MASTER’S DEGREE FINAL DISSERTATION Africa’s Integration Agenda and its Implication for Peace and Development on the Continent Student: Frank Djan Owusu Supervisor: Dr. Sidi Omar Dedication “Africa Will Write its Own History, and it will be, to the North and South of the Sahara, a History of Glory and Dignity” Patrice Émery Lumumba ii Acknowledgements I am profoundly grateful and indebted to Dr. Sidi Omar whose relentless patience and invaluable constructive comments made the production of this thesis possible. The Administration – entire staff of Cátedra UNESCO de Filosofia para la Paz / Instituto Interuniversitario de Desarrollo Social y Paz. The unsung champions of Africa’s hope, justice and development. My mum, dad and siblings: they deserve my highest admiration. You are all most appreciated and worthy of my heartfelt appreciation. iii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms AfDB African Development Bank AGR1 African Governance Report 1 AGR African Governance Report APRM African Peer Review Mechanism AMISOM African Union Mission in Somalia AU African Union AERC African Economic Research Consortium CSSDCA Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa DESA Department of Economics and Social Affairs ECA Economic Commission for Africa ECOSOCC Economic, Social and Cultural Council GCA Global Coalition for Africa IPA International Peace Academy IDP’S Internally Displaced Persons IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change LCBC Lake Chad Basin Commission NEPAD The New Partnership for Africa’s Development WB World Bank WGI World Governance Indicators SAP Structural Adjustment Programs OAU Organization of African Unity PSC Peace and Security Council R2P Responsibility to Protect USA United States of America iv UNDP United Nations Development Program UNIA Universal Negro Improvement Association UNAMID African Union/United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics v Abstract The focus of this thesis is on examining Africa’s integration agenda and its implication for peace and development. The central question the thesis seeks to investigate is: will Africa’s integration agenda be a recipe for its development? Qualitative research design and methodology is adopted in the thesis, and discussions are eclectic as much as possible. The epistemological frame espoused in shaping and guiding discussions is based on a social constructivist worldview. The thesis finds that Africa in the 21st Century is still riddled with a host of issues that mitigate its continental and development agenda including conflicts and wars, hunger and diseases, governance and institutional deficiencies all impacting negatively on its peace and development. The thesis argues that the extent to which these challenges are thoroughly addressed determine the way forward to peace and development in Africa. The thesis concludes that a Pan-Africanism, which is transformed into a praxis oriented towards Africa’s integration, still holds a viable option for transforming Africa’s political and development landscape if its true spirit – democratic governance - is implemented. Keywords: Africa’s Integration, Conflict, Development, Pan-Africanism, Peace vi Table of Contents Introduction: Setting the Scene I Introduction………………………………………………...…………….…1 - 4 II Statement of Purpose and Problem Statement……………………………...4 - 7 III Research Design and Methodology………………………………………..8 -11 IV Policy Relevance of the Research………………………………………..11 - 12 V Chapter Organization and Structure…………………………………………..12 Chapter 1: The Evolution of Pan-Africanism, Birth of OAU and AU: A Historical and Theoretical Reflection 1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………13 - 14 1.1 How it Began: Pan-Africanism………………………………………….14 - 15 1.2 Pan-Africanism – Roots……………………………………………….....15 - 23 1.3 Pan-Africanism an Ideology: A Theoretical Reflection…………………23 - 26 1.4 Pan-Africanism: A historical Reflection – From Passion to Action……..26 - 29 1.5 Institutionalization of Pan-Africanism…………………………………..29 - 40 1.6 The OAU: A failed Institution? ………………………………………... 