Hegemonic Rivalry in a Peripheral Region

An Assessment of Nigeria–South Africa’s Role in African Politics

Bibliographic Data

ID20404391
AuthorsJohn S Olanrewaju (0000-0003-3887-2544, Landmark University, corresponding author), Agaptus Nwozor (0000-0002-9782-6604, Landmark University)
Year2022
Volume14
Issue1
Pages7-23
Publication date2022-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInsight on Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0975-0878 • E-ISSN: 0976-3465
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/09750878211042618
OpenAlexW3207137334
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited11

Nigeria’s claim as the giant of Africa is evident in her foreign policy articulation of African Centre Piece. From 1960, Nigeria has championed the project of Africa through different diplomatic engagements across the continent of Africa most especially under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian administration. Nigeria’s unwavering support against the apartheid regime in South Africa led to the termination of apartheid government in 1994. However, the post- apartheid politics in Africa as well as the post-Cold War politics changed the dynamics of African politics. Nigeria’s claim as the giant of Africa became more contested and hypothetical with the emergence of notable countries such as Ethiopia and South Africa posing serious challenges to Nigeria’s hegemony in the continent. The most viable and notable threats came from South Africa following the end of apartheid regime in South Africa and coupled with its good governance rating, which had heightened the status of the country as a notable continental leader. This article attempts to explain the leadership roles of Nigeria and South Africa in a peripheral region of Africa with the view of analysing who has the sway to lead the affairs of Africa to the path of prosperity. Through the secondary method of data collection and qualitative method of data analysis (discourse analysis), the study concludes that Nigeria and South Africa roles in Africa were motivated by realist considerations. The study, however, recommends concerted efforts between Nigeria and South Africa in addressing socio-economic challenges in the African continent

Corporate governance · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Good governance · Hegemony · Nigerians · Political science · Politics · Prosperity · Rivalry · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Global Political and Social Dynamics · Law

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