The Impact of Foreign Policy Coordination on the Regional Integration Process of the East African Community

Abstract

The objective of this study is to link foreign policy coordination with regional integration and examine how this link impacts regional integration. Since independence African states have had the freedom to create and implement their foreign policies. This study realizes though that the effectiveness of those foreign policy strategies have been more effective on a regional level rather than on a continental level or global level to date. The East African Community which is the focus of the study had broken up only to be revived with the main focus on being on economic relations. The community realized the importance of the regional organization a means of mutually benefitting the region as a whole. Many papers have been written about regional and economic integration but this study is unique because it approaches regional integration from the perspective of foreign policy. The study examines the gaps left by scholars who have mainly focused on the economy as the only driver for regional integration. Study examines the impact of foreign policy coordination from two approaches, regional to state or state to regional levels. By examining trends of different sectors of EAC society between 2000 and 2010 the study will determine whether foreign policy coordination can indeed impact regional integration and which approach of the two is most suitable to both processes. The methodology of the study incorporates both primary and secondary data.