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RESEARCH
DEPARTMENT
The
Research and Studies Department is the nerve centre of the Nigerian
Institute of International Affairs charged with the development and
execution of primary and secondary research projects of the
Institute. In the fulfillment of its mandate, the Department
organizes conferences, seminars, symposia and lectures for the
enlightenment of the general public.
The
Department coordinates the research activities through its five
divisions: International Politics, International Law and
Organisation, International Economic Relations, Security and
Strategic Studies and African Politics and Integration.
The Division of
International Politics
Division of
International Law and Organisations
Division of
International Economic Relations
Division of
Security and Strategic Studies
The Division
of African Politics and Integration
The
Division of International Politics
The
Division of International Politics can be defined as the pillar of
research activities in the Institute in the sense that every
subject, issue or topic that comes up for examination has a
necessary linkage to the pattern of political relations between
sovereign states.
Fundamentally, underlying international politics is the matter of
power and the use of power (who makes decisions, who controls etc.)
that explains why one country can protect and project its interests,
while the other cannot. The exercise of power in the international
arena generates some dynamics (including politics) at the national,
bilateral, multilateral, regional and global levels of relations.
This constitutes the basis of international politics in this era and
the focus of the research efforts of the division. Some of the
research focus of the Division includes the dynamics of global
interaction, conflict and cooperation, globalization, science,
technology and development, migration matters and development
cooperation among others.
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Division
of International Law and Organisations
One
dimension of the Division's research focus is international law,
which in its classical sense is understood as a collection of rules
governing relations between states. In its broadest sense
international law provides normative guidelines as well as methods,
mechanisms and a common conceptual language for international
actors.
Thus, in
addition to traditional issues pertaining to war, peace and
diplomacy, the Division also focuses on questions of human rights,
as well as economic and trade issues.
The other
dimension of the Division, international organizations, is one of
the sources and actors of international law. Alongside
nation-states, international organizations are major actors in the
international system. Their vast numbers and functional diversity
ensure that they focus upon virtually every issue of international
significance. In addition, they are key players in structuring
international relations. The Division of International Law and
Organizations also examines the roles of international organizations
with particular respect to issues that are of importance to Nigeria
and the continent of Africa. Institutions that have provided
sustained frameworks for the conduct of Nigeria's multilateral
diplomacy such as the United Nations, African Union, Economic
Community of West African States and the Commonwealth have been
areas of continuous research efforts. Globalisation, international
economic relations, multilateralism in world affairs, inter-state
border disputes and the continuing concern for conflict resolution
and peace-building are also areas of research interest of the
Division.
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Division
of International Economic Relations
This
division is concerned with today's daunting problems of
underdevelopment, poverty, external debt, the challenges of
neo-liberal development programmes, relations with multilateral
institutions, marginalization, environmental degradation, and
others. The research activities of the division are informed by the
realities of contemporary globalization and its impact on the
development of Third World countries. We understand development as
structural transformation, meaning the economic growth of national
economies, coupled with the material improvement in the lives of
their citizens as demonstrated in increased equity and drastic
reduction in the poverty level. We accept the definition of
globalization as the process through which an increasingly free flow
of ideas, people, goods, services and capital leads to the
integration of economies and societies. We are thus broadly
interested in the development impact of global economic integration,
the appropriateness of market-led policies and the role of
multilateral institutions, global trade regime, technology transfer,
south-south cooperation and the dynamics mix of the challenges of
domestic and the external factors in international economic
relations and development.
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Division
of Security and Strategic Studies
The
Division of Security and Strategic Studies was established to
provide informed policy advice to government and enlightenment to
the public on security and defense matters. It also through
Conferences, Seminars, Roundtables, Public Lectures, Workshops and
publications provide materials on the security situation and
challenges in the country, the sub-region and Africa and, to
stake-holders in the international system.
Another
area of the work of the Division is on Conflict Management and
Resolution, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian aspects of conflicts and
Post-conflict Peace Building. Most conflicts in Africa today are due
to poor governance, identity issues, lack of access to governance of
resources, marginalization and problems associated with political
succession. Accordingly, the Division of Security and Strategic
Studies focuses its research agenda on these issues.
Closely
related to conflict is the issue of humanitarian emergencies which
create internal displacement and refugee problems.
The above
also determine the philosophy of the Division on security generally
and the relationship between security and development and the
resulting security sector reforms. The challenges of development do
in themselves also generate the kind of situation that undermines
peace and stability. Accordingly, security is not seen as a narrow
and static concept, but as dynamic issue with very great
implications for society at large.
Thus, while
the Division recognizes the traditional military threats to
security, it also recognizes the existence and importance of
non-military threats to peace and stability.
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The
Division of African Politics and Integration
Since
independence in 1960, Africa has featured prominently in Nigeria's
foreign policy, commanding attention in several respects. The nation
has also invested enormous resources on African issues be it
national liberation struggle, anti apartheid campaigns,
peacekeeping, conflict resolution, regional integration and the
issue of socio-economic and political development of the continent.
In the new millennium, the concern for African progress has been
broaden against the background of globalization to include
institution capacity building on the continent, the pursuit of
African renaissance, the protection of Africa's interest as Africa
now remains the last frontier for huge solid minerals, hydro-carbon
and agricultural resources.
Accordingly, the philosophy driving the division of African Politics
and Integration underscores the need for deeper understanding of
African affairs, the socio-economic and political conditions of
African states and their peoples. The division also carries out
studies on various interactions and exchanges among African states
and peoples. It monitors and studies the working of various
institutions and organizations, African intra-state organizations,
regional integration schemes and the relations of Africa with the
wider world, including the African Diaspora, whose economic
importance can no longer be ignored, considering the huge
remittances it makes to the homeland.
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