ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses how states choose bilateral strategies in their promotion of regional integration in the East African Community (EAC). The analysis explains in detail each of the bilateral strategies, including use of bilateral institutions, a non-profit company and contributing to the Partnership Fund. Furthermore, the chapter assesses foreign policy analysis variables based on power, interests as well as norms/identity, to explain how states chose each of those bilateral strategies. At the end of the chapter, an assessment is provided on how those different theoretical approaches explain states’ choices in their engagement with the EAC. The chapter concludes by arguing that the norm/identity-based approach explains the actual reasons why states chose different strategies, whereas power-based approach variables provided sufficient conditions for the outcome. On the other hand, the interest-based approach cannot explain the choices of EU member states in their engagement with the EAC.
