Foreign aid and the integration process in East Africa
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Date
2013
Authors
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Publisher
University of Dar Es Salaam
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between foreign aid and the integration process in the East African Community (EAC) region. The major questions addressed are: does foreign aid enhance or constrain the integration process in the EAC region? How does aid enhance or constrain integration process in the EAC? Informed by the dependency theory’s assumption that the developed centre limits the development of the possibilities to the subordinate economies, the study had hypothesized that foreign aid constrains the integration process. It was also postulated that foreign aid diverts the focus of the regional integration by encouraging and promoting, and supporting programmes which seeks to integrate further the member countries into the capitalist world economic system. This, it was further assumed, have a number of implications including continuing dependency and hampering the development initiatives. The study employed various techniques for data collection including semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and documentaries. It therefore establishes that there is a negative relationship between aid and the integration process. Foreign aid constrains the EAC integration process by constructing and maintaining the north-south pattern of trade, strengthening the dependence syndrome of the EAC region, and constructing the infrastructures which are critical in the deindustrialization of the region. By perpetuating unequal trade, exploitation and dependence syndrome, the study concludes that foreign aid is a stumbling block to the EAC integration process. The EAC therefore should strategize immediately on self-financing mechanisms to maintain its survival from the swift predatory aims of the capitalists subsumed under the umbrella of foreign aid.
Description
Available in print form, East Wilbert Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark
Keywords
Foreign aid, integration process, East Africa
Citation
Jackson, E.N (2013)Foreign aid and the integration process in East AfricaMaster dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam