Southern African Futures

📖 The Scoop

The fall of apartheid in South Africa and post-cold war international development changed the preconditions for regionalization in southern Africa. From being used as an instrument in the overlaying conflict between apartheid South Africa and the rest of the region, it can now be constructively used to improve regional development. This study examines a number of decisive factors for future southern African regionalization. One of its conclusions is that the process will mainly be spontaneous, rather than politically guided. Functional integration in sectors like hydropower, water management, transport, and communication is easier to envisage than traditional trade integration. Investments rather than trade will be the driving force. Threats to the three main interrelated components of a positive scenario for the region -- high economic growth, political stability, and absence of major armed conflicts between and within the countries -- are analyzed. The risk that regionalization by default may lead to enclaves of growth and wealth in a sea of poverty is noted.

Genre: Business & Economics / Economic Conditions (fancy, right?)