Globalization and Foreign Policy of Nigeria: Issues and Challenges in Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Diplomacy of Consequence
That globalization enhances transnational interconnectedness of people within the international system has long been established. Through that process, citizens traverse national boundaries for economic, religious, social and cultural purposes. This has, however, affected the citizens in various ways and consequently influenced foreign policy of the different states at various times. This study particularly assessed how globalization influenced Nigeria’s foreign policy during Musa Yar’Adua’s administration. The qualitative mechanism of data collection and analysis was applied in the study. Social Constructivist Theory served as theoretical framework of analysis. The study found out that globalization accounted for the re-definition and re-focusing of Nigeria’s foreign policy under Yar’Adua. It equally found out that the citizen-centric thrust of the administration’s foreign policy failed to achieve its objective owing to the bottlenecks thrown-up by globalization. The study therefore recommended refocusing of foreign policy towards resolving the country’s internal contradictions.
Keywords: globalization, interconnectedness, foreign policy, international system, citizen diplomacy
