THE CHALLENGES OF CITIZEN DIPLOMACY IN NIGERIA PROJECT, 2007-2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20319/pijss.2017.32.12271250Keywords:
Foreign Policy, Citizen Diplomacy, Image Building, Nigeria ProjectAbstract
Promoting the general welfare of the people and securing citizens’ liberty is an incontrovertible project of any state’s policymaking. Therefore, Nigeria’s citizen diplomacy is one of the diplomatic drives of achieving this project. However, avid reader and scholar of the Nigerian polity will notice some national and international contradictions that have hampered the promotion of Nigerians’ welfare and security, and thus challenging the positive image perception of the country. Therefore, the task of the paper is tounderscore the challenges clogging the wheel of citizen diplomacy towards achieving Nigeria project, and to enunciate the way forward for Nigeria’s regeneration. Utilizing both primary (direct observations, interviews and focus groups) and secondary (literature and document reviews) methods of data collection, which are qualitatively and systematically analyzed through inductive approach, the study reveals an obvious wide gulf between the Nigerian State and its citizens. The paper posits that this intricately complementary domain aids the country’s image crisis.Among all other things, the paper recommends a comprehensive publicity of the concept of citizen diplomacy and a concerted institutional conspiracy in fighting corruption. Hence, enhancing the welfare of the Nigerian citizens, as well as, improving the rebranding efforts of Nigeria will be a mirage.
References
Adejumobi, S. (2016). Reviving Nigeria’s foreign policy, The Guardian, February 23, http://guardian.ng/opinion/reviving-nigerias-foreign-policy/ Retrieved April 1, 2016.
Adeola, G. L & Ogunnaiki, A. O. (2015). The Pursuance of Nigeria’s Domestic and Foreign Policy in the Fourth Republic: Complementarity or Contradiction, Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(4), 434-444.
Agbu, O. (2015). Professor and Head of the Division of International Politics Research Fellow, Interviewed in his office at the NIIA, Lagos, on December 3, 2015.
Akinboye, S. O. (2013). Beautiful Abroad but Ugly at Home: Issues and Contradictions in Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, University of Lagos Inaugural Lecture Series. The 9th Inaugural Lecture Delivered at the University of Lagos, Akoka: UNILAG Main Auditorium, July 17.
Akinterinwa, B. A. (2010). Nigeria’s Citizen Diplomacy: Theoretical Genesis and Empirical Exegesis. Ibadan: Bolytag International Publishers.
Akinterinwa, B. A. (2013). Citizen Diplomacy as basis of Democratic Institutions. ThisDay, Sunday April 21, pp.12 & 24.
Aleyomi, M. B. & Abu Bakar, M. Z. (2015). Malaysian and Nigerian Foreign Policy in Comparative Perspective. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(6 S4), 125-133.
Aleyomi, M. B. (2017). Citizen Diplomacy in Nigeria’s Image Building. PhD Dissertation, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
Alli, W. O. (2010). Nigeria’s Foreign Policy of Democratic Transition and Economic Reforms, In: Said Adejumobi (ed.) Governance and Politics in Post-Military Nigeria: Changes and Challenges. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 145-172. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230115453_6
Amao, O. B. & Okeke-Uzodike, U. (2015). Nigeria, Afrocentrism, and Conflict Resolution: After Five Decades-How Far, How Well? African Studies Quarterly, 15(4), 1-23.
Anholt, S. (2002). Foreword to the Special Issue on Country Branding. Journal of Brand Management, 9(4-5), 229-239. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.bm.2540074
Anholt, S. (2005). Brand New Justice – How Branding Places and Products Can Help the Developing World. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann.
Bach, D. C. (2013). Africa in international relations: The frontier as concept and metaphor. South African Journal of International Affairs, 20(1), 1-22 https://doi.org/10.1080/10220461.2013.783283
Brimah, P. (2014). Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: The Legacy of a President. Every Nigerian Do Something (ENDS), February 19. http://ends.ng/umaru-musa-yaradua-the-legacy-of-a-president/. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
Bulley, D. (2014). Foreign Policy as Ethics: Toward a Re-Evaluation of Values, Foreign Policy Analysis, 10(2), 165-180. https://doi.org/10.1111/fpa.12003
Cantir, C. & Kaarbo, J. (2012). Contested Roles and Domestic Politics: Reflections on Role Theory in Foreign policy Analysis and IR Theory, Foreign Policy Analysis, 8, 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-8594.2011.00156.x
Chandler, D. (2011). Critiquing Global Democracy. In: J. Hoover, M. Sabaratnam, and L. Schouenborg (Eds.), Interrogating Democracy in World Politics. London: Routledge. Pp. 130-149.
