Geria's declining influence as a regional Hegemon in West Africa: causes and implications, 1994-2015

• Main Author: Ahmad, Sule Sani
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DT Africa; JA Political science (General)
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/9257/1/s99083_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9257/2/s99083_02.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9257/3/s99083_references.docx; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9257/

Nigeria’s strategic position in the West African sub-region has earned her the status of a regional Hegemony since her independence in 1960 up to 1994. The country has contributed immensely toward maintaining peace and stability in the region as well as assisting the ECOWAS member countries in their respective economic development efforts. However, from 1994 to 2015, Nigeria’s Hegemonic power status began a steady decline owing to internal and external factors. The study attempted to investigate the causes of the country’s Hegemonic decline as well as the implications of the decline on the region using qualitative method of data collection and content analysis through interviews and documentary analysis. The long cycle theory of George Modelski is used as a theoretical framework to shape the understanding of Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST). However, the study employed the three levels of analysis of Kenneth N. Waltz as an analytical framework to explain the causes of the decline. These levels are the systems level, the domestic level, and the personality level. Findings of the study reveals that internal factors such as lack of effective governance, lack of unity, rising poverty level, endemic corruption, and collapse of internal security are the major internal factors responsible for the country’s Hegemonic power decline in West Africa. Similarly, external factors such as the waning of Nigeria’s leadership role in the region and the entire African continent, France’s continuous intervention in the regional affairs of West Africa, and the deterioration of Nigeria’s relations with her traditional super power allies, the United States and Britain, combine to erode her Hegemonic power status in West Africa. The personality and leadership styles of individual leaders of the country from 1994 to 2015 also contributed immensely toward the country’s power decline. This study concluded that Nigeria needs to take serious measures against these factors in order to reverse the decline in her Hegemonic status in West Africa. Similarly, the country needs to establish a stable and cordial relationship with France being the major challenger of her Hegemonic power in the region. Future research can investigate Nigeria’s Hegemonic power decline in West Africa beyond 2015 since the decline still persists beyond the scope of this study.