ECOWAS and Regional Integration in West Africa: From State to Emerging Private Authority

Abstract

The Economic Community of West African States was established in 1975 due to the leadership initiative of Nigeria and Togo as well as the cooperation of other Heads of State and Governments in the subregion. It was established within the framework of the consciousness of the need to develop a regional platform for cooperation and development. Since inception various institutions have been established, treaties and protocols have been signed and deadlines have been set for realising the objective conditions for which the subregional body was set up. Integration and regionalism in Africa have seen some twists and turns depending on the prevailing socio‐economic and ideological conditions both at the domestic and international environments. Various efforts have been made towards building regionalism in West Africa, especially within the context of neoliberal economic paradigm in which removal of barriers to market access and other factors of production is the main concern. Despite some successes, the effectiveness of the subregional body has been hampered through both domestic and external factors. News actors in form of private authority of indigenous multinational companies and other non‐state actors are emerging which could facilitate integration in the sub‐region in a more sublime and functional sense than the approach taken by political elites over the past 50 years. This paper discusses these new trends in integration within the theoretical prisms of networked political economy, private authority and regional identity. I also examine the institutional developments that have taken place since it was formed about 40 years ago.

Mapping regional cooperation of state actors for health research systems in Africa: A social network analysis

“…Western Africa's position as an outlier with strong intra-regional connectivity for health research could be rooted in its pattern of regional economic integration more broadly as an approach to support development, peace and security. Some argue that regional cooperation was an imperative upon independence, not least for economic and political reasons, but also to bridge populations and culture towards shared identity and governance across borders imposed by French and British colonists [69,70]. Cooperation between West African states also built on a history of dense commercial, social, and political networks before colonisation [70].…”

“…Cooperation between West African states also built on a history of dense commercial, social, and political networks before colonisation [70]. Francophone countries in Western Africa maintained regional organisations prior to the establishment of the Economic Community of West African states in 1975 [69] In contrast, Northern Africa's weaker position in the continental network could also be explained by historical ties with the Middle East. Nonetheless, North African countries offer useful lessons for building health-related industries such as Egypt's predominate generic manufacturing capacities [71] and for strengthening the legal framework for health research and investment in innovation such as Tunisia's law on scientific research orientation [24].…”

Gendering Environment and Climate Change in the Economic Community of West African States & the East African Community: Why Representation Matters

“…As a regional organization with 15 member states whose combined population is 400 million, ECOWAS's policy impact and footprint are substantial. Established in 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos, the community emerged to presumably tackle the region's pressing problems which included cooperation and regional integration (Aggad & Miyandazi, 2017; Okere, 2015, p. 30; Oloruntoba, 2016). Inadequate living standards, externally oriented growth and a pivot to Europe, Asia, and other spheres meant that regional revenue generating mechanisms were poor.…”

“…However, internal upheaval, resulting humanitarian crises in Liberia, Sierra Leone, etc. during the 1980s and 1990s, prompted a shift in organizational foci (Oloruntoba, 2016, p. 30). As a response to intractable conflicts, a largely aspirational governance framework emerged (Aggad & Miyandazi, 2017).…”