ABSTRACT
The study examined the theory and practice of international political economy in sub-Saharan Africa from a developmental point of view. The study looked specifically at the politics of economic integration for development, multilateral institutions that are involved in the developmental aid of the region, the challenges posed to sub-Saharan Africa's development by the international system (multilateral institutions and western developed countries) and extra regional partnership initiatives for the region's development.
The study ascertained that sub-Saharan African leaders have, since the era of decolonisation, embarked on different ways or mechanisms to address the economic crisis of the region but, however, failed to rescue the region. Amongst mechanisms adopted was that of creating regional economic groupings like ECOW AS and SADC. However, majority ofregional settings created for economic development did not have much of successes in saving sub-Saharan countries from debt crisis. Failure of these settings has been more pointed on the unpreparedness of other regional countries to co-operate.
Multilateral institutions (IMF, World Bank and WTO) on the other hand, worsened the underdev,elopment situation in the region, and therefore ---~---·----·--- .
continued to dictate economic policy to sub-Saharan African countries. This was possible because many sub-Saharan African countries relied on aid from these institutions. Multilateral institutions continued to feature in the underdevelopment of sub-Saharan Africa by posing challenges like globalisation, economic policy and democratization to the development of the region. These challenges interfered with the development process of sub-Saharan Africa. However, with NEP AD as \he latest initiative for extra-regional partnership, there is some hope that sub-Saharan region and Africa at large will benefit from developmental initiatives proposed by NEP AD.
