The Influence Of National Interest On Regional Integration Choices: A Case Study Of Tanzania (1980-2017)

Abstract

Due to the constraints that the multiplicity of membership in RECs portends for African countries such as duplication, multiple financial commitments, competing rules of origin, tariff reduction rates, obligation to comply with different policy decisions and inefficiency, this study sought to examine the way Tanzania‟s multiple membership to the EAC and SADC curtails her from harnessing ultimate benefits from these regional integration arrangements. To this end therefore, this study sought to underscore various aspects influencing Tanzania‟s regional integration choices and the way forward. The research was guided by three objectives, namely; to assess how national economic interests help define Tanzania‟s regional integration choices; secondly, to examine how national political interests help define Tanzania‟s regional integration choices; and, thirdly, to review how national socio-cultural interests help define Tanzania‟s regional integration choices. This study utilised Mwesiga Baregu‟s imperatives for regional integration theoretical approach which holds the view that there are factors that create the impetus, and give rise to the drive and yearning, for integration among states in a given regional integration scheme. Adopting the longitudinal research design using a case study approach, the research data was obtained by use of primary (key informant interviews) and secondary methods of data collection. Content analysis was used to analyse data. The study indicates that within the SADC regional integration scheme, Tanzania lies in the outer fringes of the scheme geographically as SADC rotates around South Africa as the sub-regional hegemon creating an oligopolistic REC where other countries are just but pawns. As such, Tanzania is better placed to be in the EAC owing to her geographic centrality within the EAC. In addition, Tanzania‟s inroads in the EAC through historical interactions make it easier for her to foster stronger integration with other members. Noting that majority of the partner states of the EAC are landlocked and intra-EAC trade is still a great distance away from full potential, sea bound countries such as Tanzania can harness this potential for stronger trade ties. For Tanzania, the EAC also carries much better developmental prospects owing to deepened infrastructural linkages. To this end therefore, Tanzania should seek to consolidate the gains that can be made within the East African Community while pursuing trade with SADC countries under the rubric of the EAC or bilaterally.