| Abstract: | Nigeria's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council is couched in terms of the country's perception of itself as being the heartbeat of Africa. However, considering the basic elements of power in international relations, Nigeria is far from becoming the 'giant of Africa', the status it has always claimed. Nigeria's largest population in the continent and even the leverage of its potential economic and untapped natural resources over other African States are not sufficient reason for Nigeria to represent the African continent as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Political instability, high levels of corruption, feeble democratic institutions, a weak economy and low levels of technological development continue to work against the interests of Nigeria at the UN Security Council. The financial, military and expertise commitments required of the permanent members of the UN Security Council can hardly be met in terms of Nigeria's economic situation. Nigeria should rather concentrate on the issue of Africa's economic development, that is, on how to change existing international economic relations, and on strengthening its ongoing achievements in the field of peacekeeping and peace enforcement in Africa. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract] |
AfricaBib 
Periodical article
WorldCat
