Abstract
This dissertation assesses the challenges and prospects of regional economic integration in Africa by using the AMU as a case study. It does so by making use of a qualitative approach as it seeks to gather insight into the challenges and prospects of regional economic integration in the AMU. This study indicates that although there were some attempts at regional cooperation in the AMU, there were also challenges that significantly hindered the regional economic integration of the AMU. As discussed in Chapter 5, reference is made to the dispute between Algeria and Morocco over Morocco’s claim of sovereignty in the Western Sahara and how this strained relations between Algeria and Morocco and negated the regional economic integration of the AMU.
Neo-realism provides insight into the zero-sum mentality of heads of state in Algeria and Morocco (as discussed in Chapter 3) and how the territorial conflict between Algeria and Morocco fostered an arms race as these member states try to deter the security threat that is posed by each other (Chapters 3 and 5). Despite the issues that are identified in this dissertation, member states have a common Berber culture, Muslim religion and common issues that were used to unite residents in the AMU against colonialism, unresponsive governments and rising unemployment during the Arab Spring. These factors do provide some prospect for the regional economic integration of the AMU. Neo-functionalism discusses whether there is a need for a common culture in regional integration (Chapter 7) and why states would cede parts of their sovereignty to regional institutions (Chapter 2). In addition to the above, neo-functionalism will try and account for the changing relations between Algeria and Morocco (Chapter 4).