This paper examines the relationship between increasing the number of female legislators in Cameroon and it impact on gender-related policy, from a critical analysis of the participation of individual parliamentarians in influencing parliamentary proceedings and decisions within existing parliamentary structures. The study uses the concept of descriptive and substantive representation within the framework of the critical mass theory to investigate the extent to which an increase in the presence of women in the Cameroonian parliament will affect the quality of women's issues presented to parliament. Eleven female parliamentarians were interviewed. The study reveals that an increase in the number of women does not significantly enhance substantive representation or women's issues. It noted that while the profiles of female parliamentarians influence their participation in decision making structures within parliament, party discipline and the parliamentary system has more influences on the issues and policies debated and voted in parliament than numbers.
Collective self-reliance, inward-looking regionalism, and delinking from the dominant relationships that prevailed in the international economic system in the form of regional economic integration and cooperation were the solution identified by the Pan-African leaders as a potential strategy for restructuring the fragmented African region into a more coherent and viable economic space. This article interrogates the applicability and understanding of Regional Integration within the ECCAS Region while determining the influence Informal Cross Border Trade has had on economic integration in this sub region. The study uses economic integration theories to analyze the implementation of regional economic integration and its effectiveness. The article applies a qualitative research method with a cross sectional design to study a multilevel issue involved in regional integration. It aimed to explain and predict phenomena based on empirical data obtained through interviews using close structured and unstructured interview guide. The study revealed that despite efforts to institutionalize regional integration in the ECCAS region, structural challenges remain a significant impediment to intra-regional trade. Informal cross-border traders consolidate what has come to be regarded as the "invisible" integration of Africa's economies through their involvement in a range of goods and services, resulting in transnational networks, culture and kinship. These can only be effective if African countries adopt a self-reliant and inward-looking economic integration strategy.
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