SACU at centenary: theory and practice of democratising regionalism

Abstract The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) agreement signed in 2002 purported to change the predominance of South African power within the institution to give other member states greater representation, thus increasing the democratic credibility of SACU. This article explores changes to decision-making procedures in SACU resulting from the 2002 Agreement and considers the extent to which the institution has thereby democratised. The paper considers the meaning of democracy in the context of supranational regional institutions before reviewing the history of SACU in terms of decision-making processes and power relations between member states. The paper argues that while democratisation of institutions implies greater legitimacy and thus longevity, the historical trajectory of SACU means that moves towards democratisation have served rather to destabilise the institution, notwithstanding the incomplete implementation of recommended democratisation measures. Keywords: SACUSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaBLNSdemocratisationregionalism Notes 1. Gibb R, ‘The New Southern African Customs Union Agreement: Dependence with democracy’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 32, 3, 2006, pp. 583–603. 2. WTO (World Trade Organization), Trade Policy Review: Southern African Customs Union. Report by the Secretariat, WT/TPR/S/114. Geneva: WTO, 2003. 3. The Southern African Development Community comprises 15 states and was formed in 1980. 4. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa comprises 19 states and was formed in 1994, though it effectively replaced the Preferential Trade Area which dates back to 1981. 5. BLS states comprised Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland until Namibia officially joined SACU on independence in 1990, when they became BLNS states. 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