POL4301: Military and Politics
SUMMARY OF 2007/2008 RESULT
1. Auwal Abubakar Seminar
A - 02
B - 02
C - 02
D - 02
E - 03
F - 01
2. Seminar of Adamu Ismail
A - 02
B - 03
C - 03
D - 00
E - 03
F - 01
3. Umar Danjuma Seminar
A - 01
B - 03
C - 01
D - 01
E - 05
F - 01
4. Seminar of Hamza Marafa
A - 01
B - 06
C - 03
D - 00
E - 01
F - 01
5. Shehu Haruna Seminar
A - 01
B - 01
C - 02
D - 01
E - 03
F - 01
6. Zainu Abidden Seminar
A - 01
B - 02
C - 03
D - 02
E - 03
F - 01
7. Seminar of Umar Kabir
A - 01
B - 03
C - 00
D - 02
E - 03
F - 04
8. Seminar of Tasiu Magaji
A - 00
B - 02
C - 05
D - 02
E - 01
F - 00
9. Seminar of Nasiru Sule
A - 01
B - 00
C - 01
D - 01
E - 04
F - 00
10. Semination of Aliyu Zubairu
A - 00
B - 03
C - 03
D - 02
E - 01
F - 01
11. Sani Revolutionary
A - 03
B - 01
C - 04
D - 03
E - 01
F - 01
12. Tijjani the Marxist
A - 00
B - 02
C - 06
D - 01
E - 01
F - 00
13. Seminar of Aminu Saleh Isyak
A - 01
B - 02
C - 03
D - 00
E - 04
F - 00
14. Seminar of Ismail Galadima
A - 00
B - 03
C - 01
D - 04
E - 02
F - 01
15. Jamilu Habeeb Seminar
A - 00
B - 03
C - 00
D - 01
E - 04
F - 02
16. Seminar of Ibrahim Amadu
A - 00
B - 02
C - 02
D - 00
E - 03
F - 03
17. Seminar of Ramatu Momoh
A - 01
B - 01
C - 00
D - 00
E - 02
F - 03
18. Seminar of Hamisu Idris
A - 01
B - 01
C - 03
D - 00
E - 03
F - 00
19. Seminar of Saadatu Rabiu Tahir
A - 00
B - 02
C - 02
D - 03
E - 03
F - 02
20. Seminar of Jere Kassim
A - 01
B - 03
C - 01
D - 02
E - 02
F - 02
21. Seminar of Muhammad Gambo Sale
A - 01
B - 02
C - 00
D - 04
E - 04
F - 01
22. Seminar of Jamilu Sabo
A - 01
B - 00
C - 04
D - 00
E - 04
F - 01
23. Seminar of Muhammad Babangida (SO) Students
A - 00
B - 00
C - 00
D - 02
E - 06
F - 07
Overall Summary
A - 19
B - 47
C - 52
D - 33
E - 64
F - 31*
* (7 are S.O Students)
Observations
1. It is still relatively good result
2. Roughly one-quarter of the students are above average
3. Then another quarter are just average with another half of the quarter very close to average performance
4. About a quarter though have passed the examination but their performance is below average
5. I am surprised that given the intensive work and collective exercises conducted that some students could fail
6. Although seeing their examination scripts is as if many of them did not take part in the class work
7. My message has always been that the world moves very fast, young boys and girls must move faster, otherwise they would be left behind
8. I am happy some of you are moving faster than the world. This is by working hard and jumping into every new opportunities for learning and research.
M. M. Yusif
June, 2008
Tuesday 22 July 2008
Tuesday 8 July 2008
POL.4313: Peace and Conflict Resolution: Ethnic Conflict and---
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCEFACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCESBAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL.4313: Peace and Conflict Resolution
Subtitle: Ethnic Conflict and Social Change in Post-Cold War Era
Academic Year: 2007/2008 Second Semester
Instructor: M.M. YUSUF
mmyusif58@yahoo.com
mmyusif07@gmail.com
polbuk@yahoo.com
http://www.mmyusuf.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
Fourty years ago, precisely in 1969, Saul Alinsky observed that "Life is conflict and in conflict you are alive". This is echoing hundreds of years of written works on the subject. The only area where social scientists of various shades of opinion and ideological inclinations, agree that conflict is important for human progress and development.
Therefore, tenth of years ago, conflict studies became a science. The current interest in peace and conflict studies is not new. However, one may rightly argue that the current globalisation has produced more conflicts than the past history of human development. Secondly, the present global economy has produced powerful transnational forces with a stake in generating conflicts in some parts of the globe and peace in others.
This development has made it that as all forms of conflicts have become part of our lives we have to, through teaching and research be made to develop skills and knowledge which will enable us to understand and resolve all kinds of conflicts in our relationships so that we can move forward.
In line with this thinking, in 2003/2004 I have introduced a Teaching Programme for 400 level students of political science, in Peace and Conflict Resolution. It is now being taught for five years as POL4313 (a 3 credit course). Since, the focus of the course changes every academic session. As:
Conflict and Peace - making in Africa of the 21st Century 2003/2004 session
Globalisation, conflict and peace-making in Africa 2004/2005
Economic globalisation, conflict/violence and peace-making 2005/2006
Globalisation, Ethnic Conflict and Social Change 2006/2007
Ethnic Conflict and Social Change in Post-cold War Era 2007/2008
The treatment of the issues involved application of several different approaches and theories in peace and conflict studies.
Orientation of the Course
Globalisation (which coincides with Post-cold War Era) is a great force in human history. Scholars argued that it is inevitable and irresistible force on course of development of human society. As a process it brings a contradictory motion of global integration on the one hand and local fragmentation on the other. This has resulted in violence and many forms of conflict - ethno-nationalist, religious, industrial and political, in both developed and the developing countries.
The focus of the course in this academic session is globalisation ethnic conflict and social change. A comparative study of both ethnic conflict and management in countries in the North and the South would be made. The course introduces new perspectives on conflict and peace studies which examines how "economic globalisation and market democracy" resulted in frequent ethnic and ethno-national conflicts in developed and the developing world.
In order to understand ethnic conflict in the current era of globalisation, there is need to rethink about theory of ethnicity, as well as to examine the nature and dynamics of class forces and state in the conjecture. On the other hand the forces of globalisation have weakened the power of state to the extent of incapacity to deal with conflicts and violence in the society.
The primary intention is to expose students to new perspectives on understanding ethnic conflicts within the context of dynamics of globalisation in Nigeria. However, the scope is expanded to examine different patterns in former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, other European countries and Africa. It is hoped that students would be able to make a comparative analysis.
The course identifies six major areas in the literature in respect of the subject i.e. Ethnic conflict and social change in Post-cold war period. First, we shall examine the major concepts i.e. ethnic, ethnicity, and nation and the relationship between them. Second, is toward a theory and practice of ethnicity and ethnic relations in the Old and New World Order. The third issue introduces some perspectives on globalisation and conflict. This will include among other things economic liberalisation, violence and war, as well as globalisation, information technology and conflict. The fourth is an over view of "New Ethnic Conflict in Africa and beyond by making a comparative analysis. Fifthly, given the extent of ethnic destruction in these "New Wars", we will examine International Humanitarian Law and ethnic conflict. Sixthly, is globalisation and ethnic conflict management, including peace building, post-conflict development and reconstruction.
TOPICS AND READINGS
General Introduction
Introducing the course; the topics to be treated; the recommended readings; assessment of the programme by students; other issues;
Definitions of key concepts
Globalization; conflict; social conflict; ethnic; ethnicity; nation nationality; nationalism; new war; peace; peacekeeping; peace building; peacemaking; conflict resolution; conflict management; conflict settlement. Conflict termination; conflict prevention; conflict provention;
Required Readings:
Cheryl Hendricks, "The National Question, Ethnic, and state: some Insights on South Africa". In G. Nzongola-Ntalaja and Margaret C. Lee (editors). The state and Democracy in Africa.
Ronaldo Munck, The difficult dialogue: Marxism and Nationalism. Pgs. 1-8
Festus Okoye (editor). Ethnic and Religious Rights in Nigeria. Chapter 1
Definitions of the concepts on the web
John Burton, conflict resolution pgs. 1-11
IRC, Conflict resolution pgs. 6-12
James Mittelmann (editor). Globalization: critical Reflections
David Held et al. Global transformations: politics, economics ad culture pgs. 1-31
Robert cox. A perspective on globalization
Jan Aant Scholte. Globalization: A critical Introduction
Jaroslav k. and Vitezslav V., Ethnic and Political Nations in Europe. Chapter 3
Ethnicity: Toward a General Theory and Experience of Ethnicity in Old and New World Order
Required Readings
Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. M. (eds.) Ethnicity: Theory and Experience
R. A. Schermerhorn, Comparative Ethnic Relations: A Framework for Theory and Research
Ronaldo Munck op. cit Chapter 8
Berch B. "Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in the Age of globalisation
Ashley W. D. "Rethinking the National Question: Toward a Theory of Ethnicity and Nationality in the New World Order".
Alliance Marxist Leninist, The National Question in the era of globalisation
Eskor Toyo, The National Question in Nigeria
The Debate on the National Question and Radical Politics in Nigeria
Bamgura Yusif, The Search for identity: Ethnicity and Political Violence
Egwu G. S. "Ethnicity, Economic crisis and National Development in Nigeria" In Nnoli (ed.) Dead-End to Nigerian Development.
State and Ethno-National Conflict
Required Readings
Bjorn Beckman, Neo-Colonialism, Capitalism and the State in Nigeria
Larry Diamond, Class, ethnicity and Democratic State: Nigeria, 1950 - 1966
Doornbos, M. "Linking the future to the past: ethnicity and pluralism" ROAPE No. 52.
Ifeka Caroline, "Ethnic Nationalities, God and the State: Wither the Federal Republic of Nigeria? ROAPE No. 85.
Globalization and Conflict: Theoretical perspectives.
Required Reading
Charles O. Lerche: The conflicts of Globalization. Website
Havard H. et al. Globalization and conflict. Website
Mark Duffield, Internal Conflict: Adaptation and Reaction to Globalization. Website
Samir Amin. "Economic Globalization and Political Universalism: Conflicting Issues". Journal of World Systems Research vol. 3 (2000)
Margit B. and Gerald S. When Globalization Discontent Turn Violent: Foreign Economic Liberalization and Internal War. Website
Samuel P. Huntington. " The clash of civilization".
Francis Fukuyama. "The end of History".
Yash Tandon. The Violence of globalization. Website
George Spriel. " Globalisation and Conflict". Website.
Joseph Stiglitz. " Globalisation and its Discontents". Website
Globalization and Ethnic Conflicts: Some perspectives.
Required Readings
Anamaria D. Globalization and Ethnic conflict: Beyond the Liberal-Nationalist Distinction. Website.
Amy C. World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability. Website.
Daniel Conversi, Americanasation and the Planetary Spread of Ethnic Conflict: The Globalization Trap. Website
John R. Bowen, " The myth of Global Ethnic Conflict". Journal of Democracy Vol. 7 No. 4
Samir Amin, Capitalism in the Age of Globalization. Chapter 4
Globalization, Information Technology and Ethnic Conflict.
Required Readings
Ernest J. Wilson: Globalization, Information Technology, and conflict in the Second and Third Worlds: A Critical Review of the Literature. Website
Ali Mazrui: Nigeria between Lord Lugard and the Digital Divide: political culture and the Skill revolution". Website
Manuel Castells. " Information Technology, Globalisation and social development" pgs. 8-11
Anthony L. et al "Promises of Access and Inclusion: Online Education in Africa". Journal of Philosophy of Education. Vol.14 No.1
Hendrik Bussiek "Pipes without Water. And where are the pipes? Information and Communication Technologies in Africa". IPS 3.2005
Globalisation, cultural and ethnic conflict
Required Readings
Phillip O. Sijuwade, "Globalisation and Cultural Conflict in Developing Countries: The South African Example", Anthropologist Vol. 8 No.2
John Tomlinson; Globalisation and Cultural Identity", Website
David Rothkop "In praise of cultural impervalism? Effects of Globalisation on culture" Foreign policy June 22, 1997
Samuel Huntington, "Clash of Civilisation".
Frances Fukayama "The end of History".
Phil Marfleet, "Globalisation and Religious activism" In Ray Kiely and Phil Marfteet (et al) Globalisation and the Third World
9. New Ethnic Conflict in Africa and Beyond: An Overview
Required Readings
Patrice Tengo "Globalisation, New War and perpetuation of conflicts in Africa" Codesria Bulletin
Adebayo Adedeji (editor). Comprehending and mastering African conflicts. The search for sustainable peace and Good Governance. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9
Pamina M.F "New" War theory, does the case of Colombia Apply", Journal of Peace and Development
Cordula R. "Why are violent intrastate conflicts protracted? Looking at Azar’s Model"
Mohammed Sulaiman (Editor). Ecology, Politics and Violent Conflict. Chapters 1 and 2
Steven L. Burg. "Nationalism and Civil Identity: Ethnic models for Macedonia and Kosovo". In Barnett R. (editor) cases and strategies for preventive Action.
Ronnie L. and Bevely C. "Economic Globalisation and the "New" Ethnic Strife: What is to be done?
10. Ethnic Conflict and Collapse of States in Africa
Required Readings
J.D. Kandeh: "Ransoming the state, elite origins of subattern terror in Sierra Leone", ROAPE No.83
Chris Allen: "Warfare, Endemic violence and state collapse in Africa", State failure in the Congo: Perceptions and realties" ROAPE No.93/94
Theodore Trepan Sakua et al, "State failure in the Congo: Perceptions and realities". ROAPE No.93/94
Roger Charlton and Roy May. "Warlords and Molitarism in Chad". ROAPE No.48
David Keen. "Greedy Elites, dwindling resources alienated youth: The anatomy of protracted violence in Sierra Leone". IPS 2/2003
Stephen Ellis, "The Old roots of African New Wars". IPS 2/2003
William Reno. "Political Networks in a failing state: The roots and future of violent conflict in Sierra Leone" IPS 2/2003
William Reno. "Warlord Politics and African States".
