Browsing by Author "Augustin, Wilbert"

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    Navigating regional integration AMIDIST multiple memberships an assessment of Tanzania’s participation in the East African Community and the southern African development community 1998-2004
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2005) Augustin, Wilbert
    This study examines Tanzania’s navigation of regional integration amidst multiple REC memberships. The study especially concentrates on how Tanzania handled her participation in both the EAC and SADC in the period 1998-2004, in effect attempting to unravel the puzzle concerning the criticism that one of the major problems facing African Countries’ and, indeed, Tanzanian’s regional integration and cooperation attempts in the individual countries involvement in multiple REC memberships. At the country level, multiple REC membership have led to the rise of contrasting views between government and non-governmental national stakeholders; especially regarding which REC (s) a country can maintain membership in or withdraw from. To address that problem, the study is premised on two hypotheses: (1) Firstly, that the more a country's national stakeholders are involved by the government in the decisions concerning that country's navigation in RECs, the more likely that national stakeholders will support government policies for or against participation in the RECs. (2) Secondly, poor coordination of national stakeholders in decisions concerning a country 's participation in RECs may result into that country not realizing the benefits of integration. The study's findings and consequential analysis confirm the two hypotheses. Furthermore, the study reveals that, although degrees of stakeholder involvement have differed between the non-governmental and governmental categories, the URT government has not adequately involved the country's national stakeholders in decisions concerning Tanzania's participation in RECs. Inter alia, the study recommend s that, there is need for the government to establish a permanent inter-ministerial REC coordination committee, to broaden local private sector and civil society involvement in the decisions concerning Tanzania’s participation in RECs and in general ensuring popular participation.