Infantry Brigade
National interest and national development
National interest and national development
Victor I. Lukpata (Ph.D)
Management Development Institute
Calabar, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
The primary consideration in the implementation of foreign policy is always based on the concept of national interest. Therefore, national interest is very central to the social existence of a nation. As this concept is essential to both the existence of a nation and as a basis for analysis of U.S. foreign policy behavior, it is subject to abuse. The President any country could be hiding under the cover of interest to perpetuate national self-interest. The aim of this paper is emphasize the danger of denying the national interest and to highlight avenues where the national interest can contribute to national development.
INTRODUCTION
As a concept, national interest can offer guidance and a basis for broad consensus, but the term is so vague that anyone could label any foreign policy statements in this attractive term. It is because of this reality and battery for purposes of clarity of discussion that many analysts in the field of international relations would like to think of national interest simply that the interests of national security. According to the postulation of Walter Lippman, the national security states that "the nation is secured extend to which it is not in danger of having to sacrifice core values if it wants to avoid war and is in a position where challenge, to keep the victory in war. "With this flash on the concept of national interest, we get into the actual discussion of" national interest and national development ".
What is the national interest
The concept of national interest is vague and it is therefore difficult to give a precise definition of the term. Despite this, the national interest is defined as the general term and the long end continues the States, the nation and the government will consider serving. The National Interest a state is rooted in social consciousness and cultural identity of a people. In other words, national interest a state is a product of social values as the people. In practice, the national interest of a country is synthesized and controlled by political leaders and policymakers. That is why the national interest is defined as "what the makers say it is" the national interest of a country is the interest of its leaders. It may also be the interest of a group such as the bourgeoisie proletariat or depending on which class is in power. It may well be the King's interest. Babagida (1986) argued that it would like to think the national interest that the interests of national security. This is because for him the concept of national interest has become so vague and elastic. We were warned by the social sciences that national security has many ingredients that may be material more threatening than outside military threat. It can take subtle forms such as subversion of the basic values of the economic sabotage, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, espionage and cultural subversion. We are all aware of the damage these can cause on the psyche of a nation and survival. national security interests can be used to refer to such concepts as "self-preservation" "Self-defense, and even" Survival. " National security short means that the State must survive. This means that to live without threat to any values that are considered important or vital (Emma 1991:19).
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The term "national development is used to describe a state of maturity that characterizes a nation-state. It follows maturity of the interaction of modern political forces, economic and social processes that transform the various peoples, forming a geographic area common acceptance and allegiance to and participation in a transitional policy to the acceptance and creation and participation a modern nation-state. The latter is characterized by the machinery of government capable of commanding loyalty, maintenance of order, causing the legitimacy promote integration, allowing mass participation and popular satisfy the desires and expectations. He also has a skilled population that has the ability to create a highly industrial society and manipulates its environment to obtain a high quality of life for the general population (Mea King: 1988:5).
NATIONAL INTERESTS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The long-term interest National is characterized by inconsistency. People do not hide under the cover of national interest in the project and protect their own individual or interest groups. In such a situation, national interests can not make a negative contribution to national development. But if the interests of the population is generally expected and protected the national interest can then contribute significantly and positively to national development. The analysis below will suffice to prove the assertion of this right.
NIGERIA – Border Crisis CAMEROON
According Nweke, (1990) when two patrol boats in Nigeria Ikang (border town with a population of 15,000 in Cross River State), spotted Non-patrol officers in the Nigerian Nigerian territory, they moved forward to identify ships, these vessels in Cameroon gendarmes opened fire at one of Nigeria patrol, killing five patrol and wounding at least three others. After the murder of five Nigerian soldiers, a heavy barrage of bullets also came from Cameroon gendarmes row of three above the forest near river. The second Nigerian patrol boat made its way to recover attacked the boat and losses. For several days after the shooting of a helicopter continued to fly Cameroon Ikang at very low altitude. When Governor of Cross River State, Clement Isong, paid his first visit to Ikang area after the incident, Colonel F. It Ehigiator infantry brigade 13-Calabar has not only confirmed the incident, but he also said that Cameroon has given Nigeria a surprise attack. The incident took place May 14 1981 and despite several aggressive policy response form – conscious and articulate Nigerians, who saw the incident as a security threat National President Shagari manifestly failed to take military action against Cameroon.
