Regional Cooperation and Southern African Development

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Regional Cooperation and Southern African Development
Author:	Weeks, John
Year:	1996
Periodical:	Journal of Southern African Studies
Volume:	22
Issue:	1
Period:	March
Pages:	99-117
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Southern Africa
Subjects:	development regional economic relations Development and Technology Economics and Trade Inter-African Relations
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/2637006
Abstract:	Since the early 1980s, the discourse on development policy for southern Africa has been dominated by the neoliberal ideology of 'free' markets, primarily emanating from the World Bank, though increasingly adopted by regionally focused organizations and bilateral aid agencies. This article proposes a strategy of development for southern Africa that is an alternative to the neoliberal orthodoxy, one in which regional economic integration is a central feature. The first section reviews the debate on orthodox adjustment programmes and reaches the conclusion that IMF and World Bank stabilization and structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) have demonstrably failed to achieve their stated outcomes. Next, evidence is presented to support the view that there is considerable potential for agricultural trade among the countries of the region. This is followed by a discussion of development strategy on a regional basis which fosters both export growth and domestic production for import replacement. Notes, ref., sum.