REGIONAL SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DEFIES THEORETICAL EXPECTATIONS THAT STATES FACING COMMON SECURITY CHALLENGES HAVE INCENTIVES TO USE REGIONAL SECURITY SOLUTIONS TO THESE ISSUES. THE ORGANISATION?S PARTNER STATES COOPERATE ON VARIOUS TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES EXCEPT TRANSNATIONAL ARMED REBELLIONS WITH REGIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS. I EXPLAIN THIS SIMULTANEOUS SECURITY COOPERATION AND NON-COOPERATION WITHIN THE SAME REGIONAL ORGANISATION USING QUALITATIVE FIELDWORK FINDINGS. I ARGUE THAT STATES WEIGH THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS?FOR THEIR META-POLITICAL AUTHORITY?OF COOPERATING ON ANY SECURITY ISSUE. DIFFERENT SECURITY ISSUES EVOKE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SOVEREIGNTY CONCERNS. LOW-LEVEL SOVEREIGNTY CONCERNS ENGENDER NORMAL SOVEREIGNTY BARGAINS THAT LEAD TO CONSENSUAL COOPERATION ON ?COORDINATION-PROBLEM? SECURITY ISSUES. HIGH-LEVEL CONCERNS BEGET NON-BARGAINS THAT STYMIE COOPERATION ON ?CRITICAL-SOVEREIGNTY? ISSUES: ARMED REBELLIONS. BEYOND BARGAINING THEORISTS? EMPHASIS