS WHY CAUSE OF WAR TRIBLA CLASHES AND SO... ON
I THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS WORLD A HOME WHEN WE ALL COME TOGHTER TO MAKE THE HOMELESS HAVE SOMEWHERE TO LIVE AND MAKE THEM HAPPY
How about Ethnic Divisions? Olawuyi Olusola Akanbi | May 26th, 2004
Integrated Africa is not a bad idea but how are we going to tackle bad blood caused by ethnic divisions and crises in our nations and fueled by successive governments?
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