Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorStephan, Harryen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorChikuhwa, Tonderai Wen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-01T07:55:21Z
dc.date.available2014-10-01T07:55:21Z
dc.date.issued2000en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography : leaves 87-95.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis research explores the liabilities and possibilities of African regionalism in an emerging international system characterized by economic globalization. The paper concerns itself with understanding the ways in which scholars are conceiving the concept of globalization, determining the ways in which the phenomenon is impacting the international system, and discerning globalization's impact on political and economic outcomes in Africa. The paper argues that globalization is driving the establishment of a global free market capitalist economic system based on competition, efficiency and productivity. This emerging international political economic order increasingly favours economies of scale and collective capacity. That is, its organizational logic is such that only those competitors who can rapidly mobilize and deploy vast resources across a range of domains will be able to compete effectively in the system. Accordingly, the wealthy areas of the globe are organizing themselves into increasingly cohesive economic and political regional groupings. Furthermore, globalization is speeding the inclusion of poorer countries into this fiercely competitive market. However, the terms of inclusion are dictated by and in favor of the wealthiest and most powerful members of the international society. Based on this reading of international life the paper argues that more pervasive cooperation and integration is ultimately Africa's only viable development strategy. African regionalism is examined in historical perspective an assessment of past initiatives, which it is now clear have largely faltered, yields the conclusion that a fundamental strategic re-orientation is required. The constitutional, 'grand-strategy' approach to integration must give way to an orientation that emphasizes more functional economic connections below the level of the state. Thus, this paper advocates the gradual and incremental enlargement of the area of cooperation across political and economic domains within and across regions on a functional basis. The establishment of an African Free Trade Area is viewed as the most effective framework for animating a functional orientation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationChikuhwa, T. W. (2000). <i>Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7833en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChikuhwa, Tonderai W. <i>"Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7833en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChikuhwa, T. 2000. Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Chikuhwa, Tonderai W AB - This research explores the liabilities and possibilities of African regionalism in an emerging international system characterized by economic globalization. The paper concerns itself with understanding the ways in which scholars are conceiving the concept of globalization, determining the ways in which the phenomenon is impacting the international system, and discerning globalization's impact on political and economic outcomes in Africa. The paper argues that globalization is driving the establishment of a global free market capitalist economic system based on competition, efficiency and productivity. This emerging international political economic order increasingly favours economies of scale and collective capacity. That is, its organizational logic is such that only those competitors who can rapidly mobilize and deploy vast resources across a range of domains will be able to compete effectively in the system. Accordingly, the wealthy areas of the globe are organizing themselves into increasingly cohesive economic and political regional groupings. Furthermore, globalization is speeding the inclusion of poorer countries into this fiercely competitive market. However, the terms of inclusion are dictated by and in favor of the wealthiest and most powerful members of the international society. Based on this reading of international life the paper argues that more pervasive cooperation and integration is ultimately Africa's only viable development strategy. African regionalism is examined in historical perspective an assessment of past initiatives, which it is now clear have largely faltered, yields the conclusion that a fundamental strategic re-orientation is required. The constitutional, 'grand-strategy' approach to integration must give way to an orientation that emphasizes more functional economic connections below the level of the state. Thus, this paper advocates the gradual and incremental enlargement of the area of cooperation across political and economic domains within and across regions on a functional basis. The establishment of an African Free Trade Area is viewed as the most effective framework for animating a functional orientation. DA - 2000 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2000 T1 - Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa TI - Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7833 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/7833
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChikuhwa TW. Globalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2000 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7833en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Political Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherSocial Scienceen_ZA
dc.titleGlobalization and regionalism : liabilities and possibilities for Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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