WHAT ECOWAS HAS ACHIEVED IN THE AREA
OF POLITICAL INSECURITY IN WEST
ABSTRACT
This work examines the roles of ECOWAS
and its achievements in the area of political insecurity in the West African
sub-region. It explains how various crises have affected west African
development. The main focus of this project is to bring to light the problems
the sub-region faces and the ways to manage it.
The research methodology adopted for
this research is qualitative method; most of the information’s are from texts,
articles, journals, newspaper, etc. The research sampling technique adopted is
based on facts i.e a purpose sampling technique. This work also adopts two
theories in helping us to understand the causes of conflict and violence that
may arise in the sub-region.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) is a regional organisation of 15 West African countries
established on 28 May 1975. Its main goal is the promotion of the economic
integration among its members. Indeed, ECOWAS is one of the five regional
pillars of the African Economic Community (AEC). ECOWAS has three official
languages: English, French, and Portuguese. Member states are Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cote d‟Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Guinea, Niger, Cape Verde.(www.ecowas.com
4/12/2013). The West African sub region is one whose heritage continues to
influence the political life of the region. Indeed, without the ECOWAS, West
Africa would have been a region largely divided into two sections with each
part aligning with either Great Britain or France depending on the individual
country‟s colonial experience. Although the battle has not been fully won the
ECOWAS has been trying to erode the line of demarcation created by colonialism
in west Africa (Ogbeidi, 2010). Given the very small size of many African
countries in terms of population and in term of economic output particularly
within West Africa, regional integration became an attractive option after the
attainment of political independence in the region. A high degree of ethnic differentiation
and ethnic politicization has contributed to an impoverished West Africa that
is lacking in a reasonable level of infrastructural facilities. The implication
of this situation is that left alone, many of the countries will not be
effectively viable in a way to achieve the desired development (Anifowose and
Enenumo 1999).
It‟s therefore because of these and
other factors that the 16 West African states desired to form a regional
integration body, the treaty was signed on May 28 1976. The membership extends
from Cape Verde to Nigeria as it encompasses not only the West African
Anglophone countries but also the Francophone west African countries
too.(Anifowose and Enemuo, 1999).
The ECOWAS is made up of four
institutions, namely: the Commission, the Community parliament, the Community
Court of Justice and ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). The
ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development more often
called “the Fund” are the two main institutions designated to implement
policies, pursue a number of programs and convey development projects in
member-states. Impact as a concept used in this paper implies the impression or
the implication of ECOWAS protocols on political and economic development of
West African sub-region, which can be negative or positive ECOWAS (2000).
Established in 1975 originally as a regional organization to essentially
promote the economic integration of the fifteen Member States, the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been gradually transformed, under
the pressure of political events, into an organization also responsible for
finding solutions to armed conflicts and other political crisis which were
undermining peace and security within the community space. The nature of West
African sub region is the driving force that gave impetus for the formation of
the organisation to address the 3rd world problems / issues of the region. This
is because of integration along regional line.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The political insecurity among the
ECOWAS countries and attendant consequences has become thematic issues which
the ECOWAS either don‟t have solutions for or did not incorporate in its
economic and security programmes. The attendant debate is whether ECOWAS has
the ability and capacity to manage insecurity in the sub region. It is against
this background, that this project tries to examine the role of ECOWAS in
managing insecurity in the sub region.
1.3
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The general objective of the study is
to examine the ECOWAS challenges of managing insecurity in the West Africa
sub-region. The specific objectives are:
a. Examine the role of ECOWAS
achievement in the area of political insecurity in the sub region
b. To identify the impact of these
challenges on the sub-region
c. Determine how these challenges
impact on development in ECOWAS region.
d. To determine the prospects of
sustainable peace and stability in the sub-region.
e. Recommend ways of enhancing ECOWAS
capability for achievement of security in sub region.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTION
1. What is the role of ECOWAS
achievement of political security in West Africa?
2. What impact has insecurity had on
West African development?
3. What has ECOWAS achieved in
tackling insecurity in the sub region?
4. What are the prospects of
sustainable peace and security through ECOWAS in the sub region?
5. In what way can the achievement of
ECOWAS capability to maintain political security in the sub region be enhanced?
TOPIC: WHAT ECOWAS HAS ACHIEVED IN THE AREA OF POLITICAL INSECURITY IN WEST
Chapters: 1 - 5
Delivery: Email
Delivery: Email
Number of Pages: 56
Price: 3000 NGN
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