Jakten på den afrikanska regionaliseringen

Sammanfattning: This bachelor thesis deals with regionalization in southern Africa and how these processes have been affected by the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The starting point of the thesis is the Cotonou Agreement and the subsequent negotiations that took place between the EU and its former colonies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of EPAs on regionalization processes in southern Africa. The analysis shows that the impact has been significant. New negotiating groups have been created without regards to existing regional network which have created overlapping regional systems. As a result, several earlier regionalization projects have come off. This is in direct contrast to the stated goal that the EU had with the EPA negotiations; to make it easier for regions to integrate and become stronger.