The Ordeal of African Unity - Past, Present and Future of the African Union

Abstract

This contribution has a double aim. The first is to properly describe the debates on, and the process of, African unification since the end of the colonial era. Thus, the background, objectives and functioning of the OAU will be discussed as will the motives for abolishing and replacing it with the AU. The discussion, which in principle will focus on the institutional dimensions of the African unity project, will demonstrate that, on the one hand, a mere intergovernmental model will not suffice for future successes and, on the other hand, that a federal-like United States of Africa probably is just a dream that will never fully materialize. As a result, Africa and the AU will have to find a compromise between these two extreme models. The second aim of this contribution is to explore whether the AU can learn certain lessons from the most successful regional integration organization in modern history, namely, the European Union. It is clear that the EU model as such is not suitable for Africa. Yet, as will be argued, there are certainly some lessons to be learnt by Africa from the European integration efforts and experiences.

Keywords: regional integration, african unity, institutionalism, decision-making

JEL Classification: F02, K19, K33, N47