Region-Building in West Africa

Region-Building in West Africa
Author: Emmanuel Balogun
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 149
Release: 2022-06-30
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0429791844

This book examines the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) practitioners in coordinating, creating, and managing regional governance practices in the areas of public health, peace and security, and microfinancial integration. Since 1975, there have been many failed and successful attempts at unconstitutional government changes in West Africa. During this same period, numerous instruments have been designed to promote peace and security in the region. This book examines the role of bureaucratic actors in the ECOWAS in harmonizing regional integration policy in West Africa. Using data from fieldwork in several countries in West Africa, Balogun observes how ECOWAS practitioners network and strategically engage regional stakeholders in health, peace and security, and finance as a means to deepen harmonization between ECOWAS Member States and build a connection with civil society. Balogun argues that the founding conditions of ECOWAS set the organization on an institutional path to adapt its approaches to regional governance. Region-Building in West Africa challenges the idea that self-interested leaders limit regional cooperation. The book also challenges the idea that the bureaucrats in the organization are glorified servants to their governments. Region-Building in West Africa instead focuses on the influence that bureaucrats have in shaping the international policy agenda of ECOWAS. This book will be useful to scholars, students, and practitioners in Africa and beyond who want to better understand the inner workings of African regional organizations, and the processes that drive cooperation across West Africa.

ECOWAS Law

ECOWAS Law
Author: Jerry Ukaigwe
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2016-02-05
Genre: Law
ISBN: 3319262335

This book analyses the emerging jurisprudence of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and seamlessly knits together all the disparate texts, policies and judicial decisions into a single, coherent resource. The work is deliberately crafted to address the lack of a comprehensive resource on the subject, and guide lawyers, policy-makers, Community citizens, researchers, students and civil society organisations through the labyrinth of the Community's laws and policies. From a socio-legal perspective, it unearths political, socio-economic and legal structures that impinge on the integration cause on the one hand, and dilute the efficacy of the Community legal regime on the other hand. Also, it exposes contemporary terrorism and conflict in West Africa and the legal interventions that the Community has adopted to respond to these challenges. In sequence, it traces and expounds the legal development of the Community norms with respect to sources of law, human rights, supra-nationalism and laws of the member states, reference procedure, action for damages, freedom of movement, discrimination and competition policy.The book particularly evaluates the extent of the human rights jurisdiction of the Community Court of Justice, as well as jurisdictional limitations to the protection of Community rights either at national or Community level. Also, it sheds light on the jurisdictional chasm existing between Community law and member states' national laws, and offers proven constitutional, legislative and judicial solutions to plug the gap. It explains vividly the common market, free movement of goods and the impact of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on the entire ECOWAS free trade policy. In all these analyses, evaluation and examination of norms and policies, the work draws on the European Union's rich case law on similar points to explain recondite issues of law which may arise or have arisen from the application of any of the ECOWAS texts.

The Future of Ecowas: Critical Perspectives

The Future of Ecowas: Critical Perspectives
Author: Mansourou El-Moumin A. Radji
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2020-12-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1664113703

The book delves into the regional organization in both form and content and pinpoints why, since 1975 political dysfunction and self-help undermine the economic arrangement within the sub region. It highlights the most systematic analysis of how policies are half implemented and laws enacted to move the region forward failed to make any difference. From China’s imperialistic ambitions on West Africa, the economic integration to Morocco’s attempt and the single currency, Mansourou takes readers deep into political criminality and relies on impressive quantitative analysis to reach compelling and unusual outcomes. He argues against the tide of unnecessary Chinese Killer loans that is spreading across West Africa.

Globalization and Politics in the Economic Community of West African States

Globalization and Politics in the Economic Community of West African States
Author: Eric M. Edi
Publisher:
Total Pages: 234
Release: 2007
Genre: History
ISBN:

Globalization and Politics in the Economic Community of West African States offers an engaging perspective on the understanding of globalization in the ECOWAS countries of West Africa. This book discusses the political and structural changes that were enacted by the West African leadership and people to meet the challenges of globalization and examines the extent to which these changes furthered democracy and the respect of human rights.

Regional Integration in West Africa

Regional Integration in West Africa
Author: Eswar Prasad
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Total Pages: 203
Release: 2021-07-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0815738544

" Assessing the potential benefits and risks of a currency union Leaders of the fifteen-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have set a goal of achieving a monetary and currency union by late 2020. Although some progress has been made toward achieving this ambitious goal, major challenges remain if the region is to realize the necessary macroeconomic convergence and establish the required institutional framework in a relatively short period of time. The proposed union offers many potential benefits, especially for countries with historically high inflation rates and weak central banks. But, as implementation of the euro over the past two decades has shown, folding multiple currencies, representing disparate economies, into a common union comes with significant costs, along with operational challenges and transitional risks. All these potential negatives must be considered carefully by ECOWAS leaders seeking tomeet a self-imposed deadline. This book, by two leading experts on economics and Africa, makes a significant analytical contribution to the debates now under way about how ECOWAS could achieve and manage its currency union, andthe ramifications for the African continent. "

The Institutional Transformation of the Economic Community of West African States

The Institutional Transformation of the Economic Community of West African States
Author: Kofi Oteng Kufuor
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2017-03-02
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1351887629

This book examines regional economic integration in West Africa within the context of the institutional evolution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It uses the tools of the New Institutional Economics School (NIE) to explore the origins and development of the most recent ECOWAS Treaty. Particular attention is given to the interface between domestic legal arrangements and the success of open markets at the regional and international levels.