William I Zartman (ed) Collapsed States; The disintegration and restoration of legitimate authority
Ken Menkhaus, "State collapse in Somalia: Second Thoughts" ROAPE No.97
Jutta Baakonyi and kirsts stuvoy. "Violence and Social order beyond the state; Somalia and Angola". ROAPE No.104/5
Susan L. Woodward. "Failed state: Warlondism and "Tribal" warfore" website
11. Settlers and Residents: Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria
Required Readings
Dung Pam Sha. "Ethnicity and Political Conflicts in Jos: Emergence, Dimensions and the way forward", In Festus Okoye op cit
Rebecca Sako. "The crisis of ethnicity in Kaduna State". In Festus Okoye Op cit
Akin Akinteye et al. "Zangon Kataf Crisis: A case study".
Mahood Mamdani, Citizen and Subject
Mahmood Mandani, "Kivu 1997: An essay on citizenship and the state crisis in Africa".
Samuel G. Egwu "Ethnicity and Citizenship Rights in Nigeria"
12. Comparative Analysis of Ethnicity and ethnic conflicts in Africa; Eastern Europe; and former Soviet Union
Required Readings
A.S. Mohammed, "The dynamics of the current ethnic conflicts". Nigerian Journal of Policy and strategy. Vol.12 Nos. 1 and 2
Yusuf Bangura, "The search for identity: ethnicity, religion and political violence".
Jaroslau K. and Vitezslau V. Ethnic and Political Nations in Europe
Abdullahi Adamu, "Ethnic Conflicts in Nigeria" Website
Mary Kaldor, New Old Wars: Organised Violence in a Global Era
Abdul Raufu Mustapha. "The National Question and Radical Politics in Nigeria". ROAPE No.37
13. Globalisation and Ethnic Conflict Management
Required Readings
Arend Liphart, Democracy in plural societies: A comparative explanation
IRC Conflict Resolution
R.T. Akinyele, "Power-sharing and conflict management in Africa: Nigeria, Sudan and Rwanda". Africa Development Vol.12
Rian Leath and Hussaini Solomon, "On ethnicity and ethnic conflict management in Nigeria", Africa Journal in Conflict Resolution No.1/2001
Yusuf Bangura. "Democratisation and Governance Reforms in Plural Societies".
Stephen Wright, "Nigeria: Dilemmas Ahead: A Political Risk Analysis
Eric Stern et al. "Crisis Management in Transitional Democracies: The Baltic Experience", Government and Opposition Vol.37
Steven L. Burg. "Nationalism and Civil Identity: Ethnic Models for Macedonia and Kosovo". Op cit
Anastassia Obydenkova, "Institutional tools of conflict management - Asymnetrical Federalism in Ethnic - Territorial conflicts: Quantitative Analysis of Russian Regions. Peace, Conflict and Development: An Internadisciplinary Journal Vol.7 (2005)
Jaroslau K. and Vitezslau V. Ethnic and Political Nations in Europe Op cit Part two
Perry Mars, Ethnic Politics, Mediation, and conflict Resolution: The Guyana Experience",
M.M. Yusif, Theoretical Issues in Conflict. Analysis and dynamics". Polbuk@yahoo.com
Ahmad A.H. "The Reconceptualisation of Conflict Management". Journal of Peace and Development
14. Globalisation, Ethnic Conflict and Peace Making; Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict; Post-conflict development and re- construction
Required Readings
Winrich K. et al WEUS Role in Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa
Winrich K. Peace Support Operations: How to make them succeed". IPS 4/1999
John Rope, "Regional Versus Global Approaches to Peace making and Peace Enforcement". IPS 2/1996
James B.D. and Rafael P.M. "United Nations Peace Keepers and International Human Law: can there be an affirmative duty to prevent war crimes and crimes against humanity?
David Moore, "Levelling the playing fields and Embedding illusions: Post-conflict discourse and Neo-Liberal Development in War torn Africa", ROAPE No.23
Shepard Forman and Steward Patricia (ed.). Good Intentions: Pledges of Aid for Post-Conflict Recovery
Kumar Krishna (editor). Post-Conflict Elections, Democratisation and International Assistance
Agata D. "Theory Versus Practice: Peace Processes in Bosnia Journal of peace and Development.
15. Reports on Semester Group Projects
Each Seminar will be invited to come and make presentation of small research project conducted during the semester. Then a response paper of each report will be submitted by another seminar
16. Conclusion
Concluding remarks by the course instructor on the course and performance of the students during the course work; critical comments by students on their classroom experience and views on the subject matter of the course; Then any other thing both by students and the instructor.
Joint Readings
Marina Ottaway. "Ethnic Politics in Africa: Change and continuity". Richard Joseph (ad) State conflict and democracy in Africa
Donald Rothschild, "Ethnic insecurity, peace agreements and state building". Richard Joseph (ed) Op cit
Also chapters 18 and 19 in Richard Joseph
Ali A. Mazrui, "Globalisation and Hegemonisation". The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol.15 No.3
Caroline Ifeka, "Ethnic Nationalities, God and the state: Whether the federal republic of Nigeria" RONPE No. 85
Zartman I.W. Conflict Resolution in Africa
Ulterwalgle S. "Rwandas protrated social conflict: Considering the subject perspective in conflict resolution strategies website
Francis M. Deng "Mediating competing claims to self-determination: The case of Sudan" In Issa Shivji (editor). State and constitutionalism: An African Debate on Democracy
Fred W. Riggs, "Globalisation, Ethnic Diversity and Nationalism: The Challenge for Democracies, Website
Pierre du Toit, State Building and Democracy in Southern Africa: Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa Pgs 249-279
Donald C. Williams, "Accommodation in the midst of crisis? Assessing Governance in Nigeria". In Goron Hyden and Michael Brantton (eds.) Governance and Politics in Africa
Rotimi T. Suberu, The National Question and the state, 1986-1999.
Edlyne Anugwom, "Is Democracy Really the Answer: State of Ethnic conflict in Nigeria". Website
Anne Pitch", Overview of conflict management methods". Website
Ghia Nedia, "Nationalism and Democracy".
Joseph E.S. "A new perspective on peace keeping lessons from Bosnia and elsewhere". In Global Governance Vol.3 No.1
Thomas G. Weiss and Amir Pasic, "Reinventing UNHCR: Enterprising Humanitarians in the former Yugoslavia, 1991-1995" Global Governance op. cit.
Toure Kazahm Ethnics religious. Conflicts in Kaduna State.
Etanibi E.O. Alemika and festus oxoye (eds). Ethno-Religious conflicts and democracy in Nigeria: Challenger
Tunde Babawale (ed.) Urban Violence, ethic militias and the challenge of democratic consolidation in Nigeria
Onigu Otite and Isaa Olawale, Community Conflict in Nigeria: Management, Resolution and Transformation
Ashutosh Varshney, "Ethnic conflict and civil society: India and beyond". World Politics Vol.53 No.3
Eghosa E. Osaghae, "Human Rights and Ethnic conflict Management: The case of Nigeria", Journal of Peace Research, Vol.33 No.2
Michelle LeBaron, "Culture and conflict", Website#
Aleski Y. "Grievances and the roots of insurgencies: Sourthern Sudan and Dafur". Journal of peace and development
Rockfeller P.H. "Democracy, Governance and Conflict in Burindi:" Journal of peace and development
Johnnes H. "Institutions, Civil Society and Nationalism in the context of Democratic consolidation: Prospects for democracy in Bosnia Herzegovina". Journal of peace and development.
Bishnu N.M. "Democracy and the claims of diversity. Framing the Indian Experience".
R.B. Jain, "Federalism in India: The Quest for Stability in Democratic Governance".
Jibrin Ibrahim, "Ethno-Religious Limit to the Construction of Federalism in Africa: Yugoslavian and Nigeria Compared.
Aaron T. Gana, "Federalism and the National Question in Nigeria: A theoretical exploration.
Pita Agbese, "Federalism and the Minority Question in Nigeria".
Course Requirements
The teaching of the course is by giving lectures on the topics above. Each topic is expected to be covered in one lecture period. However, the last thirty (30) minutes of each period will be for discussion on chosen text or question for weekly assignment.
Assessment of students is based on end of the semester examination (70%) and continuous Assessment (30%). The CA will be determined in the following ways.
Weekly Assignment/Participation in Discussion/Attendance
There will be weekly readings and presentations of the texts for discussion. As you will be divided into seminars, in the last 30 minutes of each period a seminar will be called upon. Class participation is very important if everyone is to learn from other peoples points of view. Therefore, when a seminar is called some will submit their reports while others will respond.
The readings and the reports are not going to be simple summaries. They should bring out three things. First, is to briefly identify the issues raised in the text. Secondly, bring out one of the major issues and analyse the argument by giving a critique of it. Thirdly, in making the critique bring some empirical evidence to support your observation on the authors’ argument.
My usual rule applies here too. That is that any student who missed one weekly assignment will not be awarded any mark for the weekly assignments.
Research Project
Each seminar will be involved in a small research project. The research paper will reflect the course coverage on globalisation and ethnic conflict issues. The paper is expected to be presented according to a standard of original contribution with theoretical insights on the area of the research. A paper which has not followed the standard and or contains many typographical errors will not be graded.
Research Project Response Paper
The small research project of each seminar will be given to another seminar to respond and present while the original authors will be by the side to defend their works.
ICT Usage
As in POL.4301 we will source many of the teaching materials via the internet. You are expected to perfect the skills you acquired in POL.4301. Every week you will go on internet. The internet partnership and the cyber club will be relevant. On any paper you write I want see a lot of internet input.
Then each member of the class must have an e-mail account. The posting of relevant messages on the course is encouraged. Each seminar will e-mail me any work done collectively while anyone of you who wishes can e-mail me. From our experience of this session in POL.4301 and POL.4313 I will personally open e-mail account specifically, for globalisation and conflict and a different one for military and politics.
Supervised Test
There will be a test based on the paper "Study guidelines for effective performance by my students"
Attendance
Class attendance is very important. You are hereby informed that if you are going to miss my class, please notify me at least 24hours in advance. Any seminar called for weekly presentation anybody present will be awarded 5%. While anybody who is called in the class for whatever reason and is absent will get -5 from his/her total CA.
Simulation of Conflict Resolution
This is to show how to resolve conflict. A conflict situation - real or imagined would be formulated and the students to be organised in a kind of theatre performance of conflict resolution to bring peace.
Poetic Composition
Each member of the class will formulate a poetry which will reflect the subject matter of the course.
Critical Comments by Students on their Classroom Experience
At the end of the semester each seminar will make a presentation on the classroom experience as specified on the teaching programme circulated.
On Being Against Plagiarism
In order to purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism. What is plagiarism? In Oxford Mini reference Dictionary you find the following entries on the word plagiarism - "take and use (another’s writings, etc) as ones own".
To be precise, plagiarism is academic dishonesty. This includes dishonesty in assignments, tests, or in short claiming credit for any work not done or done by others.
To avoid plagiarism you must not paraphrase someone else work and present it as your own. Again, all sources consulted should be properly acknowledged. While reviewing your colleagues work it must be strictly on what the authors wrote about.
The penalty is that any assignment found to be plagiarised will receive a zero. Also, any student found plagiarising in a test will get a zero. Any student found in two instances of plagiarism will result in being assessed "00" in the overall continuous assessment on the course.
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL4313: PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The following are semester seminar Essays of students of Peace and Conflict Resolution of the last three Academic Session selected for the contributions they made on the subject. They are recommended for your studies in this academic year (2005/2006). You are hereby encouraged to follow the footsteps of these students by working hard to produce a qualitative Group Essay materials to join these ones.
S/N
Author/s
Title
Year
1.
Francis O.J et al
Africa the home of conflict; An analysis of changing pattern of conflict in a changing world
2003/2004
2.
Mustapha Aminu et al
Conflict Resolution in Post Cold War Africa: An assessment of the role of NGOs
2003/2004
3.
Abdulhamid Ahmad Abdullahi et al
Peacekeeping in Post Cold War Africa: A critical Assessment
2003/2004
4.
Shuaibu Bawa Jaja et al
The prospect and challenge of African Union in Conflict Management and Prevention
2003/2004
5.
Abdullahi Shuaibu Yusuf et al
The role of Ecomog, in Peacekeeping mission in Africa
2003/2004
6.
Idris Yakubu Halliru et al
Conflict Management in a Multi-ethnic and Religious Society: The Nigerian perspective
2003/2004
7.
Adamu Fate Jigaware et al
Globalisation and conflict: A case study of commercial conflict between USA and Europe
2204/2005
8.
Hafsat Y. Yakasai et al
Globalisation and conflict: A case of Iraq-USA War
2004/2005
9.
Muhammad Hambali Mohammad
Globalisation and conflict: A case study of Niger Delta Crisis
2004/2005
10.
Chinedu I.U. et al
Globalisation and Conflict: A case study of Darfur
2004/2005
11.
Hadiza Suleiman Sadiq and others
Information and communication technology: A cause of conflict or a means of conflict resolution
2005/2006
12.
Basher Shehu Abdul and other
The two World of Digitisation: The advantaged and the disadvantaged worlds
2005/2006
13.
Magaji Tsokwa Samfo and other
Globalisation and conflict management/Resolution: A case Study of Nigeria’s Involvement in Peace-keeping operation in Africa
2005/2006
14.
Abdullatif Usman Ishaq
Globalisation, Oil and Conflict in Nigeria: A General Survey of Conflict in Niger Delta Area
2005/2006
15.
Yusuf Muhammad Sani and others
ICT and Ethnic violence in Third World Countries: An assessment of the role of media in promoting Ethnic Violence
2006/2007
16.
