Nigeria

This research study is on Nigeria. In this paper I intend to do at least three things: 1) discuss the political and economic characteristics of Nigeria and compare them to the characteristics of another second tier country as classified by Snow and Brown, 2) present evidence that helps determine the prospect for Nigeria to either move up into a higher second sub tier group, or remain in the same group, and 3) Discuss the effects it would have on international relations if Nigeria were or were not to move. Due to the terrible history of the state and its current condition I do not predict that Nigeria will move up into the Developed sub-group within the next few years, but I do believe it is possible if they get their government and economy in balance.
Nigeria is a partially developed state in Africa. It has a population of about 126,635,626 people and over 250 ethnic groups. Nigeria is the world’s fifth largest producer of crude oil from which comes 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings. The development of oil resources has led to much corruption, conflict, environment devastation, and poverty, which is currently experienced in Nigeria. This state is a former British colony that achieved its independence on O

In conclusion I would like to say that Nigeria is a very interesting state. Through my research I have found my predictions to be true. Under military rule Nigeria’s international relations were going nowhere while most of the world was democratizing. If Nigeria were to move up into the developed sub-group I do not believe it would have an effect on the international system. This is so because the state’s oil production has not changed and it is their major moneymaker. It is really what their economy is depending on still. Almost every one who wants to invest in their oil industry is already invested. Even if Nigeria’s economic and political reforms were to bring the state into a higher tier status I still do not think it will be successful and may even fall back down into a lower tier. This is so because the citizens of the state and many of the state officials still do not understanding the concept of state unity. Even today there is much chaos going on within Nigeria that even the president is requesting ideas on how to handle. Disease is another factor that may bring the state down. Even with the new insurance plans they do not cover such epidemics like caner and HIV and AIDS, with the population steadily increasing many of the children born may be born unto mothers that are HIV positive or have AIDS increasing the number of cases. The only thing that will change by Nigeria moving up will be the state itself.

France has decided to support Nigeria by saying that they are going to alter its economic and diplomatic relations with Nigeria’s regular trading partners like the U.S. and Great Britain. With the encouragement of Mrs. Mariam Abacha (Gen. Abacha wife) the French language became Nigeria’s second official language under her husband’s rule. In June of 1996 Chief Dan Etete, Petroleum Resource Minister, transferred oil fields belonging to America to France. Besides oil, France has invested into Nigeria’s banking sector. As a result of Nigeria’s alliance with France they have established relationships with Russia, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Indonesia, Turkey, and China. China has invested into Nigeria’s archaic railway system (Pini). Nigeria’s current leader Obasanjo thanks Jean Chretien, Canada’s Prime Minister since 1993, for speaking out against tyranny by trying to get the Nigeria suspended from the Canada’s commonwealth. Chretien’s intentions were good because under the rule of General Sani Abacha, the state continued to stray away from the path to democracy (Wallace). Hopefully this will make a crack for future relations.

So far I have only spoken of the state’s population and economic status. Let me now move on to another very important characteristic of a state, which is power. A state’s power determines a lot about the role it will play in the international system; for example, the states level of dependency, its control over its own behavior, and its credibility with other states. It is very difficult to measure a state’s power simply because power comes in different forms, it is difficult to measure the psychological make up of the leaders of the state, and it is difficult to know the effect diplomacy may have on a state. However, there are several indicators that are pretty reliable when figuring out a state’s power. Some indicators are size of the population, the states industrial capacity and military spending, urbanization, technology, and agricultural capability. From these indicators scholars have developed an equation for calculating a state\'s perceived power