Christopher Isike
Biographic Data
| ID | 246031 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christopher Isike |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christopher |
| FAMILY NAME | Isike |
| SIGNATURE | ISIKE C |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Pretoria |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5528-8078 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 43 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Professor Maxi Schoeman (1954–2025)
The academic community, including Politikon mourns the passing of Professor Maxi Schoeman, who transitioned peacefully on 14 September 2025 at the age of 70. A former Board Member of Politikon, Pro
Regulating Autonomous Weapon Systems
Lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), while offering strategic advantages in warfare, pose significant ethical, legal, and security risks, especially for countries in the Global South. This article examines how a philosophical perspective, rooted in African ethical and political thought, can enrich regional and global debates on regulating LAWS, which remain dominated by Eurocentric assumptions. The findings of this study, which draw from seco…
Measuring the perceptions of senior officers of the South African National Defence Force towards terrorism in South Africa
No Patience, no Goodluck
African First Ladies are categorised into two: the less powerful First Ladies, the behind-the-scene actors, making positive contributions to their spouses’ regime and the powerful First Ladies whose arbitrary powers and overarching presence pose real threat to the regime. Extant studies concentrate on the former and pay scant attention to the latter. Drawing on the activities of Patience Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former First Lady, this paper …
Rethinking the State in Africa
British colonial rule in South Africa in the first instance and the subsequent apartheid regime harmed nation-building with repercussions on good governance, citizenship, and overall development of the country. These negative impacts manifest in the form of high levels of citizen inequality, increased crime rates, poverty, unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery which questions the essence of the state. The origin of the South African sta…
Coalition or Government of National Unity? Critical reflections on the 2024 elections in South Africa
This paper examines the 2024 general elections in South Africa which was reminiscent of the 1994 electoral ecology in terms of the high stakes. The pre- and post-election ecology of the recent elections exhibited characteristics of Key's critical elections, given the depth and intensity of involvement. With a 40.18% voter share, the African National Congress's (ANC) 30-year electoral dominance was over, thereby making a coalition government at th…
The ethno-regional and religious drivers of Nigeria’s foreign policy
“No Colonial Baggage”
As part of its strategy to win African votes for election to the UN Security Council (2008–12), Canberra sought to leverage its soft power potential by presenting Australia as having “no colonial baggage” in Africa while framing Australia as “a country from the Global North, located in the Global South,” and one that would “work with other small and middle powers.” Ultimately, the campaign was successful, including up to 50 of Africa's 54 countri…
Group Hegemonic Leadership as an Analytical Framework for Understanding Regional Hegemony in Africa
This paper revisits the literature on regional power-hood and its application to Africa with a view to answering two key questions: one, whether we can talk of regional hegemons in the continent in real terms, and two, whether group hegemonic leadership better explains regional hegemonic behavior in Africa. It uses Sandra Destradi conceptual framework and Miriam Prys’ typology of regional power-hood to answer these questions, with South Africa an…
Introduction
Africa's International Relations (AIR) literature is emerging beyond what mainstream International Relations (IR) studies as Africa in International Relations (IR).Africanists are questioning the 'internationalness' in IR and have also accused the IR discipline of studying the 'international' in Africa rather than understanding Africa's IR behavior.These accusations stem from studying Africa in relation to dominant Western and geopolitical agenda…
Rethinking the State in Africa
The colonial disruption of organic state formation in Africa through the imposition of an alien state system adversely influenced state-building in the continent with consequences for good governance, belonging, and development in its holistic sense. Looking at the case of Nigeria, the adverse manifestations of the postcolonial state are signposted in the prevalent high level of insecurity that brings the state to the point of failure. This study…
Whither the Ecowas free movement protocols? Pandemic nationalism, borders, and migration in West Africa
Covid-19 and the Decline of the Social State in Nigeria’s Federal Democracy
The impact of the COVID -19 pandemic cuts across all spheres of human life, and it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in political values, governance systems, public health and social life in different parts of the world. In Africa, although with relatively less death rates than initially predicted, the pandemic has also exposed weaknesses in the continent’s political and public health systems. This article analyses how Nigeria’s public health se…
Ubuntu diplomacy
Ubuntu is an African philosophical worldview that has increasingly gained prominence since South Africa's democratic transition in 1994. It places emphasis on the world's common humanity and its consequent interdependence. Through content analysis, the article examines the soft power that is inherent in South Africa's foreign policy, as codified in the 2011 White Paper on South African Foreign Policy–Building a Better World: Diplomacy of Ubuntu .…
Reporting Africa
Soft Power and a Feminist Ethics of Peacebuilding in Africa
It can be argued that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States was a turning point in the global understanding of power, as it heralded a shift from conceptualizing power in it
Nigeria’s Soft Power Sources
South Africa’s foreign policy aspirations and the National Development Plan (NDP 2030)
Chapter 7 of the NDP 2030 articulates a foreign policy vision for South Africa over two decades. While the NDP acknowledges the place of ‘soft power’ in realising this vision, it remains doubtful whether South Africa will indeed take advantage of the enormous gains offered by soft power as a foreign policy lever. This paper examines the role of soft power in achieving the foreign policy mandates prescribed in the Plan. It argues that, like other …
