Effects of Political, Legal, and Governance Challenges: Case Study of East African Community

Abstract

This thesis investigates the effects of political, legal, and governance challenges regional integration policy within the East African Community (EAC), and questions the motivations of partner states and their institutional preparation. I have analyzed the effects of selected dominant political, legal and governance fears, concerns, and challenges (collectively referred to as FCCs) reported by a team of experts that identified a wide spectrum of these FCCs.

I also assess the path being taken by the partner states as they move toward a political federation and full regional integration. I also look at the processes that seek to resolve the prevailing political, legal, and governance challenges.

This research determined that political, legal, and governance issues create FCCs that influence the policies and motivations of partner states, thus also affecting the integration process. At the same time, confusion in the integration process generates even more political, legal, and governance FCCs.

I sought to determine whether one or more factors underlying the political, legal, and governance FCCs might affect regional integration policy by (1) accelerating regional integration so as to reap expected benefits as quickly as possible; (2) staying the course on regional integration in order to mitigate costs and facilitate resolution of challenges; and (3) stalling or even halting regional integration to avoid associated risks and or costs to the partners in the process.

My research found that political, legal, and governance FCCs affect regional integration policy during the process by staying the course on regional integration in order to mitigate costs and facilitate resolution of challenges. I believe this is the best possible path forward.