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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Nigeria and nuclear weapons
Author:Echezona, Nduba Chukwuma
Year:1986
Periodical:The African Review: A Journal of African Politics, Development and International Affairs
Volume:13
Issue:2
Pages:21-32
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Nigeria
West Africa
Subjects:nuclear weapons
international relations
Abstract:One very important point of view from which the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Nigeria has been discussed is that it would serve as a balance to South Africa. The present author contends that balance of power is an outmoded way of looking at African and global politics in a nuclear and interdependent age. Balancing, no matter what the intention of a party, presupposes war. Nigeria, however, is not at war with South Africa. Secondly, acquiring nuclear weapons in order to increase Nigeria's power invites questions as to what Nigeria's power was before the necessity of its increase was felt. The main issues in Africa are all concerned with human rights - disimperialism and apartheid. There is, therefore, the need to situate discussions on nuclear power acquisition within the framework of these issues. Otherwise such discussions will be un-African and turned to the kind of politics associated with advanced capitalist societies. Moreover, Nigeria lacks the industrial base for nuclear weapons manufacture and policymakers would have to go round the world begging to be given the mechanisms for this manufacture, thus perpetuating Nigeria's dependency on international capitalism. The answer to the question as to whether an African arms race on the level of the nuclear bomb will lead to the liquidation of the last remnants of colonialism and apartheid is negative. Ref.
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