Variable Geometry and Automaticity: Strategies for Experience of Regional Integration in West Africa

Abstract

Without exception, all recent internal or external action programmes or guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa (ECA, 1984; World Bank, 1981, 1983, 1984) assign a major developmental role to economic integration and regional co-operation. The case for economic cooperation does seem to be compelling and it can surely only be reinforced by recent redefinitions of priorities. In isolation, most small poor sub-Saharan states have very constrained development options. Their balanced development — and certainly any strategy that gives importance to import-substitution — demands larger markets. For most countries, this points to some form of regional cooperation. This has long been recognised, and regional economic integration and cooperation have constituted an element of sub-Saharan African development strategies for more than two decades. Yet the contribution of integration to development has not so far been great, and in some cases may even have been negative.