A Failing Regional Power? Nigeria’s International Status in the Age of Boko Haram
Given its population size, economic strength, military capability and foreign policy directions, in past years Nigeria has been considered a major regional power in Africa. Clearly, this makes the country relevant at international and global levels. However, its status as a regional power on the continent is increasingly being affected as a result of the notorious terrorist activities of Boko Haram. Once a major contributor to peacekeeping operat…
The Discordant Soft Power Tunes of South Africa’s Withdrawal from the ICC
South Africa’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) elicited a mixed bag of responses. However, irrespective of whether one supports the decision or not, it is evident t
Whose security? Understanding the Niger Delta crisis as a clash of two security conceptions
Keywords: traditional securityhuman securityNiger Deltamilitarisationarmed conflictenvironmental despoliation
The United States Africa Command
This paper scrutinises the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) by raising a number of questions to unravel its true purpose; either as an instrument to enhance American security interests in Africa or to foster African development as claimed by the US. It contends that Western strategic / security needs in Africa would be best assured not by using military means to check China or terrorism in Africa, but rather by looking to meaningfully addre…
Whither the Ecowas free movement protocols? Pandemic nationalism, borders, and migration in West Africa
Nigeria’s Soft Power Sources
Soft Power and a Feminist Ethics of Peacebuilding in Africa
It can be argued that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States was a turning point in the global understanding of power, as it heralded a shift from conceptualizing power in it
A Failing Regional Power? Nigeria’s International Status in the Age of Boko Haram
Given its population size, economic strength, military capability and foreign policy directions, in past years Nigeria has been considered a major regional power in Africa. Clearly, this makes the country relevant at international and global levels. However, its status as a regional power on the continent is increasingly being affected as a result of the notorious terrorist activities of Boko Haram. Once a major contributor to peacekeeping operat…
Rethinking the State in Africa
The colonial disruption of organic state formation in Africa through the imposition of an alien state system adversely influenced state-building in the continent with consequences for good governance, belonging, and development in its holistic sense. Looking at the case of Nigeria, the adverse manifestations of the postcolonial state are signposted in the prevalent high level of insecurity that brings the state to the point of failure. This study…
Ubuntu diplomacy
Ubuntu is an African philosophical worldview that has increasingly gained prominence since South Africa's democratic transition in 1994. It places emphasis on the world's common humanity and its consequent interdependence. Through content analysis, the article examines the soft power that is inherent in South Africa's foreign policy, as codified in the 2011 White Paper on South African Foreign Policy–Building a Better World: Diplomacy of Ubuntu .…
The Discordant Soft Power Tunes of South Africa’s Withdrawal from the ICC
South Africa’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) elicited a mixed bag of responses. However, irrespective of whether one supports the decision or not, it is evident t
Whose security? Understanding the Niger Delta crisis as a clash of two security conceptions
Keywords: traditional securityhuman securityNiger Deltamilitarisationarmed conflictenvironmental despoliation
The ethno-regional and religious drivers of Nigeria’s foreign policy
Introduction
Africa's International Relations (AIR) literature is emerging beyond what mainstream International Relations (IR) studies as Africa in International Relations (IR).Africanists are questioning the 'internationalness' in IR and have also accused the IR discipline of studying the 'international' in Africa rather than understanding Africa's IR behavior.These accusations stem from studying Africa in relation to dominant Western and geopolitical agenda…
Covid-19 and the Decline of the Social State in Nigeria’s Federal Democracy
The impact of the COVID -19 pandemic cuts across all spheres of human life, and it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in political values, governance systems, public health and social life in different parts of the world. In Africa, although with relatively less death rates than initially predicted, the pandemic has also exposed weaknesses in the continent’s political and public health systems. This article analyses how Nigeria’s public health se…
The United States Africa Command
This paper scrutinises the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) by raising a number of questions to unravel its true purpose; either as an instrument to enhance American security interests in Africa or to foster African development as claimed by the US. It contends that Western strategic / security needs in Africa would be best assured not by using military means to check China or terrorism in Africa, but rather by looking to meaningfully addre…
Whose security? Understanding the Niger Delta crisis as a clash of two security conceptions
Keywords: traditional securityhuman securityNiger Deltamilitarisationarmed conflictenvironmental despoliation
Reporting Africa
Soft Power and a Feminist Ethics of Peacebuilding in Africa
It can be argued that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States was a turning point in the global understanding of power, as it heralded a shift from conceptualizing power in it
Nigeria’s Soft Power Sources
South Africa’s foreign policy aspirations and the National Development Plan (NDP 2030)
Chapter 7 of the NDP 2030 articulates a foreign policy vision for South Africa over two decades. While the NDP acknowledges the place of ‘soft power’ in realising this vision, it remains doubtful whether South Africa will indeed take advantage of the enormous gains offered by soft power as a foreign policy lever. This paper examines the role of soft power in achieving the foreign policy mandates prescribed in the Plan. It argues that, like other …
