Oil, the state, and power politics: the political economy of Nigeria's foreign policy, 1960-80

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:7053211

Abubakar, D

This study deals with the misconception of policy makers about the place of a commodity in the international market, and the potential confusion of economic gains as a political leverage in the realm of foreign policy. Substantively, the study focuses on the orientation of Nigeria's foreign policy over a period of two decades (1960-80) and emphasizes the impact of oil wealth, along with the perception of such sudden wealth by relevant Nigerian decision makers, on the pattern of the country's behavior in the international system. By drawing pertinent insight from interdependence paradigm and decision-making theories, the thesis tests a central hypothesis that differences in the attributes of nation state actors will be related to variations in the foreign policy behavior patterns that the state will exhibit in the international arena. Oil, the thesis argues, has been an important determinant of Nigeria's diplomatic posture in the African sub-system. However, the sharp decline in oil prices affected Nigeria adversely. In terms of her foreign policy, the hitherto activist orientation of the 1970s gradually gave way to a rather low profile posture in the early 1980s.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7053211
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
294003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Natural Gas
AFRICA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOREIGN POLICY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NIGERIA
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PRICES