Public opinion and foreign policy: analysing Nigerian reactions to the asylum offered former President Charles Taylor of Liberia

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Periodical article

Title:	Public opinion and foreign policy: analysing Nigerian reactions to the asylum offered former President Charles Taylor of Liberia
Author:	Ojieh, Chukwuemeka Ojione
Year:	2008
Periodical:	African Journal of International Affairs (ISSN 0850-7902)
Volume:	11
Issue:	1
Pages:	71-97
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	foreign policy public opinion international relations Nigeria--Foreign relations Political refugees
About person:	Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor (1948-)
Abstract:	This article analyses the reaction of Nigerians to the granting of asylum to Charles Taylor in Calabar, Nigeria, in 2003. Specifically, it addresses the following questions: Why was the Nigerian public opposed to the asylum offered to the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor? What were the Nigerian government's justifications for its asylum policy? Why was public opinion overridden by foreign policy determinants with regard to the offer of asylum to Taylor? The article is based on content analysis of articles in 'The Guardian' and 'Vanguard' newspapers published in Lagos, Nigeria. It concludes that on the Taylor asylum issue, President Obasanjo sacrificed public opinion on the altar of national interest. Bibliogr., sum. in English and French. [ASC Leiden abstract]