Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the most notable features of the relations between the European Union and
SADC is the current reconfiguration of their trading architecture as encapsulated in
the Cotonou Agreement. Such a process of change can be shown to have inevitably
been the result of policy shifts, which are salient characteristics of a global political
economy, whose ontology is embedded theoretically in neo-liberalism. Nevertheless,
any process of change in the structure of global trading relations has the logical
outcome of systemically imposing either challenges or opportunities, and in some
cases both, on the participants of that structure.
This study represents a scholarly attempt at creating a lucid and descriptive
embodiment of the challenges and opportunities involved for SADC in the negotiation
and implementation of a Regional Economic Partnership Agreement (REPA) with the
European Union. These challenges and opportunities, obligatory within a REPA
framework are theoretically pronounced in as far as they shape the political economy
of regional integration in SADe. The process of negotiating such a multifaceted
agreement with a sophisticated partner, calls for institutional and negotiating
capacity. Undoubtedly, such capacity is beyond the membership of SADe. The point
is also emphasized that the process of trade liberalization, ingrained in a REPA will
create a complex and difficult interface with the current SADC initiatives underway to
deepen regional integration. Tellingly, these would contradict the cautious
developmental and bottom up approach taken by SADC in its drive for regional
integration.
Conversely, this study concedes that a REPA with the EU holds a number of novel
opportunities for SADC because such a process would provide scope for the
fundamental restructuring of the SADC economies. The competitive pressures
through decreased levels of protection within a REPA can create an upward
convergence of low performing industries in the region. These, amongst others are
important aspects if the political economy of SADC is to move into a virtuous cycle of
deeper integration and ultimate insertion in the global economy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Een van die mees opvallende kenmerke van verhoudinge tussen die Europese Unie
(EU) en Suider-Afrikaanse Ontwikkelingsgemeenskap (SAOG) is die huidige
rekonjigurasie van handelsbetrekkinge, soos vervat in die Cotonou Ooreenkoms.
Hierdie proses is die onafwendbare gevolg van beleidsveranderinge in die
internasionale politieke ekonomie, met 'n. ontologie wat teoreties in neo-liberalisme
gewortel is. Sodanige veranderinge in die struktuur van internasionale
handelsverhoudinge. bied uitdagings sowel as geleenthede, en soms beide, aan
deelnemers van sodanige struktuur.
Hierdie studie is 'n akademiese poging om 'n helder en deskriptiewe blik te werp op
die uitdagings en geleenthede vir die SAOG met betrekking tot die onderhandeling en
implimentering van die Regionale Ekonomiese Venootskapsooreenkoms (REVO) met
die EU Hierdie uitdagings en geleenthede, wat verpligtend is binne die REVO
struktuur, is teoreties belangrik in soverre as wat dit die politeke ekonomie van
regionale integrasie in SADC beinvloed. Die onderhandelingsproses van so 'n
komplekse dokument met gesofistikeerde vennote vereis intitusionele en
onderhandelingskapasiteit. Hierdie kapasiteit is nie in SAOG te vinde nie. Die punt
word ook benadruk dat die proses van handelsliberalisering, wat deel uitmaak van
REVO, botsend kan wees met SAOG inisiatiewe om regionale integrasie te versterk.
In essensie sal dit die huiwerige ontwikkelings en 'onder na ba' benadering, wat die
SAOG tans volg, weerspreek.
Aan die ander kant, gee die studie toe dat 'n REVO met die EU 'n hele aantal
voordele inhou, aangesien so 'n proses momentum kan voorsien vir verreikende
herstrukturering van SAOG ekonomieë. Die kompeterende druk a.g. v. 'n afname in
beskermingsvlakke onder die REVO, kan lei tot 'n opwaartse neiging onder
tradisionele swakpresterende nywerhede in die streek. Hierdie is onder andere
belangrike aspekte wat SADC in gedagte moet hou, ten einde deel te word van die
deugsame kringloop van dieper integrasie, en uiteindelike deelwording van die
internasionale ekonomie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49851 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Hengari, Alfredo Tjiurimo |
| Contributors | Nel, P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | viii, 89 p.: ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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