Towards a union government for Africa
Subtitle: challenges and opportunities
By: edited by Timothy Murithi.
Contributors: Murithi, Timothy.; Institute for Security Studies (South Africa)
Series: ISS monograph series -- 140
Publisher: Institute for Security Studies
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Pretoria
Language: eng
Number of pages: 189
ISBN-13: 9781920114251
Subjects: African Union; Pan-Africanism; Regionalism (International organization); Africa -- Politics and government -- 21st century
Description: In 1963 President Kwame Nkrumah argued that a Union Government for Africa would ultimately be the most effective vehicle for Africa{u2019}s social, political and economic emancipation. At that time there was significant dissension and disagreement on this point. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed as a comprise between those who wanted immediate continental integration and those who saw benefits in retaining a degree of national sovereignty and autonomy in managing their internal affairs. Forty-four years after Nkrumah{u2019}s visionary proposal, the leadership of the African Union (AU), the successor organisation to the OAU, is still grappling with the issue of whether to forge a Union Government for Africa. This book will contribute to this ongoing debate by drawing together the views of a selection of AU officials, AU member state representatives, policymakers, researchers, academics and civil society representatives. The chapters contained in the book will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the proposed Union Government for Africa. This introduction will contextualise the debates leading up to the Union Government discussions and also outline the content and structure of the book.
Notes: Caption title.

"January 2008."

Includes bibliographical references.

Full text available on ISS website.
Table of contents: title: 1. Introduction: contextualising the debate on a union government for Africa; title: Pt. I. A conceptual framework for a union government for Africa; title: 2. Portrayal of a possible path to a single government for Africa; title: 3. The challenges of accelerating economic and political integration in the formation of a union government; title: Pt. II. Engaging with the Accra Declaration; title: 4. Reflections on the 2007 Accra grand debate on a union government for Africa; title: 5. The relationship between states and an African union government; title: 6. Rationalising regional economic communities and implementing the treaty establishing the African economic community: the role of parliaments; title: 7. Identifying the domains of competence and the possible impact of the establishment of a union government on the sovereignty of states; title: 8. Financing the activities of a union government for Africa: experiences, challenges and prospects; title: 9. From roots to branches: the African diaspora in a union government for Africa; title: 10. Civil society perspectives on a union government for Africa; title: 11. Mainstreaming gender in the proposed union government for Africa; title: Pt. III. Innovative strategies for fostering an African union government; title: 12. The use of African Union specialised technical committees as a foundation for a union government for Africa; title: 13. Utilising the management of natural resources to forge a union government for Africa; title: 14. An African constitution? Ten hypotheses of what it should include; title: 15.Conclusion: the prospects for a union government for Africa.