Since the attack by Cameroon was a direct threat to Nigeria's vital interests, defined in terms of national security, it has been proved that the federal government in the language of the speaker House of Representatives, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke to respond to fire. The inability of federal governments to return the tree to the fire thus created insecurity National was able to give free rein to national minorities disintegration. A position of national interest as it can at best negatively contribute to national development. Therefore, the inability of the Nigerian federal government to take military action against Cameroon in the wake of the attack on Nigeria by Cameroon May 16, 1980 only on the grounds of national interest, but may have a negative contribution national development (Olusanya, Akindele, 1990:398).
EXPULSION OF illegal aliens OF NIGERIA
The action of the Shagari administration in sudden deportation illegal aliens from Nigeria, all in the name of national interest, was a behavior that was very hostile to national development. Decision Federal Government of Nigeria announced January 17, 1983 by Alhaji Ali Baba to give all illegal immigrants numbering between two million and three million fourteen days to leave the country, has created the worst international crisis in Nigeria. This decision, it is noteworthy created an almost universal hostility and unexpected to Nigeria to the amazement of many Nigerians. It was in Nigeria in acrimony serious and profound disagreement with friends and hostile international actors in some ways worse than the international reaction to the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70. For example, the state Westhampton Department described the decision as shocking and it was a violation of every imaginable human rights, the Economic Community Community (EEC) issued a press release condemning the Brussels agenda quit, Pope John Paul II denounced the expulsion as a falls, the incredible drama and he began to describe the production as the single largest exodus and the worst of man in Nigeria, Mr Michael Foot, then leader of the opposition the British House of Commons, wrote a letter to the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Landon, Alhaji Awak Shalu, in which he referred to the expulsion order and how it was implemented as an act of cruelty and a failure of humanity common. Western media were even more violent in their attack on the Nigerian government. In an editorial entitled "inhuman and catastrophe" The Guardian of London described the order as residents leave the inhumanity, impartiality and high irresponsibility.
Due to This singular action by the administration of Shagari Nigerian image abroad has been a bad day and other West African countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, among others, has seen fit to retaliate by expelling the Nigerian nationals in these countries. Therefore, in a situation as this position where national interests as projected by President Shagari affects the core values (national security of a nation) If not, the national interest has little or no positive impact on national development (Olusanya, 1999:400).
ADOPTION PROGRAM STRUCTURE ADNJUSTMENT
The adoption of structural adjustment program as a foreign policy decision during the tenure Akinyemi as foreign minister under the administration of Babangida is a foreign policy decision, taken in the name of national interest which is quite contrary to national development. Infact, for most Nigerians who were and are victims of the Structural Adjustment Programme (PAS), many key government officials and the group organized private business interests, the ministers of bold policy initiatives were considered a serious error of distraction national depression and urgent business to stop the crisis in the Nigerian economy (The Guardian, May 17, 1993). The Structural Adjustment Programme. (AMP) has many untold hardship to Nigerians a conference on "Alternative For Structural Adjustment Programme organized by activists of Human Rights held in Imodu Hall in Nigeria Labour Congress building, Yaba, Lagos in July 1989 to find a solution to SAP (International Times September 11, 1989:11). The need for the aforementioned conference hinges on the fact the adoption of SAP, which has untold suffering to Nigerians only in the name of national interest has a negative effect on national development.
NIGERIA MEMEBRSHIP OIC
In January 1986, Nigeria has made a formal application for full membership of Organization of the Islamic Conference during the administration of General Babangida. Nigeria's membership of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the coverage of the national interest as claimed Babangida was an action that can have a negative impact on our national development because of the secularism of Nigeria as a nation. The Babangida administration argued that the full membership of the IOC would Nigeria give him the opportunity to realize some of the most important foreign policy objectives. It is so, especially since members of the OIC, except Turkey are the non-aligned countries. Nigeria can win the support of countries in order to achieve its key objectives in the international system. According OIC General Babangida is a forum, which Nigeria can mobilize support for the fight against racism and colonialism, and so further the interests of Nigeria as a nation. Nigeria, it should be noted is a secular state. Its membership of the OIC in the name of national interest in spite of his character religious multi is wholly inconsistent with the spirit of national development.
