Why Overlapping Regionalism? Drivers of Zambia’s dual memberships in COMESA and SADC: A pluralism of perceptions

Abstract: In contrast to current global trends, Africa seems more determined than ever to come together. But as African governments and political leaders recurrently cite regional integration as a top priority, their persistent commitment to multiple overlapping regional organizations (ROs) seems perplexing. Overlapping regionalism, when ROs share both members and mandates, is considered a hindrance to deepened integration, and yet it remains a defining feature of Africa’s institutional landscape. This thesis aims to better understand what drives overlapping regionalism in Africa by focusing on the country case of Zambia. Through the analysis of available documentation and more than two dozen semi-structured interviews this study sets out to answer what the main actors perceive to be the reasons driving Zambia’s dual memberships in COMESA and SADC? I draw on five theoretical explanations to develop an analytical framework that captures key drivers of overlapping regionalism. The framework structures the empirical data and makes for a theory-driven analysis. The empirical findings show that perceptions of what drives Zambia’s dual memberships vary extensively. After analyzing the drivers’ relative importance, I argue that political considerations reign supreme. Functional needs, often said to matter most, plays a secondary or even tertiary role, sometimes behind collectivist ideals and ruling elite gain, which gain importance as drivers to overlapping regionalism in the African context. I conclude that while the different driving logics covary, it is possible to identify differences and similarities with overlapping regionalism in other parts of the world. This study contributes to the field of comparative regionalism.