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The State of the Unions

In: Regional Integration, Trade and Industry in Africa

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  • Helmut Asche

    (Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz)

Abstract

What defines an economic region and distinguishes it from other spatial concepts? This fundamental question is addressed based on the dimensions of space, borders, action and time. An overview of the landscape of African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) follows. RECs are briefly portrayed, and the bewildering multitude of RECs is demystified to create a better understanding of the pattern of economic integration in Africa. The exercise is guided by a matrix of general-purpose versus functional/sectoral as well as effectual versus ineffectual/dormant economic unions. This analysis forms the basis for a critical discussion of the African Union’s practice of only granting official recognition to a subset of RECs. The ‘spaghetti bowl’ of African RECs is disentangled, and an orderly range of the economic unions relevant for general-purpose integration is established. The chapter concludes with a depiction of the factual landscape of economic integration in Africa, which is characterized by a great vertical rift and the challenge to achieve effective trade integration between Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Helmut Asche, 2021. "The State of the Unions," Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development, in: Regional Integration, Trade and Industry in Africa, chapter 0, pages 3-16, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:aaechp:978-3-030-75366-5_1
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-75366-5_1
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