COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: CASES OF THE EUROPEAN AND AFRICAN UNIONS

The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of regional international organizations with the example of the European Union and the African Union. The overall goal of the study is to deepen the scientific understanding of regional integration processes and provide practical recommendations for reforming international organizations that can be applied not only to the African Union but also to other regional associations. Based on the defined criteria – clarity and achievability of goals, institutional capacity and resources, decision-making mechanisms, economic integration, and development of social standards and human rights – a comparative study of the effectiveness of both associations is carried out. It is proven that the European Union is an example of successful regional integration due to the existence of strategic framework documents with quantitative benchmarks, a developed system of supranational institutions, a strong financial base, and effective decision-making procedures. At the same time, the African Union faces systemic challenges that limit its effectiveness: unclear goals, dependence on external financing, fragmented institutional structure, and lack of effective sanctions mechanisms. Based on the analysis, the author offers specific recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the African Union, including reform of strategic planning, strengthening financial autonomy, improving decision-making processes, and modernizing human rights mechanisms. The novelty of the study lies in the combination of comparative analysis, empirical basis and innovative recommendations, which makes it a significant contribution to the science of international relations and regional integration. The results of the study can be used to deepen the scientific understanding of regional integration processes and develop practical strategies for reforming international organizations.