The Role of Political Diplomacy in Addressing Africa’s Challenges of Regional Integration

Abstract

Political Diplomacy as used in the new EAC is proving to bear more fruits compared to when and how it was used in the initial EAC. But even with its little success and the potential of cutting across issues to effectively address the challenges of integration in the region, Political Diplomacy is not being sufficiently utilized. The main purpose of the study was to investigate and assess how the use of Political diplomacy can be enhanced in addressing the challenges of Regional Integration in the EAC. This study employed the use of cross-sectional surveys and purposive sampling to select the interviewees. The theories used are neo functionalism which puts emphasis on the role of institutions in the process of integration and intergovernmentalism which reiterates that the state is the key player in the integration process. The hypotheses formed were: The key challenges of Integration in the EAC are undermining the entire Integration process of the region: Political Diplomacy has the potential to effectively address the challenges of Regional Integration in the EAC and Political Diplomacy has not effectively addressed the challenges of Regional Integration in the EAC. They were used in the formation of the research instruments. The study established that; the EAC remains a largely intergovernmental body rather than a neo functional institution. The study also found out that no degree of Political Diplomacy can bear fruits without the required political backing by all partner states in addition to partnership with other stakeholders. The study also found out that no degree of Political Diplomacy can bear fruits without the required political backing by all partner states. The invoking of the principle of variable geometry has been a commendable political diplomatic strategy to fast track integration. The study recommends that the political elite need to give the Private Sector more investment opportunities to promote industrial growth which is a major focus of integration in the region. There is also a need to make integration in the EAC more of a citizen-centered process so as to create a sense of a community comprised of the citizens of all the partner states rather than largely relying on institutions to champion the course of integration