PROSPECTS OF COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION BETWEEN ARAB AFRICAN STATES
INTRODUCTION
African states are now coming together to form a single market and are also trying to have a single currency under the umbrella of the African Union, just like the European Union. All these ideas came about when the regional organizations were successful in achieving free trade, easy migration etc. For example, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have achieved free trade but have not reached a decision on a single currency, though it was reported that the ECOWAS committee of nations will strive to achieve the single currency by 2020, (Herald, 2018).
Cooperation and integration between Arab African States can and will be achieved if the leaders of the Arab African countries are willing to join hands together to achieve the desired result. It will require members to harmonize their tax, monetary, and fiscal policies, create a common currency, and concede a certain amount of sovereignty to the supranational organization. The countries that make up the Arab African states are Algeria, Comoros, Egypt, Djibouti, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia. These countries can acquire great economic viability worthy of emulation if they are to work together. Though there is the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) which has Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia as its members, (Francesco, 2008), which was established with the aim of enhancing trade. The Union has been unable to achieve tangible progress on its goals due to deep economic and political disagreements between Morocco and Algeria regarding, among others, the issue of Western Sahara, (Wikipedia)
Ways of achieving cooperation and integration are:
MULTI-LATERAL RELATIONS
Multilateralism was defined by Miles Kahler as "international governance" or global governance of the "many," and its central principle was "opposition to bilateral discriminatory arrangements that were believed to enhance the leverage of the powerful over the weak and to increase international conflict, (Kahler, 1992). I believe a multilateral agreement between all the Arab African states will put these states at the forefront in African and in the Arab world. The decisions this group makes will not be taken with levity because their base will be strong financially, economically, militarily etc.
Multilateral relationships between Arab African nations will aid them immensely in terms of trade, affairs between the countries, aiding in economy and direct investments, education etc.
ECONOMIC PROSPECT
There can be an economic surge in the Arab African countries if there is free trade of goods. The benefits of ensuring a free trade between the countries are not limited to but include:
I. Duty-Free and Quota-Free Market Access and no quantitative restrictions on goods that meet requirements of the standard organizations, (Anzetwere 2014). In bringing goods through to the different Arab African countries, the principle of laissez faire can be adopted in which transactions between private parties are free from government intervention such as regulation, privileges, tariffs and subsidies. This will help in further movement of goods within the countries. Import and export of goods and services will increase astronomically. In order to prevent movement of substandard goods, government agencies in charge of standard will be at the borders to checkmate that.
II. Every country is bound to benefit due to different areas of specialisation: Ideally, each country has a comparative advantage in different areas of production and this allows partner countries to gain as a result of specialisation, (Monash University, 2001).
III. Competitiveness in the markets: There will be competition and also standard goods produced because customers will go for the best. A competitive market is one where there are numerous producers that compete with one another in hopes to provide goods and services, as consumers want and need. In other words, not one single producer can dictate the market. Also, like producers, not one consumer can dictate the market either.
IV. Attraction of foreign investment: Free trade will leave the door open for foreign investors bringing in new players into the markets and thereby creating more jobs into the country.
V. Introduction of a single currency can be beneficial to the Arab African countries. For example, Egypt is presently going through high inflation; the situation can be managed if there is a central economy and any country can be bailed out if such a country is having problems economically.
EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION
Programs of international cooperation in higher education claim to promote peace and intercultural understanding, contribute to development of efficient human resources as well as research and innovation, (Donchenko, 2015). Technological innovations can be developed in the Arab African countries which will push the countries forward. They will be an embodiment of human resources, ideas can be exchanged to further boost education in the countries, and making the Arab African countries a melting pot will also promote peace among its citizens. Activities of higher education institutions in regards to internationalization include student and faculty mobility; attracting international students; joint research projects; curriculum development and enhancement; joint or double degrees; development and capacity building projects; campus internationalization, (Donchenko, 2015).
Educational exchange programmes can be initiated between Arab African universities which will help foster unity among them. Scholarship for exceptionally brilliant students can be initiated to build the human resources.
PEACE INITIATIVES/ MANAGING AND RESOLVING CONFLICTS
Armed conflicts need to be prevented, mediated, managed and resolved at multiple levels, from the local through the national to the regional and trans-regional, (Dewaal, 2017). Arab African states can help themselves by bringing warring parties together to draw up peace accords which will advertently affect the Arab African states positively.
