| Summary: | Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references. === The absence of strong supranational institutions and the failure of states to comply with their integration obligations feature prominently in almost every discussion on economic integration in Africa. There seems to be a consensus that without strong supranational institutions to enforce compliance, economic integration in Africa may not succeed. This thesis takes a different approach to the discussion on compliance. The thesis argues that the failure of African states to comply with their integration obligations is not necessarily a function of deliberate and blatant disobedience for the norms of economic integration. Rather, there are other systemic challenges which impede the ability of African states to comply with their obligation. To resolve these challenges and ensure compliance, the thesis suggests that African states need to continuously engage in a discursive process wherein the norms of economic integration are constantly iterated and given authoritative interpretation. Furthermore, institutional, technical and infrastructural capacity needs to be developed across the continent in order to create favourable conditions for the implementation of the norms of integration. To this end, more attention needs be paid at the regional and national level to initiatives which improve good governance and aid the internalisation of the norms of economic integration among African states.
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