BOYCOTT NIGERIAN Commonwealth Games EDINBURGH
The boycott of the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, on behalf of the national interest is a classic case where the national interest can promote national development. Nigeria under the administration of General Babangida decided to boycott the match in Edinburgh Commonwealth because Development at the Commonwealth Heads of Government. Nigeria has taken a strong stand against South Africa, demanding his punishment because of its apartheid policy odious in the Commonwealth summit in 1995. It was also the position of other Commonwealth countries, but Colombia sought rather to block any such move. Thatcher argued that the South African government should be given a little more time to carry out more reforms (Olusanya, 1990:119). The British position on this issue did not go well with Nigeria and Nigeria in protest boycotted the games in Edinburgh. Nigeria's foreign policy objectives includes maintaining peaceful coexistence among its neighbors in the West African sub-region, Africa and the world, to promote good neighborliness in Africa and to eliminate colonialism and realism in African countries. Therefore, the boycott of the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh is compatible with development National Nigeria because it is consistent with its foreign policy objectives.
INTERVENTION ECOMOG in Liberia
The ECOMOG intervention in the Liberian crisis that began in 1989 is another episode that is associated with the interest national who can promote national development. ECOMOG has been made in these countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Togo and Mali operated in Liberia in order: First, impose a cease-fire in Liberia, second, the establishment of an interim government, third, rehabilitation destruction of essential services like hospitals, electricity, water and food, etc.. It should be noted that some West African countries as Burkina Faso, Cote Devoir, protested against the ECOMOG in Liberia. According to Blaise Compaore, the captain and the president of Burkina Faso, the above countries which are ECOMOG did not consult other members of ECOWAS before conducting their operations in Liberia. He argued that the mediation committee ECOWAS has no jurisdiction to intervene in internal conflicts in a Member State, except when there is conflict between a member state to another. Thus, ECOMOG and its operation is illegal. Moreover, the question of the legality of the huge financial investment in the ECOMOG operation Liberia has been attacked by critics. The Diplomat, September 17, 1990 noted that the cost of the operation of ECOMOG in Liberia is estimated at fifty million naira (# 50). It is interesting to note that the ball of the funding has been made by Nigeria (The Diplomat, September 17 1990). However, despite the critical stance on the participation of Nigeria in ECOMOG, its participation is quite capable of promoting national development. It should be noted that when peace was instilled in Liberia. Nigeria also enjoy the atmosphere of peace and peace is both a condition necessary and sufficient for national development.
CONCLUSION
National interest may negate national development as in the case of Nigeria Cameroon crisis, the expulsion of illegal aliens, adoption the structural adjustment program, and membership of the OIC Nigerians. On the other hand, may promote the national interest national development as in the case of Nigeria to boycott the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games and the participation of Nigeria in ECOMOG in Liberia.
WORKS CITED
A. Bolaji Akinyemi: April "foreign policy, defense and the New Consciousness", Forum Nigeria, 1981.
Alhaji Ali Baba's address, Minister of the Interior, on foreigners residing in Nigeria, and Registration ECOWAS, Chad and Cameroon on the public February 14, 1983 (Lagos, Government Printer).
Bolaji Akinyemi, "disputes Nigeria-Cameroon: not revenge of Biafra, "The Punch, June 11, 1981.
Emma Odi Chukwuma (1991) President Ibrahim Babangida triumph of foreign policy, investment Bissau Ventures Ltd. WA Ikaja, Lagos-Nigeria.
Gabriel O. Olusanya, RA Akindele (eds.) (1990): Structure and process of foreign policymaking and implementation in Nigeria Lagos 1960-1990. NIIA.
Srivastva LN (1984): International Relations (1914 to present) Delhi. Surjective Book Depot (Regd) Šerák Nai.
Mac 1988 (), locality and nation building, King Books, Ltd. Spectrum C. Sunshine House, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Morton H. (1974); bureaucratic and their foreign policies. Halperin policy in Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution.
The Guardian, May 17, 1993.
The Diplomat, September 17, 1990
Times International, September 11, 1989.
About the Author
DATE
INSTITUTION
QUALIFICATION
2003-2008
University of Calabar
Ph.D history
2000-2003
Imo State University,Owerri
M.Sc int’l Affairs and Diplomacy
1995-1999
University of Calabar
B.Sc (Hons) Public Administration
1994-1995
University of Calabar
Diploma in Public Administration
1987-1989
S.B.S Akamkpa
IJMB “A level”
1978-1983
Sec. Gram. Sch. Wanokom
Wasc
1972-1978
Primary School, iwango Idah
FSLC
