Overview of the evolution of the concept of "regional integration": focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Abstract

Regional integration in Africa is characterized by the presence of a multitude of regional integration initiatives. This has prompted African countries to participate in various regional trade agreements (RTAs). In this regard, African officials have undertaken several efforts to streamline regional integration initiatives. These initiatives are part of a continent-wide framework under the auspices of the African Union. In 2018, African Union member countries gave a major boost to regional trade and economic integration through the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They agreed to eliminate tariffs on most goods, liberalize trade in key services, address non-tariff barriers to intra-regional trade, and create a single continental market with free movement of labor and capital. Once fully operational, the FTAA would be a market of 1.2 billion people representing $2.5 trillion in combined GDP. In this context, the objective of this paper is, on the one hand, to present the main schools that have studied the issue of regional integration and to show how regional integration has evolved over time. On the other hand, the objective is to draw up an assessment of the state of regional integration in Africa. This work therefore seeks to highlight the theoretical foundations of regional integration and to analyze the evolution of regional integration in the case of the African continent.

JEL Classification : F15, F16, F19, N97

Paper type : theoretical paper