Security Crowds Out the Market: IGAD, Regional Economic Integration, and Conflict Management in the Greater Horn | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Pan-African Research Journal Africa Published April 16, 2026 | Version v1 Journal article Open Security Crowds Out the Market: IGAD, Regional Economic Integration, and Conflict Management in the Greater Horn Authors/Creators Nyuon, Abraham Kuol 1 Show affiliations 1.
Principal, Graduate College, University of Juba Description Regional organisations in Africa are often tasked with both conflict management and economic integration, yet these objectives can pull in different directions. In the Horn of Africa, IGAD operates within a context where persistent security crises crowd out deeper integration efforts. This study examines how this structural tension shapes the political economy of regionalism, with comparative reference to the EAC, SADC, and ECOWAS. Drawing on regional integration theory, the security–development nexus, and African regionalism, the study combines institutional analysis of IGAD's legal frameworks and budgets with comparative analysis across regional organisations, trade-flow interpretation, and interviews with regional stakeholders. The findings show that the tension between security and integration is not a temporary constraint but a durable feature of regional governance, reproduced through institutional and political mechanisms that reshape incentives, authority, and resource allocation over time (Haas 1958; Balassa 1961; Söderbaum 2004; Taylor 2003). In IGAD, security imperatives often dominate organisational priorities, limiting progress on trade integration and economic coordination. Variation across regional bodies reflects differences in mandate balance, member-state interests, and levels of economic interdependence. The contribution lies in demonstrating how security pressures structurally condition regional integration outcomes, challenging linear models of economic integration and highlighting the need to align security and economic mandates. It argues that more effective regionalism requires institutional redesign, political bargaining, and accountability mechanisms that address the underlying distribution of power among member states (Bach 2016; Acharya 2009; Files final_69e0dd71c644d2.25536862_security-crowds-out-the-market-igad-regional-economic-integration-and-conflict-management-in-the-greater-horn.pdf Files (1.3 MB) Name Size Download all article.html md5:a59e98f6d29aa08326f9fd7e39f5c39f 712.3 kB Download final_69e0dd71c644d2.25536862_security-crowds-out-the-market-igad-regional-economic-integration-and-conflict-management-in-the-greater-horn.pdf md5:26b605808531befddaea94f1f7437ef4 535.3 kB Preview Download review_bundle.zip md5:180b27f40a0ab244b453b3e4de9d3525 4.5 kB Preview Download Additional details Related works Is identical to Journal article: https://parj.africa/parj_deri/article/view/32297 (URL) 34 Views 33 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 34 34 Downloads Total downloads 33 33 Data volume Total data volume 18.0 MB 18.0 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Keywords and subjects Keywords IGAD regional integration Horn of Africa security-development nexus conflict management political economy Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19608392 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19608392) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19608392.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19608392 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19608392"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19608392.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19608392.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19608392 Resource type Journal article Publisher Zenodo Published in Pan African Journal of Development Economics and Regional Integration, 1(1), 2026. Languages English Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created April 16, 2026 Modified April 16, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies