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Regional developmentalism in West Africa: The case for commodity-based industrialisation through regional cooperation in the cocoa-chocolate sector

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Bashi Rudahindwa

    (Université Protestante au Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
    School of Law, SOAS University of London)

  • Sophie van Huellen

    (Department of Economics, SOAS University of London)

Abstract

Regional integration occupies a prominent place in the economic policies of most Sub-Saharan African countries. However, despite different waves of initiatives across the African continent, the majority of African regional schemes have not managed to achieve their ambitious goal of promoting sustainable development through trade integration in Africa. In light of this observation, using the West African cocoa-chocolate sector as a case study, we propose the regional developmentalism paradigm as an alternative approach to regionalism in Africa, placing a particular emphasis on the use of regional and sub-regional approaches to development. Instead of full-fledged trade liberalisation and indiscriminate economic integration, the regional developmentalism paradigm advocates for state-led trade facilitation, regulatory convergence and capacity-building through the adoption of policies directed at strategic sectors. We evaluate the potential of the regional developmentalism paradigm to promote economic ttransformation and commodity-based industrialisation against the shortcomings of the current regional integration approach embodied in the institutional framework of ECOWAS.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Bashi Rudahindwa & Sophie van Huellen, 2020. "Regional developmentalism in West Africa: The case for commodity-based industrialisation through regional cooperation in the cocoa-chocolate sector," Working Papers 239, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK.
    • Handle: RePEc:soa:wpaper:239
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    West Africa; regional integration; development; developmental state; industrialisation; cocoa; ECOWAS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O24 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy

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