A Failing Regional Power? Nigeria’s International Status in the Age of Boko Haram
Given its population size, economic strength, military capability and foreign policy directions, in past years Nigeria has been considered a major regional power in Africa. Clearly, this makes the country relevant at international and global levels. However, its status as a regional power on the continent is increasingly being affected as a result of the notorious terrorist activities of Boko Haram. Once a major contributor to peacekeeping operat…
The Discordant Soft Power Tunes of South Africa’s Withdrawal from the ICC
South Africa’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) elicited a mixed bag of responses. However, irrespective of whether one supports the decision or not, it is evident t
Ubuntu diplomacy
Ubuntu is an African philosophical worldview that has increasingly gained prominence since South Africa's democratic transition in 1994. It places emphasis on the world's common humanity and its consequent interdependence. Through content analysis, the article examines the soft power that is inherent in South Africa's foreign policy, as codified in the 2011 White Paper on South African Foreign Policy–Building a Better World: Diplomacy of Ubuntu .…
Covid-19 and the Decline of the Social State in Nigeria’s Federal Democracy
The impact of the COVID -19 pandemic cuts across all spheres of human life, and it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in political values, governance systems, public health and social life in different parts of the world. In Africa, although with relatively less death rates than initially predicted, the pandemic has also exposed weaknesses in the continent’s political and public health systems. This article analyses how Nigeria’s public health se…
Rethinking the State in Africa
The colonial disruption of organic state formation in Africa through the imposition of an alien state system adversely influenced state-building in the continent with consequences for good governance, belonging, and development in its holistic sense. Looking at the case of Nigeria, the adverse manifestations of the postcolonial state are signposted in the prevalent high level of insecurity that brings the state to the point of failure. This study…
Whither the Ecowas free movement protocols? Pandemic nationalism, borders, and migration in West Africa
“No Colonial Baggage”
As part of its strategy to win African votes for election to the UN Security Council (2008–12), Canberra sought to leverage its soft power potential by presenting Australia as having “no colonial baggage” in Africa while framing Australia as “a country from the Global North, located in the Global South,” and one that would “work with other small and middle powers.” Ultimately, the campaign was successful, including up to 50 of Africa's 54 countri…
Group Hegemonic Leadership as an Analytical Framework for Understanding Regional Hegemony in Africa
This paper revisits the literature on regional power-hood and its application to Africa with a view to answering two key questions: one, whether we can talk of regional hegemons in the continent in real terms, and two, whether group hegemonic leadership better explains regional hegemonic behavior in Africa. It uses Sandra Destradi conceptual framework and Miriam Prys’ typology of regional power-hood to answer these questions, with South Africa an…
Introduction
Africa's International Relations (AIR) literature is emerging beyond what mainstream International Relations (IR) studies as Africa in International Relations (IR).Africanists are questioning the 'internationalness' in IR and have also accused the IR discipline of studying the 'international' in Africa rather than understanding Africa's IR behavior.These accusations stem from studying Africa in relation to dominant Western and geopolitical agenda…
Coalition or Government of National Unity? Critical reflections on the 2024 elections in South Africa
This paper examines the 2024 general elections in South Africa which was reminiscent of the 1994 electoral ecology in terms of the high stakes. The pre- and post-election ecology of the recent elections exhibited characteristics of Key's critical elections, given the depth and intensity of involvement. With a 40.18% voter share, the African National Congress's (ANC) 30-year electoral dominance was over, thereby making a coalition government at th…
The ethno-regional and religious drivers of Nigeria’s foreign policy
Regulating Autonomous Weapon Systems
Lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), while offering strategic advantages in warfare, pose significant ethical, legal, and security risks, especially for countries in the Global South. This article examines how a philosophical perspective, rooted in African ethical and political thought, can enrich regional and global debates on regulating LAWS, which remain dominated by Eurocentric assumptions. The findings of this study, which draw from seco…
Measuring the perceptions of senior officers of the South African National Defence Force towards terrorism in South Africa
No Patience, no Goodluck
African First Ladies are categorised into two: the less powerful First Ladies, the behind-the-scene actors, making positive contributions to their spouses’ regime and the powerful First Ladies whose arbitrary powers and overarching presence pose real threat to the regime. Extant studies concentrate on the former and pay scant attention to the latter. Drawing on the activities of Patience Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former First Lady, this paper …
Rethinking the State in Africa
British colonial rule in South Africa in the first instance and the subsequent apartheid regime harmed nation-building with repercussions on good governance, citizenship, and overall development of the country. These negative impacts manifest in the form of high levels of citizen inequality, increased crime rates, poverty, unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery which questions the essence of the state. The origin of the South African sta…
Professor Maxi Schoeman (1954–2025)
The academic community, including Politikon mourns the passing of Professor Maxi Schoeman, who transitioned peacefully on 14 September 2025 at the age of 70. A former Board Member of Politikon, Pro
Political science (20 works) · Law (18 works) · Politics (18 works) · Law (15 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Political economy (12 works) · Development economics (10 works) · Economics (10 works) · International Development and Aid (7 works) · Power (physics (7 works)