Resource availability and foreign policy change in Nigeria: The impact of oil

Abstract

Traditionally, attempts to study the foreign policy of underdeveloped cuntries have been fraught with problems. These problems arise from the domination of external relations by single individuals, the constantly changing nature of regimes and ideological orientations, the lack of consistency and the general constraints imposed by the peripheral location of underdeveloped countries in the international division of labour. This peripheral location and the consequent dependence of these states on the developed countries have imposed severe limitations on the formation of new alliances and the ability to fundamentally alter the direction or content of foreign policy actions without serious repercussions. But if the study is approached from the perspective of the political economy, the task becomes less of a problem. The political economy approach to the study of foreign policy initiative and action will not only steer the analyst away from a mere description of events but will enable him to identify and understand the fundamental reasons why for instance, words outweigh actions, why changes are difficult to come by, the specific internal and external interests protected by certain foreign policy decisions and the reasons behind efforts to change or consolidate the location of a particular state in the international division of labour. The primary aim of this paper is to analyze the nature of Nigeria’s foreign policy since political independence in 1960 and demonstrate the chain of continuity through the various regimes and crises. Rather than examine the country’s external relations in isolation, this paper intends to locate foreign policy initiatives and action in the socio-economic and political dynamics of Nigeria both as an oil exporting country and as a sub-imperial power. The political economy approach will enable us to examine, in the case of Nigeria, at what point the availability of revenue yielding resource (s) began to change, extend or deepen the nature and pattern of external relations as evidenced in foreign policy declarations, initiatives and operations. Our major contention in this case is that despite the size and resources of the country, Nigeria’s foreign policy has not changed since 1960 when it became politically independent. The foreign policy has no doubt witnessed a lot of action, declarations, conferences and monetary expenditures; the latter facilitated by the increased oil revenues following the 1973 OPEC oil price increases. But what has actually taken place can be described as “motion in a barber’s chair.” © 1983 Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).