Understanding the complexity of regional integration in the current globalization era: The Ramifications of China- Africa cooperation on regional integration in the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc
The research sought to understand the ramifications of cooperation between China (a world superpower) whose goal is to expand her market and influence in other countries and developing countries seeking to build a stronger regional bloc (in this case the EAC countries) under the current era of globalization.
The research findings showed that; China-EAC cooperation through trade and investment cooperation, infrastructural development cooperation, industrial development cooperation and agricultural cooperation paradoxically leads to regional disintegration as this cooperation leads to polarization of EAC countries' markets, leads to loss of market by regional member countries within the region through reduced exports from one country to another, furthermore the cooperation leads to high dependence on the superpower country which hinders the development of indigenous industries and technologies which are essential in enhancing regional integration.
To this, the research recommends that in this era of globalization, developing countries like those under the EAC should seek integration from within the regional bloc, strengthen or deepen intraregional cooperation rather than strengthening cooperation with a world superpower like China since such cooperation can paradoxically lead to polarization and disintegration.
