ABSTRACT
This research work deals with the impact of globalization, its concept,
and development, the opportunities opened by globalization to Nigeria and
identifies the problem and tension posed. The merit of globalization for
Nigeria lies in the capacity for wealth creation through export-led growth and
the benefit of expanded international trade of goods, services, and access to
new products and designed in the global markets. This
study also examines the effect of Globalization on the Country Nigeria and its
uneven application of regulatory standards in Nigeria has exacerbated ethnic
and class tensions and how the oil exploration/extraction activities have
affected the individual and collective lives of the people in the Niger Delta
region. Overall, the study links the individual and collective lives of
Nigerians, particularly people in the rural communities to the political
economy of global capital. Globalization undermines state control, while
states undeniably remain
significant actors in the international system, the effect of globalization are
steadily eroding away at state authority. Trade, communications, technology and
travel serve to undermine state control. This has attributed to the various
impact of globalization on state sovereignty. State sovereignty was premised on
a territorial world. Furthermore, the study explores
how the expansion and activities of global capital necessarily create ethnic
tension, class struggle, and gender inequality. In order to maintain the status
quo, global capital creates structural inequalities that divide societies into
hierarchies of the “rich” and the “poor.” Consequently, the main questions
addressed in the study focus on if, how, and why globalization, carried out
through the activities of MNCs, affects ethnic tension, class struggle, and
gender inequality. In order to address the questions, a critical ethnographic
paradigm was used to explore and explain the processes of globalization that
affect the people’s lives and means of livelihood. Since this study’s focus is
on a neglected population, a critical ethnographic paradigm was used to speak
on behalf of the subjects as a means of empowering them by giving more
authority to their voices. Consequently, this study has the possibility of not
only speaking about the marginalization of the people of the rural communities
and their livelihood but, also, speaking on their behalf in order to increase
awareness of their present economic situation, aiming at the general
improvement of their economic situation and quality of life.
This study, therefore, provided the subjects an opportunity
to articulate their economic problems and share their lived experiences in a
region that has been devastated by the activities of oil MNCs. Data were
collected and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The
specific methods used in data collection included in-depth interviews,
questionnaires, and observation. The results obtained from the study support
the hypothesis that the oil MNCs in Nigeria, in partnership with the Nigerian
government, have engaged in a process of resource exploitation that has
resulted in economic expropriation, political disenfranchisement, social
dislocation, anomie and environmental devastation, of the people of the Niger
Delta in particular. Considering the impacts of globalization on the Nigeria
state, it is recommended that first, while we recognized the need to be part of
the changing world; there is the need for the Nigeria state to take its
environment and people/citizens into consideration in whatever policies she
wants to adopt from the various globalization policies put forward by the west.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page i
Title page ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Abstract vi-vii
Table of contents
viii-ix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study 1
1.2 Statement of problem 5
1.3 Objectives of the study 6
1.4 Research Questions 7
1.5 Significance of the study 7
1.6 Research Method 8
1.7 Scope of the study 9
1.8 Limitation of the Study 10
1.9 Definition of Terms 10
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Literature Review 12
2.2 Theoretical Framework 27
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Impact of Globalization 30
3.2 Social Services Provisions under Structural Adjustment and
Globalization. 32
CHAPTER FOUR
CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF GLOBALIZATION ON NIGERIA
4.1 Concept of Development 43
4.2 Influence of Globalization on the Economy of Nigeria 45
4.3
Policy Strategies for Development 54
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE
5.1 Summary 61
5.2 Conclusion 64
5.3 Recommendations 67
5.4 Contribution to Knowledge 69
References 73-76
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
The new system of colonization,
being imposed on every nooks and crannies of the world recently is
globalization. This important change in the world during the twentieth century,
introduced the term globalization. Globalization as it is used here is a
process whereby social relations acquire relatively distance less and
borderless qualities, so that human lives are increasingly played out in the
world as a single space. Social relations here is the countless and complex
ways that people communicate with and affect other. One of the feelings that
characterizes the recent world is the intense inter-dependence of states, many
authors argues that the very notion of sovereignty has being shattered by
globalization. States like Nigeria did not spring up one day to change the level
of control they hold, rather the nature of the global village require the state
to change, if Nigeria wants to participate in the International system, because
International system has existing forms of dominant and subordinate relations.
Fafunwa (1998:5) defines
globalization as the increasing breaks down of trade barriers and the
increasing integration of world markets. Today globalization process can be
seen as the creation of global village. This phenomenon in its stage now is
tending towards one world community of a complex inter-relationship, a closely
knit society, nations evolving a homogenous society on planet earth, a people
with same political structure through the democratization process. Economic
historians are quick to point out that globalization is no recent phenomenon.
The sixteenth and seventh
centuries saw the emergence of dependence on world trade for national economic
development and prosperity. The industrial revolution that is the late 18th and
19th centuries gave a fresh impression to globalization process. The last fifty
years in particular contributed to the process in terms of peace and
complexity. The advent of the jet age, Satellite Communication and the computer
information technology saw the shrinking of the globe in terms of speed and
comprehensiveness of global transaction as well the rapidity of fundamental
societal changes. The last decades stressed the marginalization of Africa and
indeed Nigeria; this revealed the continents glaring disadvantageous position
with respect to the information revolution.