Sule Usman and others
Liberal Ethnicity and the quest for peace in the globalising world
200/2007
ALL THE ATTACHMENTS IN POL.4301 ARE ALSO RELEVANT HERE. THESE ARE:
Assessing students examination papers; Marking Scheme
Enhancing students capacity in learning through the use of computers, internet and e-mail
Introducing Team/Group Works in Large Classes
How to use Internet to source reading materials
Study Guidelines for Effective performance by my students
How to make patterned notes from texts
Writing examination: A communicative approach
How to write group semester paper in large classes
How to write Book Review
Communicative Writing: Exploring the concept
Taking Note in Class Lecture or from a Textbook
Using e-journal and e-books for teaching learning and research
Using e-mail for teaching learning and research
Code of ethics in the class of M. M. Yusif
ICT for learning and Education: beyond information
Criticism-self-criticism session
Guidelines for small-research project
Progress Report on ICTs for learning and research
The underlying guides and principles of teaching in my class
Reflecting on Teaching Military and Politics
How to do research: What are the Problems
Information Age: Moving with ICTs to understand the World around us
Progress Report on the teaching of Peace and Conflict Studies
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL4313: PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SIMULATION OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND PROVENTION
A scenario of conflict in Nigeria is hereby imagined. It is this: "Nigeria is approaching breakdown of spoils politics whose consequences may lead to internal war, collapse of the state, emergence of warlords and private armies".
As students of peace and conflict resolution you are expected to study, discuss and debate this problem in a mock session of gathering/forum of government officials, University Academics, students, professional organisations, non-governmental organisations, human right organisations, women organisations, pro-democracy organisations, etc.
The intention is to dissect the problem and propose management, provention and prevention of the developing conflict situation.
Suggested guidelines for students study on the matter;
Conceptual framework: students are to note that conflict resolution and provention are literally the same. The only difference is that conflict resolution is a case of short-term approach to conflict which has already developed while provention is the longer term policy approach to eliminate the sources of conflict.
v Because of this difference, the procedures of conflict provention cannot be the same with procedures of conflict resolution.
v In provention there is the problem of what are the parties and what are the issues.
v Actually, the parties in the case of the imagined conflict are not specific one, but the totality of the society
v The issues are broader issues of the common good, and of political interests and ideologies
v You have to be careful as conflict provention is like dealing with unknown and virtually never tried or never yet developed
v Again in conflict resolution the issues are observable. But not in conflict provention
v What is the significance of this case - for stability; democracy and good governance; welfare of the people; sustainable development of Nigeria; etc.
Understanding the problem as conflict:
v Establish layers of causation
v Democracy and intensification of the problem today
v How the patronage system grows
What responses
v The international communities
v The civil society
v The state
The Risk Nigeria faces because of the problem
Risk scenario; breakdown of order; state failure; growth of personalised rule with increasing spoils system; extending democracy.
Along the line what premtive measures are appropriate to challenge the causes? How can state collapse be recognised on the horizon and prevented? What are the effective remedies for the perceived causes and characteristics of the problem?
POL.4313: Peace and Conflict Resolution
Subtitle: Ethnic Conflict and Social Change in Post-Cold War Era
Academic Year: 2007/2008 Second Semester
Instructor: M.M. YUSUF
mmyusif58@yahoo.com
mmyusif07@gmail.com
polbuk@yahoo.com
http://www.mmyusuf.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
Fourty years ago, precisely in 1969, Saul Alinsky observed that "Life is conflict and in conflict you are alive". This is echoing hundreds of years of written works on the subject. The only area where social scientists of various shades of opinion and ideological inclinations, agree that conflict is important for human progress and development.
Therefore, tenth of years ago, conflict studies became a science. The current interest in peace and conflict studies is not new. However, one may rightly argue that the current globalisation has produced more conflicts than the past history of human development. Secondly, the present global economy has produced powerful transnational forces with a stake in generating conflicts in some parts of the globe and peace in others.
This development has made it that as all forms of conflicts have become part of our lives we have to, through teaching and research be made to develop skills and knowledge which will enable us to understand and resolve all kinds of conflicts in our relationships so that we can move forward.
In line with this thinking, in 2003/2004 I have introduced a Teaching Programme for 400 level students of political science, in Peace and Conflict Resolution. It is now being taught for five years as POL4313 (a 3 credit course). Since, the focus of the course changes every academic session. As:
Conflict and Peace - making in Africa of the 21st Century 2003/2004 session
Globalisation, conflict and peace-making in Africa 2004/2005
Economic globalisation, conflict/violence and peace-making 2005/2006
Globalisation, Ethnic Conflict and Social Change 2006/2007
Ethnic Conflict and Social Change in Post-cold War Era 2007/2008
The treatment of the issues involved application of several different approaches and theories in peace and conflict studies.
Orientation of the Course
Globalisation (which coincides with Post-cold War Era) is a great force in human history. Scholars argued that it is inevitable and irresistible force on course of development of human society. As a process it brings a contradictory motion of global integration on the one hand and local fragmentation on the other. This has resulted in violence and many forms of conflict - ethno-nationalist, religious, industrial and political, in both developed and the developing countries.
The focus of the course in this academic session is globalisation ethnic conflict and social change. A comparative study of both ethnic conflict and management in countries in the North and the South would be made. The course introduces new perspectives on conflict and peace studies which examines how "economic globalisation and market democracy" resulted in frequent ethnic and ethno-national conflicts in developed and the developing world.
In order to understand ethnic conflict in the current era of globalisation, there is need to rethink about theory of ethnicity, as well as to examine the nature and dynamics of class forces and state in the conjecture. On the other hand the forces of globalisation have weakened the power of state to the extent of incapacity to deal with conflicts and violence in the society.
The primary intention is to expose students to new perspectives on understanding ethnic conflicts within the context of dynamics of globalisation in Nigeria. However, the scope is expanded to examine different patterns in former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, other European countries and Africa. It is hoped that students would be able to make a comparative analysis.
The course identifies six major areas in the literature in respect of the subject i.e. Ethnic conflict and social change in Post-cold war period. First, we shall examine the major concepts i.e. ethnic, ethnicity, and nation and the relationship between them. Second, is toward a theory and practice of ethnicity and ethnic relations in the Old and New World Order. The third issue introduces some perspectives on globalisation and conflict. This will include among other things economic liberalisation, violence and war, as well as globalisation, information technology and conflict. The fourth is an over view of "New Ethnic Conflict in Africa and beyond by making a comparative analysis. Fifthly, given the extent of ethnic destruction in these "New Wars", we will examine International Humanitarian Law and ethnic conflict. Sixthly, is globalisation and ethnic conflict management, including peace building, post-conflict development and reconstruction.
TOPICS AND READINGS
General Introduction
Introducing the course; the topics to be treated; the recommended readings; assessment of the programme by students; other issues;
Definitions of key concepts
Globalization; conflict; social conflict; ethnic; ethnicity; nation nationality; nationalism; new war; peace; peacekeeping; peace building; peacemaking; conflict resolution; conflict management; conflict settlement. Conflict termination; conflict prevention; conflict provention;
Required Readings:
Cheryl Hendricks, "The National Question, Ethnic, and state: some Insights on South Africa". In G. Nzongola-Ntalaja and Margaret C. Lee (editors). The state and Democracy in Africa.
Ronaldo Munck, The difficult dialogue: Marxism and Nationalism. Pgs. 1-8
Festus Okoye (editor). Ethnic and Religious Rights in Nigeria. Chapter 1
Definitions of the concepts on the web
John Burton, conflict resolution pgs. 1-11
IRC, Conflict resolution pgs. 6-12
James Mittelmann (editor). Globalization: critical Reflections
David Held et al. Global transformations: politics, economics ad culture pgs. 1-31
Robert cox. A perspective on globalization
Jan Aant Scholte. Globalization: A critical Introduction
Jaroslav k. and Vitezslav V., Ethnic and Political Nations in Europe. Chapter 3
Ethnicity: Toward a General Theory and Experience of Ethnicity in Old and New World Order
Required Readings
Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. M. (eds.) Ethnicity: Theory and Experience
R. A. Schermerhorn, Comparative Ethnic Relations: A Framework for Theory and Research
Ronaldo Munck op. cit Chapter 8
Berch B. "Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in the Age of globalisation
Ashley W. D. "Rethinking the National Question: Toward a Theory of Ethnicity and Nationality in the New World Order".
Alliance Marxist Leninist, The National Question in the era of globalisation
Eskor Toyo, The National Question in Nigeria
The Debate on the National Question and Radical Politics in Nigeria
Bamgura Yusif, The Search for identity: Ethnicity and Political Violence
Egwu G. S. "Ethnicity, Economic crisis and National Development in Nigeria" In Nnoli (ed.) Dead-End to Nigerian Development.
State and Ethno-National Conflict
Required Readings
Bjorn Beckman, Neo-Colonialism, Capitalism and the State in Nigeria
Larry Diamond, Class, ethnicity and Democratic State: Nigeria, 1950 - 1966
Doornbos, M. "Linking the future to the past: ethnicity and pluralism" ROAPE No. 52.
Ifeka Caroline, "Ethnic Nationalities, God and the State: Wither the Federal Republic of Nigeria? ROAPE No. 85.
Globalization and Conflict: Theoretical perspectives.
Required Reading
Charles O. Lerche: The conflicts of Globalization. Website
Havard H. et al. Globalization and conflict. Website
Mark Duffield, Internal Conflict: Adaptation and Reaction to Globalization. Website
Samir Amin. "Economic Globalization and Political Universalism: Conflicting Issues". Journal of World Systems Research vol. 3 (2000)
Margit B. and Gerald S. When Globalization Discontent Turn Violent: Foreign Economic Liberalization and Internal War. Website
Samuel P. Huntington. " The clash of civilization".
Francis Fukuyama. "The end of History".
Yash Tandon. The Violence of globalization. Website
George Spriel. " Globalisation and Conflict". Website.
Joseph Stiglitz. " Globalisation and its Discontents". Website
Globalization and Ethnic Conflicts: Some perspectives.
Required Readings
Anamaria D. Globalization and Ethnic conflict: Beyond the Liberal-Nationalist Distinction. Website.
Amy C. World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability. Website.
Daniel Conversi, Americanasation and the Planetary Spread of Ethnic Conflict: The Globalization Trap. Website
John R. Bowen, " The myth of Global Ethnic Conflict". Journal of Democracy Vol. 7 No. 4
Samir Amin, Capitalism in the Age of Globalization. Chapter 4
Globalization, Information Technology and Ethnic Conflict.
Required Readings
Ernest J. Wilson: Globalization, Information Technology, and conflict in the Second and Third Worlds: A Critical Review of the Literature. Website
Ali Mazrui: Nigeria between Lord Lugard and the Digital Divide: political culture and the Skill revolution". Website
Manuel Castells. " Information Technology, Globalisation and social development" pgs. 8-11
Anthony L. et al "Promises of Access and Inclusion: Online Education in Africa". Journal of Philosophy of Education. Vol.14 No.1
Hendrik Bussiek "Pipes without Water. And where are the pipes? Information and Communication Technologies in Africa". IPS 3.2005
Globalisation, cultural and ethnic conflict
Required Readings
Phillip O. Sijuwade, "Globalisation and Cultural Conflict in Developing Countries: The South African Example", Anthropologist Vol. 8 No.2
John Tomlinson; Globalisation and Cultural Identity", Website
David Rothkop "In praise of cultural impervalism? Effects of Globalisation on culture" Foreign policy June 22, 1997
Samuel Huntington, "Clash of Civilisation".
Frances Fukayama "The end of History".
Phil Marfleet, "Globalisation and Religious activism" In Ray Kiely and Phil Marfteet (et al) Globalisation and the Third World
9. New Ethnic Conflict in Africa and Beyond: An Overview
Required Readings
Patrice Tengo "Globalisation, New War and perpetuation of conflicts in Africa" Codesria Bulletin
Adebayo Adedeji (editor). Comprehending and mastering African conflicts. The search for sustainable peace and Good Governance. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9
Pamina M.F "New" War theory, does the case of Colombia Apply", Journal of Peace and Development
Cordula R. "Why are violent intrastate conflicts protracted? Looking at Azar’s Model"
Mohammed Sulaiman (Editor). Ecology, Politics and Violent Conflict. Chapters 1 and 2
Steven L. Burg. "Nationalism and Civil Identity: Ethnic models for Macedonia and Kosovo". In Barnett R. (editor) cases and strategies for preventive Action.
Ronnie L. and Bevely C. "Economic Globalisation and the "New" Ethnic Strife: What is to be done?
10. Ethnic Conflict and Collapse of States in Africa
Required Readings
J.D. Kandeh: "Ransoming the state, elite origins of subattern terror in Sierra Leone", ROAPE No.83
Chris Allen: "Warfare, Endemic violence and state collapse in Africa", State failure in the Congo: Perceptions and realties" ROAPE No.93/94
Theodore Trepan Sakua et al, "State failure in the Congo: Perceptions and realities". ROAPE No.93/94
Roger Charlton and Roy May. "Warlords and Molitarism in Chad". ROAPE No.48
David Keen. "Greedy Elites, dwindling resources alienated youth: The anatomy of protracted violence in Sierra Leone". IPS 2/2003
Stephen Ellis, "The Old roots of African New Wars". IPS 2/2003
William Reno. "Political Networks in a failing state: The roots and future of violent conflict in Sierra Leone" IPS 2/2003
William Reno. "Warlord Politics and African States".
William I Zartman (ed) Collapsed States; The disintegration and restoration of legitimate authority
Ken Menkhaus, "State collapse in Somalia: Second Thoughts" ROAPE No.97
Jutta Baakonyi and kirsts stuvoy. "Violence and Social order beyond the state; Somalia and Angola". ROAPE No.104/5
Susan L. Woodward. "Failed state: Warlondism and "Tribal" warfore" website
11. Settlers and Residents: Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria
Required Readings
Dung Pam Sha. "Ethnicity and Political Conflicts in Jos: Emergence, Dimensions and the way forward", In Festus Okoye op cit
Rebecca Sako. "The crisis of ethnicity in Kaduna State". In Festus Okoye Op cit
Akin Akinteye et al. "Zangon Kataf Crisis: A case study".
Mahood Mamdani, Citizen and Subject
Mahmood Mandani, "Kivu 1997: An essay on citizenship and the state crisis in Africa".
Samuel G. Egwu "Ethnicity and Citizenship Rights in Nigeria"
12. Comparative Analysis of Ethnicity and ethnic conflicts in Africa; Eastern Europe; and former Soviet Union
Required Readings
A.S. Mohammed, "The dynamics of the current ethnic conflicts". Nigerian Journal of Policy and strategy. Vol.12 Nos. 1 and 2
Yusuf Bangura, "The search for identity: ethnicity, religion and political violence".
