Pathways to Effective Regionalism : Assessing the Effectiveness of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through Historical and Role Theory Perspectives / Yusra Alharbi.

Includes author biography (page 115).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 105-114).

Introduction p.9.

Evolution and Mandate of SADC: An Overview p.10.

Key Challenges Facing SADC p.14.

Research Objectives and Theoretical Framework p.19.

Mozambique: Post-Liberation Governance and Security Challenges p.23.

Zimbabwe: Balancing Stability and Integration p.41.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Security Imperatives and SADC Engagement p.57.

SADC Effectiveness in Context: Historical Legacies and Regional Crises p.71.

Weak Economic Foundations p.71.

SADC Constraints: Historical and Sociopolitical Factors p.76.

Role Theory and SADC Effectiveness p.96.

Conclusion p.99.

Addressing Root Causes: Pathways to Effective Regionalism p.101.

Key Takeaways p.102.

Bibliography p.105.

About the Author p.115.

The book “Pathways to Effective Regionalism: Assessing the Effectiveness of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through Historical and Role Theory Perspectives” by Yusra Alharbi analyzes how historical trajectories and socio-political contexts shape SADC’s performance as a regional organization in Southern Africa. It begins with an overview of SADC’s evolution from the Frontline States and SADCC to a formal political and economic community, clarifying its mandate, institutional structure, and stated goals. The study then outlines key constraints facing SADC, including weak economic foundations, limited democratic accountability, and unstable political environments, before presenting a research framework grounded in Role Theory to examine the gap between SADC’s declared regional role and its actual behavior. Through case studies of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the book explores post-liberation governance and security challenges, the tension between domestic stability and regional integration, and SADC’s involvement in peacebuilding and crisis management. Subsequent chapters assess how historical legacies and sociopolitical factors constrain SADC’s effectiveness, and they employ role-theoretical analysis to explain variations in its responses to regional crises. The conclusion identifies pathways to “effective regionalism” by emphasizing the need to address underlying economic and political root causes, and distills key takeaways on how SADC can better promote sustainable development, political stability, and peace in Southern Africa.