Regional integration in Southern Africa: Evidence from the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Abstract

This article provides an informative review of regional integration in Southern Africa by drawing lessons and evidence from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It provides for a review of literature on the SADC from a regional integration perspective. SADC has expanded into a more expansive regional organisation in response to the challenges faced in the 1990s, and it currently includes South Africa, the region’s superpower. Furthermore, trade integration is receiving more attention, despite not being a main debate point at the Southern African Development Co-Ordinating Conference (SADCC). The SADC Trade Protocol has been decisive in trade integration. The purpose of the Protocol is to ensure that companies operating in each of the nations in the region may fairly compete to service the 150 million customers that comprise the market as a whole. It is anticipated that regional free trade will increase the likelihood of economic growth, increase intra-SADC commercial activity, create jobs, and elevate the standard of living for SADC residents.