Effects of Globalization on Regional Security in East Africa: a Case Study of East African Community

Abstract

Globalization has ushered in an era of economic interdependence and liberalization which is acclaimed as the only hope for prosperity for the world. While, many parts of the world have moved towards greater political and economic stability and co-operation, the East Africa counties remain a cauldron of instability and economic deprivation emanating from globalization. The objective of the study is to examine the effects of globalization on regional security: a case study of East African Community. The specific objectives were; to establish the genesis of globalization process and region insecurity in East African Community states, to determine how the East African Community states respond to contemporary regional security issues and to identify the challenges facing the East African nation-states in the midst of an increasingly liberalized and interconnected world. This study used an exploratory research design to ensure that issues related to globalization and regional security are fully analyzed and interpreted. The population in this study was the officials from Ministry of foreign affairs in Nairobi, Kenya working under the department of East Africa, embassies of Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi in Kenya. The target population was twenty respondents. Ten from the Foreign Affairs ministry and two respondents from each of the five member states to allow for balance in the responses gathered. Purposive sampling technique was applied in selecting the 10 officials from the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the various embassies since they possess the requisite information that this study is focusing on. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the individual respondents in this study. The final sample size comprised of 10 respondents. Secondary data was obtained from published works and researches on globalization and security issues in EAC, EAC integration process, articles and reports by the EAC and other bodies that are involved in the security issues of the community. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires. The study used qualitative data analysis methods to analyze the responses of the respondents. Content analysis was conducted due to the fact that the study shall involve generating respondents’ views on the problem. The showed that the current security threats facing the East Africa nation-states presents more than the threat of national security and to overcome them, military might and interventions is paramount. The main causes of the security threats in the East Africa region generally emanate from state failure like the example of Somalia; challenges arising from the phenomenon of weak states leading to problems with governance; as well as the threat of terrorism. Through the findings the recommendations of the study is that there is necessity for a more inclusive approach in an attempt at containing and managing the security challenges in the East African region. To counter the effects of terrorism, the nation states in the East African region should re-orientate the security challenges by adequately training the security forces confronting the terror actions through gathering of proper intelligence to deal with the terror menace.