40 - 54 1.7 The Africa Union………………………………………………………...54 - 60 1.8 Conclusions………………………………………………………………61 - 62 vii Chapter 2: Conflict, Peace and Development: A Theoretical Reflection 2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………...63 2.1 Definition of Conflict……………………………………………………64 - 65 2.2 Causes of Conflict………………………………………………………..65 - 69 2.3 The Organic Nature of Conflict or its Life Cycle……………………….........70 2.4 Peace……………………………………………………………………..70 - 71 2.4(1) Understanding Peace: Taxonomy of Definitions and Conceptions……...72 - 74 2.4(2) Idealism and Realism…………………………………………………....75 - 81 2.4(3) Kinds of Peace(s)……………………………………………………………..82 2.4 (3: a) Negative Peace (a)…………………………………………….....82 - 85 2.4(3: b) Positive Peace (b)………………………………………………..85 - 86 2.5 Dimensions of Peace…………………………………………………….86 - 87 2.6 Mechanisms for Peace……………………………………………….......88 - 90 2.7 The Concept of Human Revolution: Gateway to Peace(s)………………90 - 92 2.8 Peace a Concomitant to Development.......................................................92 - 93 2.9 Development: A Theoretical and Philosophical Reflection……………..93 - 94 2.10(1) Definition – Development……………………………………………….94 - 97 2.10(2) Historical Evolution of Development……………………………………98 - 99 2.10(3) Theoretical Discourses in Development………………………………..99 - 106 2.11 Conclusions………………………………………………………………….107 Chapter 3: Constraints to Peace and Development in 21st Century Africa 3.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………108 - 109 3.1 Peace and Security Challenges………………………………………..109 - 118 viii 3.2 Poverty and Indebtedness……………………………………………..118 - 133 3.3 Education, Research and Development……………………………….133 - 143 3.4 Governance and Leadership………………………………………………....143 3.4(1) Introduction: Governance and Leadership…………………………………. 143 3.4(2) Governance Peace and Security in Africa…………………………….143 - 152 3.5 Climate Change and Environmental Degradation…………………….152 - 156 3.5(1) Why Climate Change Matters for Africa’s Peace and Development…156 - 163 Chapter 4: Is Africa’s Integration a recipe for Peace and Development in 21st Century Africa? 4.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………164 - 165 4.1 Africa’s Integration History – A Brief Overview……………………..165 - 169 4.2 The Objectives of the Africa Union…………………………………...169 - 173 4.3 Role of REC’s in Africa’s Integration Process………………………..173 - 174 4.4 Theoretical Approaches to Integration: Some Brief Reflections……...174 - 177 4.5 Weaknesses of Political Integration as a Process………………………........177 4.6 Economic Integration………………………………………………….177 - 178 4.7 Regionalism…………………………………………………………...178 - 180 4.8 An Overview of Regional Integration………………………………...180 - 182 4.9 Neofunctionalism…………………………………………………......182 - 183 4.10 Intergovernmentalism…………………………………………………183 - 184 4.11 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………..185 Conclusion: Conclusions……………………………………………………………186 - 188 Recommendations……………………………………………………..188 - 190 ix Areas for Further Research………………………………………………….190 Bibliography: ………………………………………………………………………...191 - 19 x Introduction: Setting the Scene I Introduction Will Africa ever unite? This has been a fundamental question I have always pondered since my high schools years. The African Union national anthem reads: Let us all unite and celebrate together The victories won for our liberation Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together To defend our liberty and unity O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life Let us all unite and sing together To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together For lasting peace and justice on earth O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life Let us unite and toil together To give the best we have to Africa The cradle of mankind and fount of culture Our pride and hope at break dawn O Sons and Daughters of Africa 1 Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life Fifty years have elapsed since a majority of African countries regained their sovereignty by way of independence. Today, 55 (fifty-five) countries in Africa are independent and sovereign states with the exception of the Sahrawi Republic with a greater part of it still under Moroccan occupation. The question of whether most of these states are fully functional sovereign states is beyond the scope of discussion in this paper. The quest for independence and sovereignty was inspired by Pan-Africanism – ideologies, discourses, cultural and political practices that (Osei-Nyame, 1999) – were marshaled to fight colonial oppression, and to unite Africa. Despite the manifold vision and approaches, what seems to be an overarching character of pan-Africanism is reflected generally in an integrative philosophy of Africa that seek to embrace, uphold and unify the different cultural values of Africa toward the goal of overcoming oppression and suppression. The first stanza of the Africa Union anthem states “let us all unite and celebrate together; the victories won for liberation; let us dedicate ourselves to rise together; to defend our liberty and unity”. Paradoxically, African countries continue to remain divided both politically and economically, and the ideals of Pan-Africanism seem to be dormant if not already ambivalent ideology. A number of African governments who are supposed to be each other’s keeper have rather become enemies supporting rebel groups and movements in each other’s country, and