An Alternative Approach to Fostering African Economic Integration through the Utilization and Alignment of Information Technology

Attempts in the last 20 years to achieve regional integration in Africa have not yielded tangible results. Despite unparalleled technological innovation such as cloud computing, blockchain technology, and big data functional capabilities to drive real implementation of regional economic integration...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of African Union Studies 2020-04, Vol.9 (1), p.51-66
Main Authors: Ajibade, Patrick, Mutula, Stephen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative approaches
Bibliometrics
Cloud computing
Cooperation
Economic aspects
Economic development
Economic integration
Financial services
Financial services industry
Information technology
Innovations
Integrated care
International economic integration
International economic relations
South Africa
Technological change
Trade
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Summary:Attempts in the last 20 years to achieve regional integration in Africa have not yielded tangible results. Despite unparalleled technological innovation such as cloud computing, blockchain technology, and big data functional capabilities to drive real implementation of regional economic integration in Africa, the status quo remains with minor evidence of an agile continental and integrated commerce and financial services. Hence, this study argued that economic integration is a viable and alternative approach to achieve a United States of Africa with an integrated financial and economic architecture to foster regional integration. It employed a bibliometric review as an agile methodology to map knowledge trajectories of regional integration. The findings revealed gaps in the literature and lack of focus on the part of the African Union on how to replace the current sub-regional cooperation among the six clusters of economic communities of Africa with effective regional integration. The lack of, and the inability to utilize and align technological innovation to drive regional integration would make achieving this an arduous task. This study recommended that a business and IT alignment approach should be adopted in implementing African economic integration.
ISSN:2050-4292
2050-4306
DOI:10.31920/2050-4306/2020/s9n1a3