Charman, A. & Piper, L. (2012). Xenophobia, Criminality and Violent Entrepreneurship: Violence against Somali Shopkeepers in Delft South, Cape Town, South Africa. South African Review of Sociology, 43(3), 81-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/21528586.2012.727550
Cooper, A. F., & Flemes, D. (2013). Foreign policy strategies of emerging powers in a multipolar world: An introductory review. Third World Quarterly, 34(6), 943-962. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2013.802501
Cotîrlea, D. A. (2015). Country Image vs. Country Brand: Differences and Similarities. Ecoforum Journal, 4(1), 165-171.
Dada, J. A. (2013). Human rights protection in Nigeria: The past, the present and goals for role actors for the future. Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 14(1), 1-13.
Daily Sun Editorial (2009). The Rot in our Foreign Mission, Daily Sun, Thursday December 24, p. 2.
Dickson, M. (2010). Citizen Diplomacy in President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Nigeria, 2007-2009: An Assessment. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 1(3), 1-13.
Egwemi, V. (2010). From Militancy to Amnesty: Some Thoughts on President Yar’Adua’s Approach to the Niger Delta Crisis. Current Research Journal of Economic Theory, 2(3), 136-141.
Eze, O. C. (2009). Citizen Diplomacy, Lagos: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, pp. 5-6.
Eze, O. C. (2010). Interrogating the ‘National Interest’ in Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, in: Osita C. Eze (ed.) Beyond 50 Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: Issues, Challenges and Prospects, Lagos, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, pp. 79-92.
Fawole, Willie Alade (2016). Professor of International Relations, Interviewed in his office at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, July 11, 2016.
Frost R. (2004). Mapping a Country’s Future. http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect. asp?pf_id=206. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
Joseph, R., & Kew, D. (2008). Nigeria Confronts Obasanjo's Legacy. Current History, 107(708), 167-173.
Lafenwa, S. A. (2016). Civil Society and the Anti-Corruption Struggle in Nigeria. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 7(3), 115-127.
Maduekwe, O. (2009). Keynote address, in Osita C. Eze (ed.) Citizen Diplomacy, Lagos: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, pp. 7-13.
Obi, C. I. (2008). Nigeria's Foreign Policy and Transnational Security Challenges in West Africa. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 26(2), 183-196. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589000802124748
Okeke, V. O. S. & Aniche, E. T. (2014). Internal political environment of Nigerian foreign policy and implementation of Citizen Diplomacy under Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration (2007-2011): A linkage political approach. American Journal of Social Issues and Humanities, 4(1), 72-83.
Oppermann, K & Spencer, A. (2013). Thinking Alike? Salience and Metaphor Analysis as Cognitive Approaches to Foreign Policy Analysis, Foreign Policy Analysis, 9(1):39-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-8594.2011.00167.x
Osuntokun, A. (2013). A Hegemon in a peripheral region of the world: The future of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy. Paper presented at Nigeria Society of International Affairs Annual Lecture held on 25th February, Lagos: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
Palmer, N. and Perkins, G. (2000) International Relations, New Delhi, A.IT.B.S Publishers and Distributors.
Renshon, J. & Renshon, S. A. (2008). The Theory and Practice of Foreign Policy Decision Making. Political Psychology, 29(4), 509-536. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9221.2008.00647.x
Saliu, H. A. (2010). Citizen Diplomacy and the Future of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, In: Osita C. Eze (ed.), Beyond 50 years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: Issues, Challenges and Prospects. Lagos: The NIIA, pp. 311-338.
Saliu, H. A. (2015). Diplomatic Missions and Nigeria’s Search for Relevance in the Global System, Studies in Politics and Society, 3(1), 33-52.
Zabadi, I. S. (2012). Nigeria’s New Multilateral Diplomacy, In: Bola A. Akinterinwa (ed.) Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Thrust: Essays in Honour of Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, CON. Ibadan: Vantage Publishers, pp. 343-358.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2017 Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