Twenty years after the
dominant Lagos plan of action (LPA), a new Millennium Plan of Action (MPA) was
initiated by African leaders. This plan of action was focused to reduce poverty
and corruptions as well as Nigerians are taking steps in liberalization,
privatization, deregulation and adoption of new investment codes to create
prosperous conditions to attract foreign investors, Nigeria is at the fore
front to promote economic reforms and free market to enable her to integrate properly
into global economy. The financial sector including banking system is being
recognized to play a pivotal role in the international financial sector as well
as in the stock markets. Since 2000, Nigeria has become more globally in
economic and socio-cultural activities. According to Albow (2000:27)
globalization refers to all those processes by which people of the world are in
co-operated into a single world society, which is global society. Globalization
can also be defined as the intensification of the worldwide social relations
which link distance localities in such a way that local happenings arc shaped
by events occurring many miles away and vice versa. (Giddens, 2001:69). While
Akindele et al (2002) posits that Globalization refers to the process of
intensifying economic, political, social and cultural relations across national
boundaries. It is thus aimed at transcendent homogenization of political and
socio-economic theory across the globe. Ohuabunwa (1999:20) saw it as more
related to capital intensification. According to him, it entails the broadening
and deepening linkages of national economies into world wide market for goods
and services, especially capital. It is in the light of the above that Tendon
(1998:2) wined that globalization seek to remove all national barriers free
movement of international capital mid this process is xe1erated and facilitated
by supersonic transformation in information technology. Expanding on the
subject under review, Nigeria’s experience in structural adjustment programme
(SAP) and the growth of transactional and multinational organizations and
democracy are some waves of globalization.
In any case, the
globalization exercise has hanged on public policies in the attempt to a
sustaining growth in Nigeria and Africa through policies taken is still being
made in the industrialized economies and in some cases impairing macro economic
management and sustainable development. The globalization process shaping the
Nigerian economies in many ways has undergone the process of liberalization,
regulation, privatization, economic reforms and democratization, all of which
has impacted on the Nigeria state system. Many scholars have argued that the
process of globalization has also intensify environmental degradation on the continent
and global policies that are being made in the industrialized economies to
promote globalization in the international system have some ways negatively
impacted on Nigeria’s public policies, hence, on its state sovereignty. The
work therefore united to examine the extent of this impact.
1.2
Statement of Research Problem
The impact of
globalization in Nigeria can not be ignored, because Nigeria has found her self
in the dilemma of mixed foreign economic and development policies that she is
not used to. That Nigerians now takes instructions from the West, multinational
and international organizations set up by the same West is typical evidence in
the whole sale implementation of International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme,
such as structural Adjustment Programme SAP). The problem of implementing such
policies is that they were not designed neither to suit the Nigerian situation
nor for the benefit of the nations economy. All of these constitute the
problems brought about by globalization, specifically as it impacts on Nigeria
sovereignty.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The primary objective of
this study is to highlight the impact of globalization on Nigeria. In line with
this, the study will;
1.
Examine the extent to which globalization has impacted on
Nigeria.
2.
Determine if such impact eroded the state sovereignty.
3.
Determine the extent to which the external bodies like
advanced industrial economies, multinational companies influence state policies
and decisions.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research
questions are going to be addressed in this research work and the answers
obtained will provide better understanding on the impact of globalization on
Nigeria;
1.
Has globalization affected the responsibility of the state
towards its citizen?
2.
Has globalization affected the sovereignty of Nigeria State?
3.
Has globalization moved governmental powers to multinational
companies and international organizations, such as the United Nations and
Bretton Woods?
1.5 Significance of the
Study
The study of the impact of
globalization is of immense importance due to the followings:
1.
It will enable us to access or ascertain the impact of
globalization in Nigeria.
2.
It will identify and proffer solutions to the various
problems faced by Nigeria in the global community.
3.
It will show more clearly; how globalization policies can be
effectively implemented.
4.
Finally, most discourse on globalization centres on the
economic, cultural, technological (communication impact).
1.6 Research Method
Data were collected from
secondary sources. The techniques used are detailed consultation on the
internets, relevant textbooks, and journals.
The research method used
by the researcher is the use of content analysis, which is none experimental
and most useful because the area of study deals with contemporary issues which
express dynamism and of which not much has been done.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This research work is
designed to examine the impact of globalization on Nigeria, to this end; the
scope of the study will focus only on Nigeria, though attempts will be made to
look at the African continent to buttress some of the points. This study will
however examine the various economic policies such as Structural Adjustment
Programme (SAP), as it affects Nigeria and the activities of the multinational
corporations. It should be well noted that apart from economic critics,
globalization delve also into social, political and cultural aspects, in the
sense that globalization exercise hanged on public policies in order to attain
a sustaining growth in Nigeria and Africa, policies taking is being made in the
industrialized economies and in some cases impairing macro economic management
and sustainable development. The globalization process shaping the Nigerian
economies in any ways has undergone the process of liberalization,
deregulations, privatization, economic reforms, democratization and
interference on Nigerian state, all of which has impacted on Nigeria.
1.8 Limitation of the
Study
As a result of time and
limited resources, only important issues relating to the research topic will be
addressed. Also, very important is the limited availability of finance to carry
out the research and it was not easy to travel far and wide to libraries to
consult as was my wish. However, efforts were made to do justice to the
research topic as the internet came handy.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Globalization: This refers to the
intensification of economic, political, social and cultural relations across
boundaries; it is seen as the breaking of barriers and increasing the
integration of world markets.
System: It is an autonomous unit
of complex elements which interacts and capable of adapting within its
environment.
Policy: This is a plan of action
agreed or chosen by an individual, group, organization or government that
influences the behaviour of people within a territory.
State: This is defined as human
community which successfully claims within a given territory. It is the
monopoly of legitimate use of physical force.
Economy: This is the relationship
between production, trade and supply of money in a particular
country or region.
Democracy: This is defined as
government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Sovereignty: Complete power to govern
a country. It is the main symbol of statehood and the legal basis of existence.
International System: It is made up of units
that are sovereign and independent
states standing in interactions.
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