LEADERSHIP PERCEPTION OF ISSUES AND NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

LEADERSHIP PERCEPTION OF ISSUES AND NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Abstract:

The Foreign policy of a state is as a result of the interaction of different factors in the internal and external environments of such a state. As to what is the fundamental factor that exerts more impact on States’ foreign policy, there have been divergent views. These views have diverged between the leadership idiosyncrasies, the external and systemic variables and the internal attributes of the states concern. In this study, which is an analysis of foreign policy decision-making with emphasis on how the leadership perception of issues influences foreign policy decisions; taking Nigeria’s decision to sponsor the formation of ECOWAS as a case study; we have tried to analyse the impact of leadership perception of issues in relation to foreign policy decisions. The central thesis of this study is that the leadership perception of issues is the most significant factor that exerts influence over and above other factors in foreign policy formulation. This is because the leadership perception of an issue is the major factor that co-ordinate and sharpens the relationship that exists between other variables and foreign policy decisions. The general outline for states’ foreign policy might be influenced by external factors, the global systemic variables prevalent in the international scene and the internal attributes of such a state, but they cannot on their own be the sole determinants of the nature and conduct of slates’ foreign policy. For a proper explanation of the nature and conduct of stales’ foreign policy, there is need for an in-depth understanding of the leadership perception of issues.

LEADERSHIP PERCEPTION OF ISSUES AND NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

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