Jaroslau K. and Vitezslau V. Ethnic and Political Nations in Europe
Abdullahi Adamu, "Ethnic Conflicts in Nigeria" Website
Mary Kaldor, New Old Wars: Organised Violence in a Global Era
Abdul Raufu Mustapha. "The National Question and Radical Politics in Nigeria". ROAPE No.37
13. Globalisation and Ethnic Conflict Management
Required Readings
Arend Liphart, Democracy in plural societies: A comparative explanation
IRC Conflict Resolution
R.T. Akinyele, "Power-sharing and conflict management in Africa: Nigeria, Sudan and Rwanda". Africa Development Vol.12
Rian Leath and Hussaini Solomon, "On ethnicity and ethnic conflict management in Nigeria", Africa Journal in Conflict Resolution No.1/2001
Yusuf Bangura. "Democratisation and Governance Reforms in Plural Societies".
Stephen Wright, "Nigeria: Dilemmas Ahead: A Political Risk Analysis
Eric Stern et al. "Crisis Management in Transitional Democracies: The Baltic Experience", Government and Opposition Vol.37
Steven L. Burg. "Nationalism and Civil Identity: Ethnic Models for Macedonia and Kosovo". Op cit
Anastassia Obydenkova, "Institutional tools of conflict management - Asymnetrical Federalism in Ethnic - Territorial conflicts: Quantitative Analysis of Russian Regions. Peace, Conflict and Development: An Internadisciplinary Journal Vol.7 (2005)
Jaroslau K. and Vitezslau V. Ethnic and Political Nations in Europe Op cit Part two
Perry Mars, Ethnic Politics, Mediation, and conflict Resolution: The Guyana Experience",
M.M. Yusif, Theoretical Issues in Conflict. Analysis and dynamics". Polbuk@yahoo.com
Ahmad A.H. "The Reconceptualisation of Conflict Management". Journal of Peace and Development
14. Globalisation, Ethnic Conflict and Peace Making; Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict; Post-conflict development and re- construction
Required Readings
Winrich K. et al WEUS Role in Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa
Winrich K. Peace Support Operations: How to make them succeed". IPS 4/1999
John Rope, "Regional Versus Global Approaches to Peace making and Peace Enforcement". IPS 2/1996
James B.D. and Rafael P.M. "United Nations Peace Keepers and International Human Law: can there be an affirmative duty to prevent war crimes and crimes against humanity?
David Moore, "Levelling the playing fields and Embedding illusions: Post-conflict discourse and Neo-Liberal Development in War torn Africa", ROAPE No.23
Shepard Forman and Steward Patricia (ed.). Good Intentions: Pledges of Aid for Post-Conflict Recovery
Kumar Krishna (editor). Post-Conflict Elections, Democratisation and International Assistance
Agata D. "Theory Versus Practice: Peace Processes in Bosnia Journal of peace and Development.
15. Reports on Semester Group Projects
Each Seminar will be invited to come and make presentation of small research project conducted during the semester. Then a response paper of each report will be submitted by another seminar
16. Conclusion
Concluding remarks by the course instructor on the course and performance of the students during the course work; critical comments by students on their classroom experience and views on the subject matter of the course; Then any other thing both by students and the instructor.
Joint Readings
Marina Ottaway. "Ethnic Politics in Africa: Change and continuity". Richard Joseph (ad) State conflict and democracy in Africa
Donald Rothschild, "Ethnic insecurity, peace agreements and state building". Richard Joseph (ed) Op cit
Also chapters 18 and 19 in Richard Joseph
Ali A. Mazrui, "Globalisation and Hegemonisation". The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol.15 No.3
Caroline Ifeka, "Ethnic Nationalities, God and the state: Whether the federal republic of Nigeria" RONPE No. 85
Zartman I.W. Conflict Resolution in Africa
Ulterwalgle S. "Rwandas protrated social conflict: Considering the subject perspective in conflict resolution strategies website
Francis M. Deng "Mediating competing claims to self-determination: The case of Sudan" In Issa Shivji (editor). State and constitutionalism: An African Debate on Democracy
Fred W. Riggs, "Globalisation, Ethnic Diversity and Nationalism: The Challenge for Democracies, Website
Pierre du Toit, State Building and Democracy in Southern Africa: Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa Pgs 249-279
Donald C. Williams, "Accommodation in the midst of crisis? Assessing Governance in Nigeria". In Goron Hyden and Michael Brantton (eds.) Governance and Politics in Africa
Rotimi T. Suberu, The National Question and the state, 1986-1999.
Edlyne Anugwom, "Is Democracy Really the Answer: State of Ethnic conflict in Nigeria". Website
Anne Pitch", Overview of conflict management methods". Website
Ghia Nedia, "Nationalism and Democracy".
Joseph E.S. "A new perspective on peace keeping lessons from Bosnia and elsewhere". In Global Governance Vol.3 No.1
Thomas G. Weiss and Amir Pasic, "Reinventing UNHCR: Enterprising Humanitarians in the former Yugoslavia, 1991-1995" Global Governance op. cit.
Toure Kazahm Ethnics religious. Conflicts in Kaduna State.
Etanibi E.O. Alemika and festus oxoye (eds). Ethno-Religious conflicts and democracy in Nigeria: Challenger
Tunde Babawale (ed.) Urban Violence, ethic militias and the challenge of democratic consolidation in Nigeria
Onigu Otite and Isaa Olawale, Community Conflict in Nigeria: Management, Resolution and Transformation
Ashutosh Varshney, "Ethnic conflict and civil society: India and beyond". World Politics Vol.53 No.3
Eghosa E. Osaghae, "Human Rights and Ethnic conflict Management: The case of Nigeria", Journal of Peace Research, Vol.33 No.2
Michelle LeBaron, "Culture and conflict", Website#
Aleski Y. "Grievances and the roots of insurgencies: Sourthern Sudan and Dafur". Journal of peace and development
Rockfeller P.H. "Democracy, Governance and Conflict in Burindi:" Journal of peace and development
Johnnes H. "Institutions, Civil Society and Nationalism in the context of Democratic consolidation: Prospects for democracy in Bosnia Herzegovina". Journal of peace and development.
Bishnu N.M. "Democracy and the claims of diversity. Framing the Indian Experience".
R.B. Jain, "Federalism in India: The Quest for Stability in Democratic Governance".
Jibrin Ibrahim, "Ethno-Religious Limit to the Construction of Federalism in Africa: Yugoslavian and Nigeria Compared.
Aaron T. Gana, "Federalism and the National Question in Nigeria: A theoretical exploration.
Pita Agbese, "Federalism and the Minority Question in Nigeria".
Course Requirements
The teaching of the course is by giving lectures on the topics above. Each topic is expected to be covered in one lecture period. However, the last thirty (30) minutes of each period will be for discussion on chosen text or question for weekly assignment.
Assessment of students is based on end of the semester examination (70%) and continuous Assessment (30%). The CA will be determined in the following ways.
Weekly Assignment/Participation in Discussion/Attendance
There will be weekly readings and presentations of the texts for discussion. As you will be divided into seminars, in the last 30 minutes of each period a seminar will be called upon. Class participation is very important if everyone is to learn from other peoples points of view. Therefore, when a seminar is called some will submit their reports while others will respond.
The readings and the reports are not going to be simple summaries. They should bring out three things. First, is to briefly identify the issues raised in the text. Secondly, bring out one of the major issues and analyse the argument by giving a critique of it. Thirdly, in making the critique bring some empirical evidence to support your observation on the authors’ argument.
My usual rule applies here too. That is that any student who missed one weekly assignment will not be awarded any mark for the weekly assignments.
Research Project
Each seminar will be involved in a small research project. The research paper will reflect the course coverage on globalisation and ethnic conflict issues. The paper is expected to be presented according to a standard of original contribution with theoretical insights on the area of the research. A paper which has not followed the standard and or contains many typographical errors will not be graded.
Research Project Response Paper
The small research project of each seminar will be given to another seminar to respond and present while the original authors will be by the side to defend their works.
ICT Usage
As in POL.4301 we will source many of the teaching materials via the internet. You are expected to perfect the skills you acquired in POL.4301. Every week you will go on internet. The internet partnership and the cyber club will be relevant. On any paper you write I want see a lot of internet input.
Then each member of the class must have an e-mail account. The posting of relevant messages on the course is encouraged. Each seminar will e-mail me any work done collectively while anyone of you who wishes can e-mail me. From our experience of this session in POL.4301 and POL.4313 I will personally open e-mail account specifically, for globalisation and conflict and a different one for military and politics.
Supervised Test
There will be a test based on the paper "Study guidelines for effective performance by my students"
Attendance
Class attendance is very important. You are hereby informed that if you are going to miss my class, please notify me at least 24hours in advance. Any seminar called for weekly presentation anybody present will be awarded 5%. While anybody who is called in the class for whatever reason and is absent will get -5 from his/her total CA.
Simulation of Conflict Resolution
This is to show how to resolve conflict. A conflict situation - real or imagined would be formulated and the students to be organised in a kind of theatre performance of conflict resolution to bring peace.
Poetic Composition
Each member of the class will formulate a poetry which will reflect the subject matter of the course.
Critical Comments by Students on their Classroom Experience
At the end of the semester each seminar will make a presentation on the classroom experience as specified on the teaching programme circulated.
On Being Against Plagiarism
In order to purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism. What is plagiarism? In Oxford Mini reference Dictionary you find the following entries on the word plagiarism - "take and use (another’s writings, etc) as ones own".
To be precise, plagiarism is academic dishonesty. This includes dishonesty in assignments, tests, or in short claiming credit for any work not done or done by others.
To avoid plagiarism you must not paraphrase someone else work and present it as your own. Again, all sources consulted should be properly acknowledged. While reviewing your colleagues work it must be strictly on what the authors wrote about.
The penalty is that any assignment found to be plagiarised will receive a zero. Also, any student found plagiarising in a test will get a zero. Any student found in two instances of plagiarism will result in being assessed "00" in the overall continuous assessment on the course.
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL4313: PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The following are semester seminar Essays of students of Peace and Conflict Resolution of the last three Academic Session selected for the contributions they made on the subject. They are recommended for your studies in this academic year (2005/2006). You are hereby encouraged to follow the footsteps of these students by working hard to produce a qualitative Group Essay materials to join these ones.
S/N
Author/s
Title
Year
1.
Francis O.J et al
Africa the home of conflict; An analysis of changing pattern of conflict in a changing world
2003/2004
2.
Mustapha Aminu et al
Conflict Resolution in Post Cold War Africa: An assessment of the role of NGOs
2003/2004
3.
Abdulhamid Ahmad Abdullahi et al
Peacekeeping in Post Cold War Africa: A critical Assessment
2003/2004
4.
Shuaibu Bawa Jaja et al
The prospect and challenge of African Union in Conflict Management and Prevention
2003/2004
5.
Abdullahi Shuaibu Yusuf et al
The role of Ecomog, in Peacekeeping mission in Africa
2003/2004
6.
Idris Yakubu Halliru et al
Conflict Management in a Multi-ethnic and Religious Society: The Nigerian perspective
2003/2004
7.
Adamu Fate Jigaware et al
Globalisation and conflict: A case study of commercial conflict between USA and Europe
2204/2005
8.
Hafsat Y. Yakasai et al
Globalisation and conflict: A case of Iraq-USA War
2004/2005
9.
Muhammad Hambali Mohammad
Globalisation and conflict: A case study of Niger Delta Crisis
2004/2005
10.
Chinedu I.U. et al
Globalisation and Conflict: A case study of Darfur
2004/2005
11.
Hadiza Suleiman Sadiq and others
Information and communication technology: A cause of conflict or a means of conflict resolution
2005/2006
12.
Basher Shehu Abdul and other
The two World of Digitisation: The advantaged and the disadvantaged worlds
2005/2006
13.
Magaji Tsokwa Samfo and other
Globalisation and conflict management/Resolution: A case Study of Nigeria’s Involvement in Peace-keeping operation in Africa
2005/2006
14.
Abdullatif Usman Ishaq
Globalisation, Oil and Conflict in Nigeria: A General Survey of Conflict in Niger Delta Area
2005/2006
15.
Yusuf Muhammad Sani and others
ICT and Ethnic violence in Third World Countries: An assessment of the role of media in promoting Ethnic Violence
2006/2007
16.
Sule Usman and others
Liberal Ethnicity and the quest for peace in the globalising world
200/2007
ALL THE ATTACHMENTS IN POL.4301 ARE ALSO RELEVANT HERE. THESE ARE:
Assessing students examination papers; Marking Scheme
Enhancing students capacity in learning through the use of computers, internet and e-mail
Introducing Team/Group Works in Large Classes
How to use Internet to source reading materials
Study Guidelines for Effective performance by my students
How to make patterned notes from texts
Writing examination: A communicative approach
How to write group semester paper in large classes
How to write Book Review
Communicative Writing: Exploring the concept
Taking Note in Class Lecture or from a Textbook
Using e-journal and e-books for teaching learning and research
Using e-mail for teaching learning and research
Code of ethics in the class of M. M. Yusif
ICT for learning and Education: beyond information
Criticism-self-criticism session
Guidelines for small-research project
Progress Report on ICTs for learning and research
The underlying guides and principles of teaching in my class
Reflecting on Teaching Military and Politics
How to do research: What are the Problems
Information Age: Moving with ICTs to understand the World around us
Progress Report on the teaching of Peace and Conflict Studies
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL4313: PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SIMULATION OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND PROVENTION
A scenario of conflict in Nigeria is hereby imagined. It is this: "Nigeria is approaching breakdown of spoils politics whose consequences may lead to internal war, collapse of the state, emergence of warlords and private armies".
As students of peace and conflict resolution you are expected to study, discuss and debate this problem in a mock session of gathering/forum of government officials, University Academics, students, professional organisations, non-governmental organisations, human right organisations, women organisations, pro-democracy organisations, etc.
The intention is to dissect the problem and propose management, provention and prevention of the developing conflict situation.
