African Union_Reflection Memo

The aspects of our discussion in class that most provoked a response from me were on three topics. First, I was concerned by the dependence of the African Union and ECOWAS on international aid and how that reduces their efficacy as transnational organizations of sovereign nations. Second, the lack of open borders were presented as a major hindrance to the ability of these groups to enact humanitarian intervention. And finally, the persistent interference by former colonial powers can be seen as a limitation of the ability of the AU and ECOWAS to effectively represent African security cooperation. While I acknowledge the fact that these agencies cannot truly be effective until they can independently finance themselves, I remain skeptical that international aid is a massive hurdle to overcome. Especially ECOWAS, representing a massively resource-rich region of the continent with some of the fastest growing economies, needs to be considered in the long term. The foreign aid question is central to nearly all African issues, not just collective security. If any of these international agencies, representing sovereign states, is to be self-reliant, the signatory states must see the economic growth that can only come with increased sovereign control of their natural resources. Political stability and low fear of violence are crucial for economic development, and in fact the lack of stability creates a situation in which foreign economic powers have an advantage in negotiations simply because they can offer the private security necessary to guard their investments. So in the long term, continued cooperation with givers of foreign aid, though not ideal, is in the interest of regional security cooperation. This brings us to the second concern I had with the discussion. A lack of border security song the constituent nations prevents an open border situation like that which exists within (the majority of) the EU under the Schengen agreement. While this is obviously true, my take on economic development within African nations is that it requires greater internal stability and greater reliance on domestic firms to properly develop many African economies. Allowing for greater international commerce is also very important for greater prosperity, and I feel that increasing border security presents an excellent project for groups like the AU and ECOWAS, especially because it serves an objective good and leads to the contraction of more effective and self-reliant continental organizations, and is also unlikely to be supported by foreign intervention as it does not present a humanitarian crisis but is merely a regional integration problem. Finally, the role of former colonial powers, within the context I have presented, is not an inherent hinderance to development, but can in fact expedite the process of independent panAfrican or regional security and economic cooperation. If focus is placed on using international aid effectively and on increasing border security, former colonists may find that the investment pays off in the long run as African cooperative groups will be better suited to independently handle African affairs. At one point in the discussion there was the consideration of disbanding the African Union altogether because it is not able to effectively practice its stated goals. I feel that this would be a huge mistake, as an increase in the amount of bilateral agreements between independent African nations and foreign economic powers will continue to allow for low economic development except in very select segments of society and will essentially facilitate a type of modern colonialism conditioned by foreign government and private investment into developing Africa’s natural resources. I do not see any long term benefit to decreasing the level of international cooperation, even if it is in an embryonic stage. Finally, I want to address one topic that did not come up in discussion but which I retroactively feel should be mentioned, as it adds quite a lot to the resolution of the problems raised in discussion. The clause of the constitutive document of the African Union provides for the objective of spreading democratic governance in Africa. With a clearly stated political goal that reaches far beyond mere integration and mutual cooperation, the AU is in a position to actualize itself by creating and fulfilling political and social projects within Africa. Projecting a pan-African vision of society and culture, the AU has a long road ahead, but also present clear and tangible ambitions and parameters for how it will act. Working with foreign aid and even former colonial military might, setting and achieving goals should be the primary concern, with autonomy arriving later as stability, economic development, and integration all progress.