Regional Integration Efforts and Political Cooperation of East African Community: A Case of Rwanda

Q3 Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Afro-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting Pub Date : 2023-11-03 DOI:10.53819/81018102t2243

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The main purpose of the research was to assess the role of regional integration in political cooperation among EAC member states. The specific goals were to examine the effect of economic initiatives on political cooperation, to assess the effect of policy harmonization on EAC political cooperation in the case of Rwanda, and to investigate the relationship between diplomatic efforts and EAC political cooperation in the case of Rwanda. The study's insights on Rwanda-EAC dynamics foster stronger political collaboration, guiding EAC policy decisions. It informs Rwanda's diplomatic strategy, enhances cross-border cooperation within the EAC, and serves as a foundational resource for future research and policy recommendations. The study employs Institutional Liberalism Theory, Neo-Functionalism Theory, and Intergovernmentalism Theory to examine how international institutions, spill over effects, and intergovernmental decision-making shape regional integration and political cooperation within the EAC. The interview guide and questionnaire were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from the field using a descriptive research design. Interviews were conducted with 30 respondents crossing the Gatuna Border using the convenient sampling technique. 68 respondents were selected from the ministry of foreign affairs based on a purposive sampling method to fill out the questionnaire from their respective offices, making 98 respondents out of 274 people in the target population. The results revealed that the evaluation of economic initiatives revealed strong support for their positive impact on EAC's political cooperation, reflected in high mean scores (4.886 to 4.989) and significant Pearson correlation coefficients (0.322 to 0.674, p < 0.01). Similarly, policy harmonization demonstrated positive effects on political cooperation, evident in high mean scores (4.896 to 4.969) and strong Pearson correlation coefficients (0.452 to 0.702, p < 0.01). Effective diplomatic efforts were found to significantly foster political cooperation, indicated by high mean scores (4.824 to 4.958) and moderate to strong Pearson correlation coefficients (0.245 to 0.914). In conclusion, these results underscore the pivotal roles of economic initiatives, policy harmonization, and diplomatic efforts in strengthening political collaboration within the EAC. The study suggests prioritizing continuous dialogue and mutual understanding among EAC diplomats, emphasizing policy harmonization and regional integration. Rwanda, as an EAC member state, should actively engage in integration efforts, while all member states should strive for collaborative decision-making and standardized policies. Citizens and leadership should support initiatives for economic growth and regional cooperation. Keywords: Regional Integration Efforts, Political Cooperation, East African Community, Rwanda

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东非共同体区域一体化努力与政治合作:以卢旺达为例

这项研究的主要目的是评估区域一体化在东非共同体成员国之间政治合作中的作用。具体目标是审查经济倡议对政治合作的影响，在卢旺达的情况下评估政策协调对东非共同体政治合作的影响，在卢旺达的情况下调查外交努力与东非共同体政治合作之间的关系。该研究对卢旺达-东非共同体动态的见解促进了更强有力的政治合作，指导了东非共同体的政策决策。它为卢旺达的外交战略提供了信息，加强了东非共同体内部的跨境合作，并为今后的研究和政策建议提供了基础资源。本研究运用制度自由主义理论、新功能主义理论和政府间主义理论来考察国际制度、溢出效应和政府间决策如何影响东亚共同体内部的区域一体化和政治合作。使用访谈指南和调查问卷，采用描述性研究设计从现场收集定量和定性数据。使用方便的抽样技术对30名穿越加图纳边境的受访者进行了访谈。通过有目的抽样的方法，从外交部各办公室抽取68名调查对象，在274名调查对象中抽取98名调查对象。结果显示，经济举措的评价强烈支持其对EAC政治合作的积极影响，这体现在较高的平均得分(4.886至4.989)和显著的Pearson相关系数(0.322至0.674,p <0.01)。同样，政策协调对政治合作也表现出积极的影响，在高平均得分(4.896至4.969)和强Pearson相关系数(0.452至0.702,p <0.01)。有效的外交努力可以显著促进政治合作，这体现在较高的平均得分(4.824至4.958)和中等至强的Pearson相关系数(0.245至0.914)上。总之，这些结果强调了经济倡议、政策协调和外交努力在加强东亚共同体内部政治合作方面的关键作用。该研究建议优先考虑东非共同体外交官之间的持续对话和相互理解，强调政策协调和区域一体化。卢旺达作为东非共同体成员国，应积极参与一体化进程，各成员国应努力实现决策协同和政策标准化。公民和领导人应该支持促进经济增长和区域合作的倡议。关键词:区域一体化努力、政治合作、东非共同体、卢旺达

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来源期刊

Afro-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting Economics, Econometrics and Finance-Finance

CiteScore

0.70

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Finance and accounting are seen as essential components for the successful implementation of market-based development policies supporting economic liberalisation in the rapidly emerging economies in Africa, the Middle-East and Asia. AAJFA aims to foster greater discussion and research of the development of the finance and accounting disciplines in these regions. A major feature of the journal will be to emphasise the implications of this development and the effects on businesses, academics and professionals. Topics covered include: -Asset pricing, corporate finance, banking; market microstructure -Behavioural and experimental finance; law and finance -Emerging economies: finance, audit committees, corporate governance -Islamic finance, accounting and auditing -Equity analysis and valuation, venture capital and IPOs -National GAAP and IASs compliance, harmonisation and strategies -Financial measurement/disclosure, and the quality of information reported -Accountability and social/ethical/environmental measurement/reporting -Cultural, political, institutional impact on financial measurement/disclosure -Accounting practices for intellectual capital and other intangible assets -Provision of non-audit services and impairment to auditor independence -Audit quality and auditor skills; internal control/auditing -Management accounting, control and /use of key performance indicators -Accounting education and professional development, accounting history -Public sector and not-for-profit accounting