Suggested guidelines for students study on the matter;
Conceptual framework: students are to note that conflict resolution and provention are literally the same. The only difference is that conflict resolution is a case of short-term approach to conflict which has already developed while provention is the longer term policy approach to eliminate the sources of conflict.
v Because of this difference, the procedures of conflict provention cannot be the same with procedures of conflict resolution.
v In provention there is the problem of what are the parties and what are the issues.
v Actually, the parties in the case of the imagined conflict are not specific one, but the totality of the society
v The issues are broader issues of the common good, and of political interests and ideologies
v You have to be careful as conflict provention is like dealing with unknown and virtually never tried or never yet developed
v Again in conflict resolution the issues are observable. But not in conflict provention
v What is the significance of this case - for stability; democracy and good governance; welfare of the people; sustainable development of Nigeria; etc.
Understanding the problem as conflict:
v Establish layers of causation
v Democracy and intensification of the problem today
v How the patronage system grows
What responses
v The international communities
v The civil society
v The state
The Risk Nigeria faces because of the problem
Risk scenario; breakdown of order; state failure; growth of personalised rule with increasing spoils system; extending democracy.
Along the line what premtive measures are appropriate to challenge the causes? How can state collapse be recognised on the horizon and prevented? What are the effective remedies for the perceived causes and characteristics of the problem?
POL. 2204: FOUNDATION OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCEFACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCESBAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL. 2204: FOUNDATION OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
COURSE LECTURER: M.M. YUSUF
VENUE:TIME:SESSION: 2007/2008
INTRODUCTION:
Political Economy is a Science as well as an Art. But there has been much dispute among scholars as to what has made Political Economy a Science or as an Art. The answer to this question cannot be found or stated except in theory.
As a Science it is easier to say because Political Economy, since it becomes an independent science, has made great advance in developing concepts, methods, theories and approaches to capture and explain the changes and transformation of human society.
As an Art it is more controversial. Yet this can be understood if one sees Political Economy as a class partisan science whose origin were made up of theories to promote the interest of the capitalist class but later developed other perspectives with working-class orientation.
Therefore, it is both a Science and an Art. It is a most living discipline with methodologies which searches for analysis of the changes that occur in human society. In order to make analysis contradictory theories and ideas battle with each other.
Grant Theories i.e. classical, Neo-Classical and Marxian theories are in contest with each other. One more dominant than the other at any historical moment as the relations of class forces defines the situation.
Needless to stress the understanding of the current globalization is overwhelmingly within the framework of classical and Neo-Classical Political Economy. Accordingly, the other grand method, very influential in the science is generally being relegated. This is the Marxian Political Economy. The development of Marxian Political Economy arose hundreds of years ago out of the controversy with Bourgeoisie perspectives on the Science. To allow those old theories and methods predominance implies that the science is carried back to the "old" and the dead tradition.
My intention is to bring back Marxian Political Economy as a light to understanding and analysis of the contemporary globalization. Marxist Political Economy is defined here as an integration of Political Economy methods informed by theory and practice of working-class self-emancipation, as well as Marxist Labour theory of value.
Consequently, we are going to ask many questions neglected by Nigerian students of today. Such as is Marx relevant to our World of the twenty-first century? What does revolutionary politics mean in the era of globalization? Is there imperialism today? Can Marxian theories of imperialism help to understand the relationship between the developed and the developing world today? What of classes and class struggle in the contemporary era of globalization, etc.
In Nigeria, to be more specific, Marxist theory was the subject of increasing interest and of fervent discussions and debates in our Universities. Students and Lecturers developed many theories and creative ways of practicalising them. In many academic circles it meets only with indifference and or contempt. At best it is no longer recognized as body of ideas to study. Most students do not know about it. Those who knew it have set it aside. Others would say socialism has collapsed. So, there is no need of Marxist theory.
However, if socialism as a political practice has collapsed socialist ideas and Marxist theory are still alive. Indeed, Marxist theory is daily being enriched with new ideas to be used to understand changes in world today. That is what we intend to do in "Foundation of Political Economy".
The Central focus of the course in this academic session is Marxist theory in the age of globalization. The course has identified seven areas for treatment. Firstly, Political Economy as Science and Art, the concept, the history and the subject-matter; Secondly, Theoretical Perspectives; Thirdly, is the methodological and theoretical foundation of Marxian Political Economy as well as the main elements of the theory; fourth, is Revolutionary Politics in the twenty-first century including anti-globalisation and socialist revolution; Fifth, is the New faces of Marxism in the twenty-first century; Sixth is on Marxist Politics and ideology in Nigeria; finally, there will be a survey of literature by students on Marxist politics in Nigeria.
In order to understand these issues, we would study many works on the thought of Marx. Many of these works by Marx and some analyses of these works. Therefore, we would not be saying that everything about Marx is the only truth. This will defeat the essence of learning by inhibiting the dialogue necessary for teaching and learning.
Finally, by way of an advice of a teacher to his students, let me speak in the thinking and words of Marx that "there is only one royal road to science". This road is that you must work hard, you may find it very difficult but just try your best. You have come here to learn, try to learn something. A process of learning brings self-transformation. So, be it.
TOPICS AND READINGS
1. General Introduction
Introducing the course; the topics to be treated; the readings; Course Requirements; Assessment of the teaching programme by students; other issues.
2. The Subject matter of Political Economy
History of Political Economy; Unity of Political Science and Economics; a multidisciplinary Course; in search of definitions; Central Concepts in Political Economy; what issues does it deal with? What method of investigation? A Science and an Art; Political Economy in Crisis:
Required Readings
Bruno S. Frey, Modern Political Economy 1-33
Caparaso and Levine, Theories of Political Economy. Chapter 1
Beckman B. "Political Science and Political Economy". In Barongo Y. R. (ed.), Political Science in Africa: A Critical Review
Eskor Toyo, "Primary Requirements for the Unity of Political Science and Economics". In Borongo Y. R. (ed.) op. cit.
Eskor Toyo, "The mode of Production Nucleous as integrator of Economic and Political Sciences. In NJPS Vol. 2 No. 2
Henry Sidgwick, The priciples of Politial Economy. Chapter 11
Henry Sidgwick, The Art of Political Economy. Chapter 1
Wikipedia, "Political Economy" Website
Claus Offe, "Politilcal Economy: Sociological perspectives". In Robert E.G. and Klingman (ed). A New Hanbook of Political Science.
Eaton J. Political Economy Pgs. 1-17
Meskeren, The Marxist. Leninist Concept of Political Economy.". in Meskeren: A Quarterly Ideological Journal of the Central Committee of COPWE.
Jan-Eric Lane and Suante Erson, Conparative Political Economy: A Developmental Approach.
Robert Gilpin, The Political Economy of International Relations. Chapter 1
Sergeillym and Motylev, What is Political Economy
G.A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Capitalism. Chapter 1
Henry George, Science of Political Economy Chapters 8, 9, and 12
Pablo Levin, "Political Economy at the Close of its Subject-matter". The Journal of Management and Economics
J.K. Ingram, A History of Political Economy
Sismonde de Sismonde, Political Economy. Chapter 1
Otwin Marenin, "Essence and Empiricism in African politics". In Borongo Y. (ed.) op. cit.
3. Theoretical Perspectives on the Science of Political Economy
Required Readings
James Petras and Kent Traclte (eds). "Liberal, Structural and Radical Approaches to Political Economy: An Assessment and an Alternative. In James Petras, Critical Perspectives on Imperialism and Social Classes in the Third World.
Robert Golpin. Op.Cit Chapter 2
A. B. Atkinson, "Political Economy: Old and New". In Robert E. G. and Klingermann (ed). Op. cit.
James E.A. and Alberto A. "Political Economy: An Overview". In Robert E.G and Klingermann (ed). Op. Cit.
Ernest Mandel, Marxist Economic Theory. Chater 18
G.A. Kozlov. Op. Cit. Pgs. 12-17
Caporaso and Lavine Op. Cit.
Bruno S. Frey Op. Cit.
Progress Publisher, Present-Day Non-Marxist Political Economy: a Critical Analysis.
4. Marxian Political Economy: Methodological and Theoretical Foundations; Historical Materialism; Elements of Marx’s Critique of Capitalism;
Required Readings
Bade Onimode, An Introduction to Marxist Political Economy. Chapters 1, 2, and 3.
T. B. Bottomore, Karl Marx: Selected Writing in Sociology and Social Philosophy Pgs. 1-67 and 178-202.
Caporaso and Levine, Op. it. Chapter 3
Karl Marx, The German Ideology, Chapter !; 178-208
Karl Marx, "Preface to a Contribution to the critique of Political Economy". In Selected Works, Vol. 1
Karl Marx, Theses on Feuerback" in Selected Works.
Karl Marx, "Alienated Labor". Selected Works
Karl Marx, "Commodities" and "Fetishism of Commodities".
M. Rupert and H. Smith (eds).Historical Materialism and Globalisation.
5. Marx’s Theory of Capitalist Development: Surplus-Value and Capitalism; The Falling Tendency of the Rate of Profit; Values and Prices; Capitalist Crisis.
Required Readings
Bade Onimode, Op. cit. Chapters 4, 5 and 9
G. A. Kozlov, Op. Cit. chapters 4 and 9
Ernest Mandel, Op. Cit. Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Robert Gilpin, Op. Cit. Chapter 7
Paul M. Sweezy, The Theory of Capitalist Development. Chapters 1, 4, 6 and 12.
Hymer S. "The Multinational Corporation and the Law of Uneven Development". In Hugo Radice (ed.). International Firms and Modern Imperialism.
Geofrey Kay, Development and Underdevelopment: A Marxist Analysis. Chapters 2, 4, and 5.
6. Continuous Relevance of Marxist Theory in the current era of globalisation
Required Readings
Allen Woods and Bob Sawell, "What is Marxism" Website.
John Gledhill, "What’s New What’s global and What’s Marxism at the end of the 20th century? Website
Adam Barnhant, "Postmodern theory and Karl Marx". Website
Alex Callinicos, "An anti-capitalist Manifesto". Website
Schimitt R. Introduction to Marx and Engels. Pgs 1-11
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party. Selected works Vol. I
Nancy Fraser, "A future for Marxism" Website
John Kilcullen, Marx on capitalism. Website
Chu Van Cap, Marx and Engels on Economic globalization
Douglas Kellner, Globalisation and the Postmodern Turn.
Douglas Kellner, Theorising Globalisation. Website
Giovanni Reyes, Theory of globalization; Fundamental Basis
Gail Omvedt, Marx on globalisation
7. Marxist Theory: Globalisation, Classes and Class Divisions
Required Readings
David Yatle, "The Political and Economics of Globalisation. Website
Leslie Sklair, "The Transnational Capitalist class and the Discourse of Globalisation". Website.
William I. Robinson and Jerry Harris", Towards a Global Ruling-Class: Globalisation and Transnational Capitalist Class". Website
Style, "A Theory of Global Capitalism-Production, Class and State in a Transnational World. Website
Chris Spannos, "The Third Wave and the Third Class". Website
Alejandro Colas. The Class Politics of Globalisation". Website.
Harry Cleaver, " The Inversion of Class Perspective in Marxian Theory: From Valorisation to Self-valorisation
8. Marxist Theory, Globalisation and State
Required Readings
Bade Onimode Op. Cit. Chapter 11
Poul M. Sweezy Op. Cit. Chapter 13
Lenin, State and Revolution: Popular Outline
Nicos Poulantzas, Classes in Contemporary Capitalism
Nicos Poulantzas, State, Power and Socialism
Holloway J. and Picciot S. (eds.) State and Capital: A Marxist
Debate
Robin Murray, "Internationalisation of Capital and the Nation State", In Hugo Reduce Op. Cit.
Williams I. Robinson, "Capitalist Globalisation and Transnationalisation of State. Website
Colin Barker, "A note on the Theory of Capitalist State". Website
Ernest Mandel. " Marxist Theory of the State. Website
Rai Tabor, "The Marxist Theory of the State". Website
Bob Jessop, "Globalisation and the National-State". Website
Joo Hyoung J1, "Globalisation and the Nation-State". Website
Lisa Watanabe. "Legacies of Miliband and Poulantzas". Website
Gary Dean, "Globalisation and the Nation-State". Website
Chris Harman, "The State and Capitalism Today". Website
9. Marxist Theory: Globalisation and Imperialism
Required Readings
Karl Marx, Manifesto of Communist Party
Lenin, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
Ellen Wood, Empire of Capital
Hardt and Negri, Empire
Anthony Brewer, Theories of Imperialism. A Critical Review
Eskor Toyo, Background to globalization
D.W. Nabudere, The Political Economy of Imperialism
Yash Tandon, Globalisation and the South: The Logic of Exploitation
James Petras and Henry Veltoneyer, Globalisation Unmasked: Imperialism in the 21st Century
Lorimer Doug, Imperialism in the 21st Century: War, Neo-liberalism and Globalisation
Chris Harman, "Analysing Imperialism". In International Socialism
Immanuel Wallerstein, "Us weakness and the Struggle for Hegemony". Monthly Review July-August, 2003
Peter Gowan, "Us Hegemony Today. Monthly Review Op. Cit
John Bellary Fonster, "The New Age of Imperialism". Monthly Review Op. Cit
Ray Kiely, "Capitalist Expansion and the Imperialism-Globalisation Debate". Contemporary Marxist Explanations
Nick Beans, "The Significance and Impliations of Globalisation: A Marxist Assessment".
Jan Otto Anderson, "Imperialism: Marxist Analysis". Website
Chu Van Cap, "Marx and Engels on Economic Globalisation". Website.
Dave Renton (ed). Introduction to Marx on Globalisation
Ernest Mandel, Op. Cit. Chapter 13
G. a. Kozlov, Op. Cit Chapters 10, 11, and 12
10. Marxist Theory: Imperialism, Dependency and World Economy
Required Readings
Anthony Brewer, Op. Cit
Robert Gilpin, Op. Cit. Chapter 7
Bill Warren, Imperialism: Pioneers of Capitalism
Vicky Randal and Robin Theobald, Political Change and Underdevelopment
Paul M. Sweezy, Op. Cit. Chapter 16
Bade Onimode Op. Cit. Chapter 12
Robert Brenner, The Boom and the Bubble
11. Revolutionary Politics for the 21st Century: Anti-Globalisation Struggle
Required Readings
John Holloway, Change the World Without Taking Power.
