Problems And Challenges of Nigerian Foreign Policy.

(From Vanguard (Nigeria) - AAGM)

Byline: Esekumemu Clark

The economy should be improved so that our foreign policy can be meaningful.

IT would be difficult to predict what the future of any country's foreign policy will take in view of the major dynamic elements such as security, economy, culture and terrorism that help to shape the nation-state as well as the international political system constantly, as actors jostle for positions of self-interest. These dynamic elements are constantly determining and influencing the policymakers' perception of what step to take in Foreign Policy decision and implementation vis-a-vis other actors in the system.

What then is foreign policy? In a nutshell, foreign policy can be defined as the articulation, mobilisation and the aggregation of domestic factors to maximise a nation's security interests such as political, economic, diplomatic or military influence vis-a-vis other states in the global system at no risk or reduced cost to the nation. Foreign policy is like swimming in a rough ocean where different actors are positioning to maximise their national interests at others' expense. It becomes difficult in such a diplomatic juggernaut for the less influential states …