The Quest for Unity

This book provides a deeper insight into the conceptual and theoretical issues of vital importance to Africa’s development. It also presents case studies of several of the Regional Economic Communities, as well as the processes involved in constructing the African Continental Free Trade Area. Regional integration was identified many years ago as being critical to Africa’s quest to overcome its colonially induced underdevelopment. To encourage this, several potentially significant programmes or projects have been stillborn or inadequately implemented. A network of relatively stable Regional Economic Communities (RECs) has been established, and one of its most ambitious initiatives – the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – is now being ‘operationalised’. Written in the context of a global economy emerged in stagflation – a combination of stagnation and inflation – this book provides a deeper insight into pertinent conceptual and theoretical issues of vital importance to Africa’s development. It also presents case studies of several of the RECs, as well as the processes involved in constructing the AfCFTA. The subject matter of this book includes – African lingua franca and African knowledge systems The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Regional integration: Mission impossible? Regional electricity integration in Africa Print edition not for sale in Sub Saharan Africa