Policy Implications of Ecowas in Regional Development

Policy Implications of Ecowas in Regional Development
Author: Dr. Joseph K. Manboah-Rockson
Publisher: Partridge Africa
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2019-06-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1482878569

“Policy Implications of ECOWAS in Regional Development” is an analytical study of the policies and programs impeding the transformation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) into a cohesive entity. What is questionable throughout this book is the specific paradigm of regional integration adopted by West African countries similar to the European Union; but which is not working as envisaged. A linear textbook model demonstrates an integration to do with the preoccupation with tariff liberalization, as not being the most effective means of addressing the challenges of smallness, marginalization and under-development in West Africa. The fundamental issue and underlying problem in West Africa is that of economically, socially and politically weak states. These weak states lack the institutional capacity to make and effectively implement policies and regulations meant to drive the integration process. More to these assertions are that there is much evidence of strong political commitment to regional integration, but very poor performance on the implementation of commitments; that is, there is no political will to commit to regional integration.

The Political Economy of Foreign Policy in ECOWAS

The Political Economy of Foreign Policy in ECOWAS
Author: Timothy M Shaw
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 304
Release: 1994-05-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1349232777

Both political economy and foreign policy have been transformed in the sixteen states of West Africa at the start of the 1990s because of interrelated external factors (end of the Cold War and start of a New International Division of Labour) and internal factors (national structural adjustment programmes). Sixteen leading analysts of new regional relations, of both cooperation and conflict, offer original revisionist insights into ECOWAS and ECOMOG, debt and democracy, reform and resistance. The mixture of case studies and comparative analyses constitutes a comprehensive overview of West African actors, issues, structures, perspectives and possibilities at the end of the century, with relevance for development discourses and directions in other peripheral regions. Together these offer timely redefinitions and reconceptualisations of central notions like civil society, diplomacy, foreign policy, peacekeeping, security, and self-reliance for political economies and cultures throughout the South.

Humanitarian Intervention and the AU-ECOWAS Intervention Treaties Under International Law

Humanitarian Intervention and the AU-ECOWAS Intervention Treaties Under International Law
Author: John-Mark Iyi
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2016-01-22
Genre: Law
ISBN: 3319236245

The book reconciles the conflicts and legal ambiguities between African Union and ECOWAS law on the use of force on the one hand, and the UN Charter and international law on the other hand. In view of questions relating to African Union and UN relationship in the maintenance of international peace and security in Africa in recent years, the book examines the legal issues involved and how they can be resolved. By explaining the legal theory underpinning the validity of the AU-ECOWAS laws, the work provides a legal basis for the adoption of the AU-ECOWAS laws as the frameworks for the implementation of the R2P in Africa.

ECOWAS and the Dynamics of Conflict and Peace-building

ECOWAS and the Dynamics of Conflict and Peace-building
Author: Thomas Jaye
Publisher: African Books Collective
Total Pages: 254
Release: 2011-12-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 2869785232

ECOWAS and the Dynamics of Conflict and Peace-building testifies to the fact that we cannot talk of West African affairs, more so of conflict and peace-building, without talking about ECOWAS. For over two decades now, West Africa has remained one of Africas most conflict-ridden regions. It has been a theatre of some of the most atrocious brutalities in the modern world. It has, nonetheless, witnessed one of the most ambitious internal efforts towards finding regional solutions to conflicts through ECOWAS. The lead role of ECOMOG the ECOWAS peacekeeping force in search of peaceful solutions to civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau and Cote dIvoire has yielded a mix of successes and failures. In this book, the authors take a candid look at the role that ECOWAS has played and show how the sub-regional organisation has stabilised and created new conditions conducive to nation building in a number of cases. Conversely, the book shows that ECOWAS has aggravated, if not created, new tensions in yet other cases. The comparative advantage that ECOWAS has derived from these experiences is reflected in the various mechanisms, protocols and conventions that are now in place to ensure a more comprehensive conflict prevention framework. This book provides a nuanced analysis of the above issues and other dynamics of conflicts in the region. It also interrogates the roles played by ECOWAS and various other actors in the context of the complex interplay between natural resource governance, corruption, demography and the youth bulge, gender and the conflicting interests of national, regional and international players.