Regional Integration and the Southern African Development Community

Abstract

Regional organizations are not a new phenomenon for Africa any more than for the rest of the world. Within Africa, how­ever, they have usually been typified by failure. This paper examines the viability of the Southern African Development Community-a relatively new organization that seeks to break the depressing pattern of previous regional organizations within Africa. This paper argues that if it is to do so, it must moderate its objectives and not attempt the full scale economic integra­tion to which itis currently committed. Rather, it should focus on more immediate and pressing issues within the region, namely inadequate infrastructure and an absence of human resources. Once these needs are met, the developmental and economic objectives of the region become more realistic goals.