Exploring Regional Economic Communities as key institutions in addressing emerging threats to peace and human security in Southern Africa: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Approach

Abstract

Southern Africa faces evolving security threats that pose significant challenges to peace and human security in the region. While traditional security threats like inter-state conflicts, border disputes, and military coups have been prevalent in the region for many years, emerging threats such as violent extremist groups, transnational organized crime, irregular migration, electoral violence, global pandemics, and climate change are now widespread. To address these challenges, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its Member States need to take a comprehensive and integrated approach, focusing on prevention, early warning, and response. This study utilized a philosophical approach – Hermeneutical phenomenology to gain insight into the subjective experiences of individuals and communities affected by these emerging security threats. The approach emphasizes the importance of context and culture in shaping our understanding of reality and highlights the need for constantly re-evaluating and updating our understanding of these realities as new information becomes available.  To achieve sustainable peace and human security in the region, SADC and its Member States must focus on addressing the root causes of these threats. These include socio-economic inequality, governance challenges, environmental degradation, poverty, unequal distribution of resources, marginalization, social exclusion and food insecurity. Policies and programs aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, improved access to education and healthcare, reducing poverty and unemployment, strengthening democratic institutions, promoting transparency and accountability, addressing corruption, promoting sustainable land use practices, conserving biodiversity, and addressing climate change are necessary to achieve this goal. Cooperation and collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), private sector, and international organizations, is crucial in addressing these challenges. These stakeholders must work together to develop and implement policies and programs that take a long-term view, recognizing that addressing the root causes of these threats requires sustained effort.