Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumEconomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Despite the adoption of various protocols aimed at economic integration by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), member countries have periodically enforced unilateral border closures and trade restrictions. Which fundamental political feature of regional organizations explains this tension between community directives and national action?

  1. Member states retain their national sovereignty, allowing domestic economic and security concerns to take precedence over community agreements.Answer
  2. B
    The central executive organs of the community hold supreme sovereign authority over national constitutions and domestic legislation.
  3. C
    Ratifying regional treaties automatically nullifies national citizenship laws and territorial boundaries of member nations.
  4. D
    Community protocols are directly enforced across national territories by a permanent supranational police force.

Answer

Member states retain their national sovereignty, allowing domestic economic and security concerns to take precedence over community agreements.
The correct answer emphasizes that ECOWAS is fundamentally an intergovernmental organization where member states preserve their national sovereignty. As a result, when national security issues or domestic economic pressures arise, individual member states retain the sovereign legal right and capability to enforce measures like border closures, even if such actions temporarily breach community protocols.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the organizational structure of ECOWAS
Identify that ECOWAS operates as an intergovernmental regional organization composed of self-governing sovereign nation-states.
Understanding the political framework is essential to determine how regional protocols interact with member state authorities.
2
Evaluate the relationship between national sovereignty and regional obligations
Recognize that because member states maintain ultimate law-making authority within their borders, national security and domestic priorities can lead governments to suspend compliance with community trade or free movement policies.
In intergovernmental arrangements, regional treaties do not strip member governments of their primary constitutional responsibility to protect domestic interests.

Key Concept

National Sovereignty and Intergovernmental Integration in ECOWAS
Rate this question

Topics

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

More questions from this topic