Launch of book on regional integration in Africa
On Wednesday 1 November, the Centre for Africa-China Studies and Jacana Media hosted the successful launch of the book titled The Quest for Unity: An Appraisal of Regional Integration in Africa, edited by Prof David Monyae and Dr Sizo Nkala.
The launch took place in the Madibeng Building on the APK Campus of the University of Johannesburg, and was attended by teaching staff, students, and others.
The discussion was moderated by Prof Victoria Graham, Senior Director: Strategic Initiatives and Administration at the University of Johannesburg. The speakers were Teniola Tayo, Trade Policy Fellow at the Africa Policy Research Institute; and Dr Ekeminiabasi Eyita-Okon, a lecturer at the Wits School of Governance.
Tribute to Prof Khadiagala
Among others, the launch was attended by Prof Gilbert Khadiagala of Wits University, who is due to retire.
In a tribute, Prof Monyae has written: ‘The book builds on the existing scholarship by the likes of Professor Gilbert Khadiagala to whom this book is dedicated. Professor Khadiagala has contributed immensely, including in this book, to the understanding of regionalism and regional integration in Africa.
‘He has worked long and hard throughout his academic career nurturing upcoming scholars (including myself) and making major contributions to African scholarship. As you go into retirement, we would like to wish you all the very best in your future endeavours. We will remain guided by your teachings and principles.’
About the book
Rooted in the pan-Africanist ideals that animated the struggle against colonialism, regional integration has been in the mainstream agenda in Africa for six decades. As soon as they attained their political independence in the 1960s, African countries were quick to embrace the regional integration imperative because of its compelling, if obvious, strategic value. African leaders displayed unbridled faith in regional integration as a panacea for the continent’s economic underdevelopment and a route to escape the legacies of colonialism, even as they disagreed on how to get there.
The following six decades would see the adoption of various continental initiatives and programmes, including the establishment of regional economic communities such as the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of West African States, and the East African Community, as well as the transformation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) which came with its subsidiary continental institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament and the Peace and Security Council.
This book offers a comprehensive and incisive review of Africa’s quest for regional integration from the 1960s to the present. Despite concerted efforts towards its realization, regional integration remains elusive. In retracing the journey towards regional integration thus far, the book reveals lessons that can guide regional integration efforts going forward and hopefully lead to better outcomes.
About the editors
Professor David Monyae is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg, and Co-Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies. Prof Monyae is an international relations and foreign policy expert, with a PhD in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand. He previously served as Section Manager: International Relations Policy Analysis at the South African Parliament, providing strategic management, parliamentary foreign policy formulation, and monitoring and analysis services. He has published widely and is a respected political analyst, featuring in the national and international media.
Dr Sizo Nkala is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg Centre for Africa-China Studies where his role includes producing academic publications, managing commissioned research projects, organizing seminars, and interacting with the media. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal where he also served as a lecturer for three years teaching undergraduate and postgraduate classes across different disciplines including international relations, public policy, and contemporary African politics.
He has also worked as an external consultant for In On Africa (formerly Consultancy Africa Intelligence and is also a Laureate of the Council for Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Center for African Studies Basel (CASB) Summer School. Sizo frequently makes contributions to local and international media including radio, television, and newspapers on topical issues through interviews and written columns. His research interests include China-Africa relations in the technology, media and economic spheres, African political economy, immigration, and global politics.
Photos provided by Jacana Publishers.
