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Political regionalisation and oil production in Africa: the case of the LAPSSET Corridor

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This
study
analyses
regionalism
in
Africa
from
a
theoretical
and
an
applied
perspective.
The
purpose
of
the
study
is
to
contribute
to
the
critical
and
reflectivist
corpus
of
theories
of
regionalism.
This
field
is
dominated
by
rationalist
theories
that
are
largely
preoccupied
with
formal
inter-­‐state
and
market-­‐driven
processes
of
regional
integration.
The
rationalist
theoretical
hegemony
in
academia
and
politics
serves
to
reinforce
and
reproduce
neoliberal
ideology
informing
global
political
economic
practices.
This
study
illustrates
the
limitations
and
normative
assumptions
of
these
orthodox
frames
and
demonstrates
the
multidimensionality
of
regionalisation.
The
study
applies
a
combination
of
three
critical
reflectivist
theories:
the
World
Order
Approach,
the
New
Regionalism
Approach
and
the
New
Regionalisms
Approach/Weave-­‐
world
in
an
analysis
of
an
ongoing
regional
oil
and
infrastructure
project
in
East
Africa
called
the
Lamu
Port,
South
Sudan
and
Ethiopia
(LAPSSET)
Corridor.
The
study’s
primary
research
question
investigates
the
extent
to
which
oil
production
is
driving
the
manifestation
of
(new)
regionalism
in
East
Africa,
especially
in
terms
of
the
LAPSSET
Corridor,
with
secondary
questions
identifying
the
actors
involved
in
this regionalisation,
and
what
the
theoretical
framework
reveals
about
the
regionalisation
in
East
Africa.
After
a
review
of
some
of
the
most
influential
theoretical
contributions
to
the
study
of
regions
a
critical
reflectivist
approach
is
suggested
as
an
alternative
to
conventional
rationalist
theories.
A
broad
historical
overview
of
the
East
African
region
is
elaborated
with
a
focus
on
Uganda
and
Kenya,
highlighting
the
social,
cultural,
political
and
economic
evolution
of
the
region
before
reflection
on
how
forces
of
production
relate
to
regime
type
in
East
Africa.
Subsequently,
a
case
study
establishes
an
assessment
of
the
historical
and
social
construction
of
the
LAPSSET
Corridor.
The
objectives
of
the
LAPSSET
Corridor
and
its
implementation
mechanisms
are
scrutinised
and
viewed
in
comparison
with
its
potential
for
inclusiveness
of
local
participation
and
sustainable
socio-­‐economic
development.
Two
important
conclusions
can
be
drawn
from
this
study.
The
first
is
that
oil
production
is
critical
in
the
current
regionalisation
in
East
Africa.
However,
the
nature
of
this
regionalisation
flows
contrary
to
other
regional motives.
The
second
conclusion
is
that
the
anti-­‐reductionist
and
critical
reflectivist
approach
is
indeed
essential
to
fully
understand
the
variety
of
multi-­‐level
factors
of
structures
and
agency
that
influence
regionalism
and
regionalisation
in
East
Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie
studie
analiseer
regionalisme
in
Afrika
vanaf
‘n
teoretiese
en
‘n
toegepaste
perspektief.
Die
doel
van
die
studie
is
om
by
te
dra
tot
die
kritiese
en
reflektiwistiese
liggaam
van
teorie
oor
regionalisme.
Hierdie
studieveld
word
gedomineer
deur
rasionalistiese
teorieë
wat
meerendeels
besig
is
met
formele
inter-­‐staat
en
markgedrewe
prosesse
van
regionale
integrasie.
Die
rasionele
teoretiese
hegemonie
in
akademia
en
politiek
versterk
en
herproduseer
sodanig
neoliberale
ideologie
wat
global
politiek-­‐ekonomiese
praktyk
bepaal.
Hierdie
studie
wys
die
beperkinge
en
normatiewe
aannames
van
hierdie
ortodokse
beskouings
uit,
en
ontbloot
die
multidimensionaliteit
van
regionalisering.
Die
studie
pas
‘n
mengsel
van
krities-­‐reflektivistiese
teorieë
toe:
die
Wêreldorde
Benadering,
die
Nuwe
Regionalisme
Benadering,
en
die
“Verweefde
Wêreld”
Benadering
in
‘n
analise
van
die
regionale
olie
en
infrastruktuurprojek
in
Oos-­‐
Afrika
wat
die
“Lamu
Port,
South
Sudan
and
Ehtiopia”
(LAPSSET)
Korridor
genoem
word.
Die
studie
se
primêre
navorsingsvraag
fokus
op
die
mate
waartoe
olieproduksie
die
manifestering
van
(nuwe)
regionalisme
in
Oos-­‐Afrika
dryf,
veral
in
terme
van
die
LAPSSET
Korridor,
met
sekondêre
vrae
om
die
akteurs
te
identifiseer
wat
betrokke
is
by
hierdie
regionalisering,
en
wat
die
teoretiese
benadering
blootlê
aangaande
die
regionalisering
in
Oos-­‐Afrika.
Na
‘n
oorsig
van
die
belangrikste
teoretiese
bydraes
tot
die
studie
van
streke
word
‘n
krities-­‐reflekiwistiese
benadering
voorgestel
as
‘n
alternatief vir
konvensionele
rasionele
teorieë.
‘n
Breë
historiese
oorsig
van
die
Oos-­‐Afrika
streek
word
verskaf,
met
‘n
fokus
op
Uganda
en
Kenia,
en
dit
beklemtoon
die
sosiale,
kulturele,
politieke
en
ekonomiese
ontwikkeling
van
die
streek
voordat
‘n
oordenking
van
hoe
die
magte
van
produksie
betrekking
het
op
regimetipe
in
Oos-­‐Afrika.
Voorts
verskaf
die
gevallestudie
‘n
oorsig
van
die
historiese
en
sosiale
daarstel
van
die
LAPSSET
Korridor.
Die
doelwitte
van
die
LAPSSET
Korridor
en
sy
implementeringsmeganismes
word
geëvalueer
en
beskou
in
vergelyking
met
sy
potensiaal
vir
die
insluiting
van
plaaslike
deelname
en
volhoubare
sosio-­‐ekonomiese
ontwikkeling.
Die
studie
maak
twee
belangrike
gevolgtrekkings
moontlik.
Die
eerste
is
dat
olieproduksie
krities
belangrik
is
in
die
huidige
regionalisering
in
Oos-­‐Afrika.
Maar
tog
is
die
aard
van
die
regionaliseringspatrone
teenstrydig
met
ander
streeksmotiverings.
Die
tweede
gevolgtreking
is
dat
die
teen-­‐reduksionistiese
en
krities-­‐reflektiwistiese
benaderings
wel
sentraal
staan
tot
‘n
volle
beskouing
van
die
verskeidenheid
van
veelvlakkige
faktore
wat
regionalisme
en
regionalisering
in
Oos-­‐Afrika
beïnvloed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/96662
Date04 1900
CreatorsLund, Svein Sørlie
ContributorsFourie, Pieter, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatix, 119 pages
RightsStellenbosch University

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