The conflict in Libya, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant branch in Tunisia conflict, the insurgency in the Maghreb in Algeria, the insurgency in the Maghreb in Tunisia, the insurgency in the Ogaden in Morocco, etc. National level conflict drivers, including electoral and post-election violence, disputed power transitions, unrepresentative and undemocratic security services, and challenges to the over-centralization of power, are also important, (Dewaal, 2017). All these conflicts drivers can be attended to and the various conflicts checked if the leaders of the Arab African states come together to build a regional army that will help manage conflicts until it can be resolved through the round table in form of mediation.
Managing conflicts can be easily achieved than resolving conflicts. Proponents of this approach believe that attempts to resolve conflicts are unrealistic, so rather than dealing with basic issues, attention should be concentrated on ameliorating the symptoms of the conflict, and in this way reducing suffering (Ryan 1990). No conflict however, no matter how protracted cannot be resolved. Not merely will disruptive conflict behaviour cease and hostile attitudes and perceptions at least be ameliorated, but the ultimate source of conflict (that is, the situation of goal incompatibility) will also be removed so that no unsatisfied goals remain to plague the future, (Mitchell, 1989). Conflict resolution offers a more viable outcome to conflict, because it converts the conflict into a shared problem, setting up a process in which both sides participate equally in finding solutions which are acceptable to both and which, therefore, are self-sustaining, (Light,1984).
ESTABLISHING A REGIONAL POLICE
Joining forces together to introduce a regional police to combat terrorism will be welcoming in the face of violent extremist activities springing up on daily basis. This regional police will have operational offices in each Arab African state and should be able to spring into action if called upon. They will be able to nip any attack or extremists at the bud.
The regional police project will be capital intensive but achieving it will be a laudable project that will enhance security of citizens within the Arab African region. Language that is a barrier in most regions will not be applicable in the Arab African states thus putting them at the forefront.
CONCLUSION
The Arab African states can provide the leadership Africa really needs if they seize the opportunity. The cooperation and integration between Arab African states will be a plus to the countries involved. Coming together in the areas mentioned above will make them a formidable power in all areas in Africa and in the world. Decisions made at the world stage will not be considered without them and they can easily stand at each other’s back in the United Nations. There is presently a need for Africa to have a permanent seat within the United Nations Security Council and the Arab African can nominate one of their members. They will stand fiercely behind the country and canvass for support from other African countries.
REFERENCES
1. Anzetwere, Development Economist (Nov. 2014), “The Pros and Cons of Free Trade Areas”, https://anzetsewere.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/the-pros-and-cons-of-free-trade-areas/#_edn8.
2. Dewaal Alex, (2017), “The Emerging Global Order, Multilateralism and Africa”,https://www.sites.tufts.edu/reinventingpeace/files/2017/10/The-emerging-global-order-20170927.pdf. Pg. 8.
3. Donchenko Viktoriia (2015), “University International Cooperation as a Means For Regional Integration and Development”, Centre for European Studies.http://www.cse.uaic.ro/eurint/proceedings/index_htm_files/EURINT2015_DON.pdf.
4. Francesco Tamburini, (2008), “L’Union du Maghreb Arabe, ovverol’utopia di nnaorganizzazioneregionaleafricana,en” Africa, N.3. pg 405-428.
5. Herald, (2018), “2020, single currency deadline attainable: ECOWAS”, http://www.herald.co.zw/2020-single-currency-deadline-attainable-ecowas/.
6. Kahler, Miles. "Multilateralism with Small and Large Numbers." International Organization, 46, 3 (Summer 1992),Pg. 681.
7. Light, M. (1984),” Problem-solving workshops: The Role of Scholarship in Conflict Resolution”. In: Banks, M. ed. Conflict in work society. Brighton, Wheatsheaf. Pg. 151.
8. Mitchell, Christopher R. (1989), “The structure of International Conflict”. London, Macmillan. Pg. 50.
9. Monash University (2001) ‘An Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement–Issues and Implications: FTAs–advantages and disadvantages’,http://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/aus_us_fta_mon/Chapter3.pdf.
10. Ryan, Stephen 1990. Ethnic Conflict and International Relations. Aldershot, Dartmouth Publishing Company. Pg. 102.
11. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Maghreb_Union.
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