M. Rupert, " Re-reading Gramsci in an era of Globalising Capitalism: Reflections on the possibility of a Transnational War of Position"
Walden Bello, "The Struggle for a Deglobalised World". Website
Website, Globalisation and International Working Class: A Marxist Assessment of the International Committee of the Fourth International
Hardt and Negro, Op. Cit
Website, "Marxism, Globalisation and Politics in Hardt and Negri’s Empire
In Defence of Marxism, "Anti-globalisation and Marxism". Website
New Formulation, "Theory of the "Anti-globalisation movement". Website
David Barber, "The Anti-globalisation Movement". Website
Wage Slave, "A Marxist Critique of Anti-globalisation Movement". Website
The Beirut Declaration and Action Plan, "Where Next for the Global Anti-War and Anti-Globalisation Movement"? Website
Wikipedia, "Anti Globalisation".
Christine B.N. et al, "Conceptualising Resistance to Globalisation". In B. K Gills (ed). Globalisation and Politics of Resistance
Gregory Albo, "The Unexpected Revolution. Venezuela Confronts Neo-Liberalism
Steve Ellner, "Left Goals and the Debate Over Anti-Neo_Liberal Strategy in Latin America". Science and Society.
Alex Callinicos, "State of Discotent". Socialist Review
Neo Simutany, "Neo-Liberalism and the Relevance of Marxism to Africa: The case of Zambia". Conference Paper
Ronald H. Chilcote, Post-Marxism: The retreat from Class in Latin America. Latin American Perspectives Vol. 72 No.2
John Holloway and Eloina Palaez, Zapatista: Reinventing the Revolution in Mexico.
Albo G. The Unexpected Revolution: Venezuela Confronts Neo-Liberalism
Karl Marx, "Critique of the Gotha Programme". In Selected Works
Karl Marx, "The Civil War in France". In Selected Works
Karl Marx, "The Communist Manifesto". In Selected Works.
James Petras, A Marxist Critique of Post-Marxists.
12. Marxist Theory: Globalisation, Socialist Revolution and Socialism
Required Readings
Bade Onimode Op. Cit Pgs. 244-250
Ernest Mandel, Op. Cit. Chapters 16 and 17
G. A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Socialism
Leslie Sklair, Globalisation, Capitalism and its Alternatives. Chapters 10, 11, and 12
Poul M. Sweezy, Op. Cit. Chapter 19
james Petras, "The Struggle for Socialism Today".
James Petras, "Globalisation: A Socialist Perspective".
13. Marxist Politics and Ideology in Nigeria. This will cover three different areas
i. A Survey of Literature on Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria
ii. Globalization and Working-Class Struggles in Nigeria
iii. The Rise and Decline of Marxist Politics and Ideology in Nigeria
Required Readings
Yusuf Bala Usman and Yusuf Bangura: Debate on the Nigerian Economic Crisis
Yusufu Bala Usman, For the Liberation of Nigeria
Ebenezer Babatope, Nigeria: The Socialist Alternative
Eddie Manunagu, Problems of Socialism" The Nigerian Challenge
M.A. Rimi, Marxism and African Reality: Solidarity Message to the Seminar on Marx and Africa.
M.A. Rimi, Ideology of Nigerian Progressive
Eno Edet Traore, Realists, Trotskyites and Anarchists: An Open Letter to Balarabe Musa.
Ola Oni, Towards A Socialist Political system for Nigeria: The Programme for the Working People
Eskor Toyo, The Third Republic and the Working-Class
Abubakar Mohammad, Left formations in Nigeria
M.M. Yusuf, Human Rights Movement in Nigeria: Old and New. Conference Paper
Ellen Wood, "Marxism without Class Struggle". Socialist Register
Ellen Wood, Retreat from Class
Report on semester Group Projects. The reports will be exchanged among the seminars to write small research project response paper. Both the reports and the response papers are to be presented during this period.
15. Conclusion:
Concluding remarks by the course instructor on the course and performance of the students during the course work; critical comments by students on their classroom experience and view on the subject-matter of the course; and assessment of the education received; then any other things.
Joint Readings
Karl Marx, "The British Rule in India". Selected Works Vol. 1
Karl Marx, "The Future Results of British Rule in India". Selected Works Vol. 1
Karl Marx, Grundrisse
Karl Marx, Wage Labour and Capital". Selected Works Vol. 1
Ernest Mondel, Late Capitalism
Claude Ake, A political Economy of Africa
Ralph Pattman, Understanding International Political Economy
J. A Williams, "Globalisation and Inequality: Past and Present". In J. A. Jeffrey and D. A. Laxe, International Political Economy
Richard W. M. Global Puzzle: Issues and Actions In World Politics
Martin Khor. Globalisation and the South: some Critical Issues
Dani R. "Sense and Nonsense in the Globalisation Debate". In Jeffrey and Lake Op. Cit.
Phillip G. C. "Globalisation and the Changing Logic of Collective Action". In Jeffrey and Lake Op. Cit
Robert Gilpin, Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order.
Lyubisa mittrovie, "Globalisation and the New World Order". In Review of International Affairs Vol. 1 No. 1082.
Robert H. B. and Anne O. K. Political and Economic Interactions in Economic Policy Reform.
Cloude Ake, The Political Economy: Explanatory Notes on Marxian Legacy in Africa
Howardstarley, "Globalisation or Colonisation" Website
Manfred Bienefeld, " Dependency Theory and Political Economy of Africa’s Crisis".
Ernest Mandel, Late Capitalism
Berijamin Barber, Jihad and Mcworld: How Globalisation and Tribalism are reshaping the world
Irving M. Zeitlin, Marxism: A Re-examination.
Mika C. Capitalism Chapter 1
Course Requirements
The teaching of the course is by giving lectures on the topics outline above. Each topic is expected to be covered in one lecture period. When the duration of the semester is against my plan some topics may be combined and treated in one lecture period. However, the last thirty minutes of each period will be for presentation and discussion on chosen text or question for weekly assignment.
Assessment of students is based on end of the semester Examination (70%) and continues Assessment (30%). The C.A will be determined in the following ways:
Weekly Assignment/Participation in Class Discussion/Attendance
There will be weekly readings and presentation of the work for discussion. You will be divided into seminars and in the last 30 minutes of each period, a seminar will be called upon. Class participation is very important if every one is to learn from other people’s points of view. Therefore, when a seminar is called some will submit their reports while others will respond.
The report is not going to be simple summaries. They should bring out three things. First, is to briefly identify the issues raised in the text. Secondly, bring out one of the major issues and analyse the argument by giving a critique of it. Thirdly, in making the critique brings some empirical evidence to support your observation on the author’s argument.
My usual rule applies here too. That is that any student who missed one weekly assignment will not be awarded any mark for the weekly assignments (10%).
SMALL RESEARCH PROJECT
Each seminar will be involved in a small research project. The research paper will reflect the course coverage on "Marxist Theory and the current globalisation". The paper is expected to be presented according to a standard of original contribution, with theoretical insights on the area of the research. A paper which has not followed the standard and or contains many typographical errors will not be graded (5%).
RESEARCH PROJECT RESPONSE PAPER
The small research project of each seminar will be given to another seminar to respond and present while the original authors will be by the side to defend their work.
ICT USAGE
We will source many of the teaching materials via the internet. I have hereby attached a paper for you on how to use internet. You are expected to develop the skills on how to use the New Communication System for learning and research. Every week you will go on internet. On any paper you write I want see a lot of internet input. As of students of POL.4301of 2005/2006 session, you too are hereby advised to form "internet partnership" and "cyber club".
Then, each member of the class must have an e-mail account. The posting of relevant messages on the course is encouraged. Before the end of the semester, each seminar will e-mail me one work and anyone of you who wishes can e-mail me. If we succeed in making good use of ICT I will personally open e-mail account specifically for "foundation of Political Economy" (5%).
SUPERVISED TEST
There will be a test based on the paper "study guidelines for effective performance by my students".
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is very important. If you are going to miss my class, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. When a seminar is called, anybody present will be awarded 5%. Anybody absent or for whatever reason is called and not present will get -5% from his/her total CA.
A SURVEY OF LITERATURE ON MARXIST POLITICAL ECONOMY IN NIGERIA
Before the end of the semester each seminar will make a survey of the literature and compile not less than 20 different texts on Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria. The survey is to be informed by the coverage and the subject-matter of this course (5%).
CRITICAL COMMENTS BY STUDENTS ON THEIR CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
At the end of the semester each seminar will make a presentation on the classroom experience as specified on the teaching programme circulated.
ON BEING AGAINST PLAGIARISM
In order to purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism.
What is Plagiarism? In Oxford Mini reference Dictionary you find the following entries on the word plagiarism… "take and use (another’s writings, etc) as one’s own".
To be precise, plagiarism is academic dishonesty. This includes dishonesty in assignments, tests or in short claiming credit for any work not done or done by others.
To avoid plagiarism you must not paraphrase someone else’s work and present it as your own. Again, all sources consulted should be properly acknowledged. While reviewing your colleagues work it must be strictly on what the authors wrote about.
The penalty is that any assignment found to be plagiarised will receive a zero. Also, any student found plagiarising in a test/examination will get a zero. Any student found in two instances of plagiarism will result in being assessed "00" in the overall continuous assessment on the course.
Learning Needs Skills
Learning, even in tertiary institutions is a complex relationships of so many skills. It requires communication skills, team work, study devices, use of modern Information and Communication Technology, etc.
The following learning guides which I have developed for my students in the last three years are also recommended for you. They are compulsory readings for all my students in the level 200. They can be found in my e-mail address: polbuk@yahoo.com
They are hereby listed below:
1. Assessing students examination papers: Marking Scheme
2. Enhancing students capacity in learning through the use of computers, internet and e-mail
3. Introducing Team/Group works in large classes
4. How to use internet to source reading materials
5. Study guidelines for effective performance by my students
6. How to make patterned notes from texts.
7. Writing Examination: A Communicative Approach
8. How to write group semester paper in large classes
9. How to write Book Review
10. Communicative writing: Exploring the concept
11. Taking Note in class lecture or from a Textbook
12. Using E-mail for Teaching, Learning and Research
13. Using E-Journals and E-Books for Teaching, Learning and Research.
14. Code of ethics in the class of M. M. Yusif
15. ICT for learning and Education: beyond information
16. Criticism-self-criticism session
17. Guidelines for small-research project
18. Progress Report on ICTs for learning and research
19. The underlying guides and principles of teaching in my class
20. Reflecting on Teaching Military and Politics
21. How to do research: What are the Problems
22. Information Age: Moving with ICTs to understand the World around us
23. Progress Report on the teaching of Peace and Conflict Studies
POL. 2204: FOUNDATION OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
COURSE LECTURER: M.M. YUSUF
VENUE:TIME:SESSION: 2007/2008
INTRODUCTION:
Political Economy is a Science as well as an Art. But there has been much dispute among scholars as to what has made Political Economy a Science or as an Art. The answer to this question cannot be found or stated except in theory.
As a Science it is easier to say because Political Economy, since it becomes an independent science, has made great advance in developing concepts, methods, theories and approaches to capture and explain the changes and transformation of human society.
As an Art it is more controversial. Yet this can be understood if one sees Political Economy as a class partisan science whose origin were made up of theories to promote the interest of the capitalist class but later developed other perspectives with working-class orientation.
Therefore, it is both a Science and an Art. It is a most living discipline with methodologies which searches for analysis of the changes that occur in human society. In order to make analysis contradictory theories and ideas battle with each other.
Grant Theories i.e. classical, Neo-Classical and Marxian theories are in contest with each other. One more dominant than the other at any historical moment as the relations of class forces defines the situation.
Needless to stress the understanding of the current globalization is overwhelmingly within the framework of classical and Neo-Classical Political Economy. Accordingly, the other grand method, very influential in the science is generally being relegated. This is the Marxian Political Economy. The development of Marxian Political Economy arose hundreds of years ago out of the controversy with Bourgeoisie perspectives on the Science. To allow those old theories and methods predominance implies that the science is carried back to the "old" and the dead tradition.
My intention is to bring back Marxian Political Economy as a light to understanding and analysis of the contemporary globalization. Marxist Political Economy is defined here as an integration of Political Economy methods informed by theory and practice of working-class self-emancipation, as well as Marxist Labour theory of value.
Consequently, we are going to ask many questions neglected by Nigerian students of today. Such as is Marx relevant to our World of the twenty-first century? What does revolutionary politics mean in the era of globalization? Is there imperialism today? Can Marxian theories of imperialism help to understand the relationship between the developed and the developing world today? What of classes and class struggle in the contemporary era of globalization, etc.
In Nigeria, to be more specific, Marxist theory was the subject of increasing interest and of fervent discussions and debates in our Universities. Students and Lecturers developed many theories and creative ways of practicalising them. In many academic circles it meets only with indifference and or contempt. At best it is no longer recognized as body of ideas to study. Most students do not know about it. Those who knew it have set it aside. Others would say socialism has collapsed. So, there is no need of Marxist theory.
However, if socialism as a political practice has collapsed socialist ideas and Marxist theory are still alive. Indeed, Marxist theory is daily being enriched with new ideas to be used to understand changes in world today. That is what we intend to do in "Foundation of Political Economy".
The Central focus of the course in this academic session is Marxist theory in the age of globalization. The course has identified seven areas for treatment. Firstly, Political Economy as Science and Art, the concept, the history and the subject-matter; Secondly, Theoretical Perspectives; Thirdly, is the methodological and theoretical foundation of Marxian Political Economy as well as the main elements of the theory; fourth, is Revolutionary Politics in the twenty-first century including anti-globalisation and socialist revolution; Fifth, is the New faces of Marxism in the twenty-first century; Sixth is on Marxist Politics and ideology in Nigeria; finally, there will be a survey of literature by students on Marxist politics in Nigeria.
In order to understand these issues, we would study many works on the thought of Marx. Many of these works by Marx and some analyses of these works. Therefore, we would not be saying that everything about Marx is the only truth. This will defeat the essence of learning by inhibiting the dialogue necessary for teaching and learning.
Finally, by way of an advice of a teacher to his students, let me speak in the thinking and words of Marx that "there is only one royal road to science". This road is that you must work hard, you may find it very difficult but just try your best. You have come here to learn, try to learn something. A process of learning brings self-transformation. So, be it.
