Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research International Relations Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 62-65)

ABSTRACT
Regional integration is vital for member states’ development, especially in regions
where states are both economically and politically not developed enough to harness
resources on their own. This thesis focuses on the Economic and Monetary
Community of Central Afrıca (CEMAC). In this context, a common market, custom
union, and a single currency of Franc CFA are few successes of CEMAC. Although
there were some elements of success, this thesis accounts that, it’s an incomplete effort.
These limitations are grouped into three; domestic, inter-regional and external factors.
The goal of this thesis is to examine if the process of regional integration in Central
Africa is successful or not.
Based on the complex nature of CEMAC; this thesis deviate from the classical theories
of regional integration like; neofunctionalism, intergovernmentalism and postfunctionalism. Dependency theory is employed for this thesis since it explains better
the reality on ground. This thesis touches upon the EU as a successful case, and then a
number of unsuccessful cases in the developing world such as MERCOSUR, ASEAN,
SAARC, and then turns attention to; the regional integration processes in Africa, EAC
as Africa’s most successful case, failed cases in Africa such as SADC, ECOWAS,
prospects, and challenges shall also be examined. From the colonial past to present
day imperial tendencies, this research considers the external factor as the rooted cause
of a dissatisfactory process of regional integration in Central Africa.
Keywords: CEMAC, Central Africa, Dependency, Franc-cfa, Regional Integration,
Regional Economic Integration.