TOPICS AND READINGS
1. General Introduction
Introducing the course; the topics to be treated; the readings; Course Requirements; Assessment of the teaching programme by students; other issues.
2. The Subject matter of Political Economy
History of Political Economy; Unity of Political Science and Economics; a multidisciplinary Course; in search of definitions; Central Concepts in Political Economy; what issues does it deal with? What method of investigation? A Science and an Art; Political Economy in Crisis:
Required Readings
Bruno S. Frey, Modern Political Economy 1-33
Caparaso and Levine, Theories of Political Economy. Chapter 1
Beckman B. "Political Science and Political Economy". In Barongo Y. R. (ed.), Political Science in Africa: A Critical Review
Eskor Toyo, "Primary Requirements for the Unity of Political Science and Economics". In Borongo Y. R. (ed.) op. cit.
Eskor Toyo, "The mode of Production Nucleous as integrator of Economic and Political Sciences. In NJPS Vol. 2 No. 2
Henry Sidgwick, The priciples of Politial Economy. Chapter 11
Henry Sidgwick, The Art of Political Economy. Chapter 1
Wikipedia, "Political Economy" Website
Claus Offe, "Politilcal Economy: Sociological perspectives". In Robert E.G. and Klingman (ed). A New Hanbook of Political Science.
Eaton J. Political Economy Pgs. 1-17
Meskeren, The Marxist. Leninist Concept of Political Economy.". in Meskeren: A Quarterly Ideological Journal of the Central Committee of COPWE.
Jan-Eric Lane and Suante Erson, Conparative Political Economy: A Developmental Approach.
Robert Gilpin, The Political Economy of International Relations. Chapter 1
Sergeillym and Motylev, What is Political Economy
G.A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Capitalism. Chapter 1
Henry George, Science of Political Economy Chapters 8, 9, and 12
Pablo Levin, "Political Economy at the Close of its Subject-matter". The Journal of Management and Economics
J.K. Ingram, A History of Political Economy
Sismonde de Sismonde, Political Economy. Chapter 1
Otwin Marenin, "Essence and Empiricism in African politics". In Borongo Y. (ed.) op. cit.
3. Theoretical Perspectives on the Science of Political Economy
Required Readings
James Petras and Kent Traclte (eds). "Liberal, Structural and Radical Approaches to Political Economy: An Assessment and an Alternative. In James Petras, Critical Perspectives on Imperialism and Social Classes in the Third World.
Robert Golpin. Op.Cit Chapter 2
A. B. Atkinson, "Political Economy: Old and New". In Robert E. G. and Klingermann (ed). Op. cit.
James E.A. and Alberto A. "Political Economy: An Overview". In Robert E.G and Klingermann (ed). Op. Cit.
Ernest Mandel, Marxist Economic Theory. Chater 18
G.A. Kozlov. Op. Cit. Pgs. 12-17
Caporaso and Lavine Op. Cit.
Bruno S. Frey Op. Cit.
Progress Publisher, Present-Day Non-Marxist Political Economy: a Critical Analysis.
4. Marxian Political Economy: Methodological and Theoretical Foundations; Historical Materialism; Elements of Marx’s Critique of Capitalism;
Required Readings
Bade Onimode, An Introduction to Marxist Political Economy. Chapters 1, 2, and 3.
T. B. Bottomore, Karl Marx: Selected Writing in Sociology and Social Philosophy Pgs. 1-67 and 178-202.
Caporaso and Levine, Op. it. Chapter 3
Karl Marx, The German Ideology, Chapter !; 178-208
Karl Marx, "Preface to a Contribution to the critique of Political Economy". In Selected Works, Vol. 1
Karl Marx, Theses on Feuerback" in Selected Works.
Karl Marx, "Alienated Labor". Selected Works
Karl Marx, "Commodities" and "Fetishism of Commodities".
M. Rupert and H. Smith (eds).Historical Materialism and Globalisation.
5. Marx’s Theory of Capitalist Development: Surplus-Value and Capitalism; The Falling Tendency of the Rate of Profit; Values and Prices; Capitalist Crisis.
Required Readings
Bade Onimode, Op. cit. Chapters 4, 5 and 9
G. A. Kozlov, Op. Cit. chapters 4 and 9
Ernest Mandel, Op. Cit. Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Robert Gilpin, Op. Cit. Chapter 7
Paul M. Sweezy, The Theory of Capitalist Development. Chapters 1, 4, 6 and 12.
Hymer S. "The Multinational Corporation and the Law of Uneven Development". In Hugo Radice (ed.). International Firms and Modern Imperialism.
Geofrey Kay, Development and Underdevelopment: A Marxist Analysis. Chapters 2, 4, and 5.
6. Continuous Relevance of Marxist Theory in the current era of globalisation
Required Readings
Allen Woods and Bob Sawell, "What is Marxism" Website.
John Gledhill, "What’s New What’s global and What’s Marxism at the end of the 20th century? Website
Adam Barnhant, "Postmodern theory and Karl Marx". Website
Alex Callinicos, "An anti-capitalist Manifesto". Website
Schimitt R. Introduction to Marx and Engels. Pgs 1-11
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party. Selected works Vol. I
Nancy Fraser, "A future for Marxism" Website
John Kilcullen, Marx on capitalism. Website
Chu Van Cap, Marx and Engels on Economic globalization
Douglas Kellner, Globalisation and the Postmodern Turn.
Douglas Kellner, Theorising Globalisation. Website
Giovanni Reyes, Theory of globalization; Fundamental Basis
Gail Omvedt, Marx on globalisation
7. Marxist Theory: Globalisation, Classes and Class Divisions
Required Readings
David Yatle, "The Political and Economics of Globalisation. Website
Leslie Sklair, "The Transnational Capitalist class and the Discourse of Globalisation". Website.
William I. Robinson and Jerry Harris", Towards a Global Ruling-Class: Globalisation and Transnational Capitalist Class". Website
Style, "A Theory of Global Capitalism-Production, Class and State in a Transnational World. Website
Chris Spannos, "The Third Wave and the Third Class". Website
Alejandro Colas. The Class Politics of Globalisation". Website.
Harry Cleaver, " The Inversion of Class Perspective in Marxian Theory: From Valorisation to Self-valorisation
8. Marxist Theory, Globalisation and State
Required Readings
Bade Onimode Op. Cit. Chapter 11
Poul M. Sweezy Op. Cit. Chapter 13
Lenin, State and Revolution: Popular Outline
Nicos Poulantzas, Classes in Contemporary Capitalism
Nicos Poulantzas, State, Power and Socialism
Holloway J. and Picciot S. (eds.) State and Capital: A Marxist
Debate
Robin Murray, "Internationalisation of Capital and the Nation State", In Hugo Reduce Op. Cit.
Williams I. Robinson, "Capitalist Globalisation and Transnationalisation of State. Website
Colin Barker, "A note on the Theory of Capitalist State". Website
Ernest Mandel. " Marxist Theory of the State. Website
Rai Tabor, "The Marxist Theory of the State". Website
Bob Jessop, "Globalisation and the National-State". Website
Joo Hyoung J1, "Globalisation and the Nation-State". Website
Lisa Watanabe. "Legacies of Miliband and Poulantzas". Website
Gary Dean, "Globalisation and the Nation-State". Website
Chris Harman, "The State and Capitalism Today". Website
9. Marxist Theory: Globalisation and Imperialism
Required Readings
Karl Marx, Manifesto of Communist Party
Lenin, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
Ellen Wood, Empire of Capital
Hardt and Negri, Empire
Anthony Brewer, Theories of Imperialism. A Critical Review
Eskor Toyo, Background to globalization
D.W. Nabudere, The Political Economy of Imperialism
Yash Tandon, Globalisation and the South: The Logic of Exploitation
James Petras and Henry Veltoneyer, Globalisation Unmasked: Imperialism in the 21st Century
Lorimer Doug, Imperialism in the 21st Century: War, Neo-liberalism and Globalisation
Chris Harman, "Analysing Imperialism". In International Socialism
Immanuel Wallerstein, "Us weakness and the Struggle for Hegemony". Monthly Review July-August, 2003
Peter Gowan, "Us Hegemony Today. Monthly Review Op. Cit
John Bellary Fonster, "The New Age of Imperialism". Monthly Review Op. Cit
Ray Kiely, "Capitalist Expansion and the Imperialism-Globalisation Debate". Contemporary Marxist Explanations
Nick Beans, "The Significance and Impliations of Globalisation: A Marxist Assessment".
Jan Otto Anderson, "Imperialism: Marxist Analysis". Website
Chu Van Cap, "Marx and Engels on Economic Globalisation". Website.
Dave Renton (ed). Introduction to Marx on Globalisation
Ernest Mandel, Op. Cit. Chapter 13
G. a. Kozlov, Op. Cit Chapters 10, 11, and 12
10. Marxist Theory: Imperialism, Dependency and World Economy
Required Readings
Anthony Brewer, Op. Cit
Robert Gilpin, Op. Cit. Chapter 7
Bill Warren, Imperialism: Pioneers of Capitalism
Vicky Randal and Robin Theobald, Political Change and Underdevelopment
Paul M. Sweezy, Op. Cit. Chapter 16
Bade Onimode Op. Cit. Chapter 12
Robert Brenner, The Boom and the Bubble
11. Revolutionary Politics for the 21st Century: Anti-Globalisation Struggle
Required Readings
John Holloway, Change the World Without Taking Power.
M. Rupert, " Re-reading Gramsci in an era of Globalising Capitalism: Reflections on the possibility of a Transnational War of Position"
Walden Bello, "The Struggle for a Deglobalised World". Website
Website, Globalisation and International Working Class: A Marxist Assessment of the International Committee of the Fourth International
Hardt and Negro, Op. Cit
Website, "Marxism, Globalisation and Politics in Hardt and Negri’s Empire
In Defence of Marxism, "Anti-globalisation and Marxism". Website
New Formulation, "Theory of the "Anti-globalisation movement". Website
David Barber, "The Anti-globalisation Movement". Website
Wage Slave, "A Marxist Critique of Anti-globalisation Movement". Website
The Beirut Declaration and Action Plan, "Where Next for the Global Anti-War and Anti-Globalisation Movement"? Website
Wikipedia, "Anti Globalisation".
Christine B.N. et al, "Conceptualising Resistance to Globalisation". In B. K Gills (ed). Globalisation and Politics of Resistance
Gregory Albo, "The Unexpected Revolution. Venezuela Confronts Neo-Liberalism
Steve Ellner, "Left Goals and the Debate Over Anti-Neo_Liberal Strategy in Latin America". Science and Society.
Alex Callinicos, "State of Discotent". Socialist Review
Neo Simutany, "Neo-Liberalism and the Relevance of Marxism to Africa: The case of Zambia". Conference Paper
Ronald H. Chilcote, Post-Marxism: The retreat from Class in Latin America. Latin American Perspectives Vol. 72 No.2
John Holloway and Eloina Palaez, Zapatista: Reinventing the Revolution in Mexico.
Albo G. The Unexpected Revolution: Venezuela Confronts Neo-Liberalism
Karl Marx, "Critique of the Gotha Programme". In Selected Works
Karl Marx, "The Civil War in France". In Selected Works
Karl Marx, "The Communist Manifesto". In Selected Works.
James Petras, A Marxist Critique of Post-Marxists.
12. Marxist Theory: Globalisation, Socialist Revolution and Socialism
Required Readings
Bade Onimode Op. Cit Pgs. 244-250
Ernest Mandel, Op. Cit. Chapters 16 and 17
G. A. Kozlov, Political Economy: Socialism
Leslie Sklair, Globalisation, Capitalism and its Alternatives. Chapters 10, 11, and 12
Poul M. Sweezy, Op. Cit. Chapter 19
james Petras, "The Struggle for Socialism Today".
James Petras, "Globalisation: A Socialist Perspective".
13. Marxist Politics and Ideology in Nigeria. This will cover three different areas
i. A Survey of Literature on Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria
ii. Globalization and Working-Class Struggles in Nigeria
iii. The Rise and Decline of Marxist Politics and Ideology in Nigeria
Required Readings
Yusuf Bala Usman and Yusuf Bangura: Debate on the Nigerian Economic Crisis
Yusufu Bala Usman, For the Liberation of Nigeria
Ebenezer Babatope, Nigeria: The Socialist Alternative
Eddie Manunagu, Problems of Socialism" The Nigerian Challenge
M.A. Rimi, Marxism and African Reality: Solidarity Message to the Seminar on Marx and Africa.
M.A. Rimi, Ideology of Nigerian Progressive
Eno Edet Traore, Realists, Trotskyites and Anarchists: An Open Letter to Balarabe Musa.
Ola Oni, Towards A Socialist Political system for Nigeria: The Programme for the Working People
Eskor Toyo, The Third Republic and the Working-Class
Abubakar Mohammad, Left formations in Nigeria
M.M. Yusuf, Human Rights Movement in Nigeria: Old and New. Conference Paper
Ellen Wood, "Marxism without Class Struggle". Socialist Register
Ellen Wood, Retreat from Class
Report on semester Group Projects. The reports will be exchanged among the seminars to write small research project response paper. Both the reports and the response papers are to be presented during this period.
15. Conclusion:
Concluding remarks by the course instructor on the course and performance of the students during the course work; critical comments by students on their classroom experience and view on the subject-matter of the course; and assessment of the education received; then any other things.
Joint Readings
Karl Marx, "The British Rule in India". Selected Works Vol. 1
Karl Marx, "The Future Results of British Rule in India". Selected Works Vol. 1
Karl Marx, Grundrisse
Karl Marx, Wage Labour and Capital". Selected Works Vol. 1
Ernest Mondel, Late Capitalism
Claude Ake, A political Economy of Africa
Ralph Pattman, Understanding International Political Economy
J. A Williams, "Globalisation and Inequality: Past and Present". In J. A. Jeffrey and D. A. Laxe, International Political Economy
Richard W. M. Global Puzzle: Issues and Actions In World Politics
Martin Khor. Globalisation and the South: some Critical Issues
Dani R. "Sense and Nonsense in the Globalisation Debate". In Jeffrey and Lake Op. Cit.
Phillip G. C. "Globalisation and the Changing Logic of Collective Action". In Jeffrey and Lake Op. Cit
Robert Gilpin, Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order.
Lyubisa mittrovie, "Globalisation and the New World Order". In Review of International Affairs Vol. 1 No. 1082.
Robert H. B. and Anne O. K. Political and Economic Interactions in Economic Policy Reform.
Cloude Ake, The Political Economy: Explanatory Notes on Marxian Legacy in Africa
Howardstarley, "Globalisation or Colonisation" Website
Manfred Bienefeld, " Dependency Theory and Political Economy of Africa’s Crisis".
Ernest Mandel, Late Capitalism
Berijamin Barber, Jihad and Mcworld: How Globalisation and Tribalism are reshaping the world
Irving M. Zeitlin, Marxism: A Re-examination.
Mika C. Capitalism Chapter 1
Course Requirements
The teaching of the course is by giving lectures on the topics outline above. Each topic is expected to be covered in one lecture period. When the duration of the semester is against my plan some topics may be combined and treated in one lecture period. However, the last thirty minutes of each period will be for presentation and discussion on chosen text or question for weekly assignment.
Assessment of students is based on end of the semester Examination (70%) and continues Assessment (30%). The C.A will be determined in the following ways:
Weekly Assignment/Participation in Class Discussion/Attendance
There will be weekly readings and presentation of the work for discussion. You will be divided into seminars and in the last 30 minutes of each period, a seminar will be called upon. Class participation is very important if every one is to learn from other people’s points of view. Therefore, when a seminar is called some will submit their reports while others will respond.
The report is not going to be simple summaries. They should bring out three things. First, is to briefly identify the issues raised in the text. Secondly, bring out one of the major issues and analyse the argument by giving a critique of it. Thirdly, in making the critique brings some empirical evidence to support your observation on the author’s argument.
My usual rule applies here too. That is that any student who missed one weekly assignment will not be awarded any mark for the weekly assignments (10%).
SMALL RESEARCH PROJECT
Each seminar will be involved in a small research project. The research paper will reflect the course coverage on "Marxist Theory and the current globalisation". The paper is expected to be presented according to a standard of original contribution, with theoretical insights on the area of the research. A paper which has not followed the standard and or contains many typographical errors will not be graded (5%).
RESEARCH PROJECT RESPONSE PAPER
The small research project of each seminar will be given to another seminar to respond and present while the original authors will be by the side to defend their work.
ICT USAGE
We will source many of the teaching materials via the internet. I have hereby attached a paper for you on how to use internet. You are expected to develop the skills on how to use the New Communication System for learning and research. Every week you will go on internet. On any paper you write I want see a lot of internet input. As of students of POL.4301of 2005/2006 session, you too are hereby advised to form "internet partnership" and "cyber club".
Then, each member of the class must have an e-mail account. The posting of relevant messages on the course is encouraged. Before the end of the semester, each seminar will e-mail me one work and anyone of you who wishes can e-mail me. If we succeed in making good use of ICT I will personally open e-mail account specifically for "foundation of Political Economy" (5%).
SUPERVISED TEST
There will be a test based on the paper "study guidelines for effective performance by my students".
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is very important. If you are going to miss my class, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. When a seminar is called, anybody present will be awarded 5%. Anybody absent or for whatever reason is called and not present will get -5% from his/her total CA.
A SURVEY OF LITERATURE ON MARXIST POLITICAL ECONOMY IN NIGERIA
Before the end of the semester each seminar will make a survey of the literature and compile not less than 20 different texts on Marxist Political Economy in Nigeria. The survey is to be informed by the coverage and the subject-matter of this course (5%).
CRITICAL COMMENTS BY STUDENTS ON THEIR CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
At the end of the semester each seminar will make a presentation on the classroom experience as specified on the teaching programme circulated.
ON BEING AGAINST PLAGIARISM
In order to purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism.
What is Plagiarism? In Oxford Mini reference Dictionary you find the following entries on the word plagiarism… "take and use (another’s writings, etc) as one’s own".
To be precise, plagiarism is academic dishonesty. This includes dishonesty in assignments, tests or in short claiming credit for any work not done or done by others.
To avoid plagiarism you must not paraphrase someone else’s work and present it as your own. Again, all sources consulted should be properly acknowledged. While reviewing your colleagues work it must be strictly on what the authors wrote about.
The penalty is that any assignment found to be plagiarised will receive a zero. Also, any student found plagiarising in a test/examination will get a zero. Any student found in two instances of plagiarism will result in being assessed "00" in the overall continuous assessment on the course.
Learning Needs Skills
Learning, even in tertiary institutions is a complex relationships of so many skills. It requires communication skills, team work, study devices, use of modern Information and Communication Technology, etc.
The following learning guides which I have developed for my students in the last three years are also recommended for you. They are compulsory readings for all my students in the level 200. They can be found in my e-mail address: polbuk@yahoo.com
They are hereby listed below:
1. Assessing students examination papers: Marking Scheme
2. Enhancing students capacity in learning through the use of computers, internet and e-mail
3. Introducing Team/Group works in large classes
4. How to use internet to source reading materials
5. Study guidelines for effective performance by my students
6. How to make patterned notes from texts.
7. Writing Examination: A Communicative Approach
8. How to write group semester paper in large classes
9. How to write Book Review
10. Communicative writing: Exploring the concept
11. Taking Note in class lecture or from a Textbook
12. Using E-mail for Teaching, Learning and Research
13. Using E-Journals and E-Books for Teaching, Learning and Research.
14. Code of ethics in the class of M. M. Yusif
15. ICT for learning and Education: beyond information
16. Criticism-self-criticism session
17. Guidelines for small-research project
18. Progress Report on ICTs for learning and research
19. The underlying guides and principles of teaching in my class
20. Reflecting on Teaching Military and Politics
21. How to do research: What are the Problems
22. Information Age: Moving with ICTs to understand the World around us
23. Progress Report on the teaching of Peace and Conflict Studies
THE TAC SCHEME AND THE PURSUIT OF NIGERIAS FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
THE TAC SCHEME AND THE PURSUIT OF NIGERIAS FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
BY
M. M. Yusif
Department of Political Science
Bayero University, Kano
Being a Paper to be presented at 11th Orientation Exercise of TAC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria at Aminu Isa Kwantagora Theatre Complex, Makurdi, Benue State on 29th May, 2008
Introduction
Nigeria’s international policy since independence has generally been seen as of continuity and change. The basic principles of Nigerias African policy in particular and for other countries in general was laid down in 1960 and these remain with some amendments to capture local and global political and economic changes.
While in 1960 these principles were the usual respect of sovereign equality of other countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, as well as commitment to cooperation as a means of promoting African unity (Aliko 1981:12), the 1979 constitution of the FRN had gone further to set the foreign policy objectives of the Nigerian state thus:
The state shall promote African Unity.
It shall promote the total political, economic, social and cultural liberation of Africa.
To promote all other forms of International cooperation conducive to the consolidation of Universal Peace and mutual respect and friendship among all peoples and states
To combat racial discrimination in all its manifestation.
That was in the constitution of the FRN 1979. In 1999, in view of the changing global environment, the constitution further redefined Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives as:
Promotion and protection of the National interest
Promotion of African integration and support for African Unity;
Promotion of international cooperation for the consolidation of Universal; peace and mutual respect among all nations and elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations.
Respect for international law and treaty obligations as well as the seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication; and
Promotion of a just world economic order.
In 1999, as in 1979 or even in the 1960s the question of promotion of international cooperation and solidarity among all nations seems the most important objective of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Successive Nigerian Administrations have not had a single and common practice, yet the trend of Nigeria’s assistance to African countries and others outside the continent show a broad outline of solidarity and cooperation.
In view of the challenges posed by globalisation for development of African Countries the Technical Aids Corp (TAC) has become an important policy instrument for cooperation and even integration of the economies of African countries for self-reliance and less-dependency on corporate organisations and other international agencies. The beneficiaries have sincerely endorsed the TAC as alternative development pills which provide critical "curative medicine" for the promotion of sustainable economic growth and development as well as increased cooperation between Nigeria and ACP countries.
In assessing the extent to which Nigerias inter-state relations with African countries and those in the Caribbean promotes cooperation we shall look into the role of Nigeria through TAC assistance to these countries.
Theoretical Considerations
The theoretical light which guides our analysis is the prospect of south-south cooperation in promoting development of developing economies. The idea is that cooperation between countries in the developing world may go along way to weaken big global interest who control the economies of Third World Countries.
There are four strands of thought which have served as the basis of South-South cooperation since the 1950s.
One is that in the early period of independence there was the rejection of both Western and Eastern models of development as the basis of development and progress of the South. That the Southern countries had traditional solidarity which in the modern context was expressed in many variants of socialism - for example, African Socialism whose values could be adopted to meet the needs of attending to problems of development. As well as by support and various forms of assistance to neighbours in social and economic disaster.
Secondly, the first generation leaders of the South raised to a high level a feeling of moral responsibility to assist a sister country as they painted the Western World as "aggressive, exploitative, materialistic, and racist", whose relationship with the South resulted in many social and economic problems. With their personal efforts these leaders believe that the sky will be their limits. Therefore, numerous bilateral and multilateral groups emerged to meet frustrated social and economic problems of each other.
Thirdly, another theoretical element of the need of intensified South-South cooperation is derived from the idea that economic underdevelopment in the South is essentially the result of domination and exploitation of the economies of the south by the developed countries. This is embodied in various perspectives of dependency and underdevelopment theory which holds that the development and prosperity of the North are the result of the underdevelopment and poverty of the South and vice versa.
Finally, globalisation has produced a unified, global processes - economic, technological, cultural, political and social, which has undermined the capacity of the countries in the south to become independent in the economic and political policies. This is because these processes have planted stronger forces in these countries which continues to push for global marketisation. But courageous inter-state cooperation outside the framework of market is likely to weaken these forces.
The above theoretical perspectives, needless to stress, indicate the thinking and the desire of the countries in the South to cooperate with each other in order for them to find alternative development agenda. But what are the prospects and the problems?
An Overview of Nigeria - TAC Assistance to ACP Countries
In less than a year in office. Precisely on 29 November 1985, President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida made his first major foreign policy statement on the occasion of the patron’s Dinner of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. Here, the president promised a dynamic continuity in two major areas of Nigerias interest: African regional issues which includes any form of assistance to deserving African countries and international affairs.
One way of tackling the case of assistance to deserving African countries was the establishment of TAC in 1986, with a mandate of managing technical assistance programme to developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and pacific. It serves as an instrument of foreign policy in developing and strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and recipient countries.
The major objectives of the TAC are: (1) sharing Nigerias know-how and expertise with other African, Caribbean and pacific countries; (2) giving assistance on the basis of the assessed and perceived needs of the recipient countries; (3) promoting cooperation and understanding between Nigeria and the recipient countries; and (4) facilitating meaningful contacts between the youth of Nigeria and those of the recipient countries (Onoja A. 2000:149).
Since the inception of the scheme, many countries in Africa and the Caribbean have benefited from the programme. it was noted that as at 1998, over 1049 volunteers had participated in the scheme in 21 African countries, five Caribbean states and one pacific region country (ibid : 149)
The Prospect of TAC for Increased South-South Cooperation
In view of significance of inter-state cooperation, it is proper to say that National Policies are the foundations and stimulants for the successful pursuit of development objectives at inter-country-level. This is because, what obtains in one country not only determines the course of development of that country, it also impacts directly or indirectly, favourably or unfavourably, on the form or modality or speed of inter-country or even regional cooperation or integration.
It is very evident that in the history of inter-country relations there are wide range of issues and national policies that become relevant in forging inter-country or regional cooperation. Nigeria has a long history of inter-country cooperation, especially with her neighbours and other countries in West African sub-region. These include giving direct financial assistance, supply of electric power resources, also of food grains to starvation countries, joint river project, etc.
The TAC is one of such National policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria, not only an alternative to direct financial aid to recipient countries, but a vehicle for mutual understanding and cooperation between Nigeria and ACP countries. Because selection is dependent on the recipient countries needs, there is no limit to the professional fields from which volunteers are recruited. Nonetheless, the areas in high demand by receiving states include medicine, nursing, law, general technology, management, teaching, agriculture and journalism
Any analysis of the role of TAC raises Nigeria’s international relations to a new perspective. This is because the TAC cuts across the traditional geographical boundary of cooperation inherited from the colonial period. As areas of cooperation for some time after independence generally tended to follow the economic and political dichotomy between English and French Speaking Countries. One significant feature of these two groups is the unique influence which the cultural, social, economic and political systems of the mother countries have had on these African countries. A glance through the beneficiaries will show diverse ‘economic and cultural background of the countries - e.g. Cape verde, Mozambique, Angola, Suriname, Guyana, Jamaica, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Seychelles, etc.
This has undoubtedly increased the diplomatic space of Nigeria such that there is hardly any African problem in international relations which Nigeria’s opinion is not heard. Secondly, Nigeria always got the support of the beneficiaries whenever it has an interest in any affair in international relation. Thirdly, the programme has promising potentiality of increasing range of economic, political, technological, managerial and other activities between Nigeria and the beneficiaries. Then finally, what do the corps bring home from their areas of service?
Problems of Inter-country Cooperation in Developing Countries
Inter-country cooperation outside a framework of a multilateral regional cooperation and integration is hardly fully documented. This is probably because such cooperation relationships are national policies, therefore do not get the attention of foreign policy analysts quickly. Secondly, such policies like of the TAC has a weak organisational linkage for implementation of the programme, as there might not be any institutionalised body for collection and dissemination of information about the positive and/or negative gains on both the giver and the beneficiaries.
Lack of institutionalised support drawn jointly with the expected beneficiaries naturally would render such programme a philanthropic project aimed as in the case of TAC, promoting not necessarily National interest of the giver but of the leaders. In International Relations Theory, this is far from a realist approach to attain a foreign policy goal.
While there is deficiency of institutional framework, ultimately the inter-country cooperation is not founded on a strategy based on the economic and political structure of these countries. Whereas diverse economic and political structures may be of great importance for diplomatic purpose, but an analysis of the structure of the economies of the giver and the beneficiaries is imperative in order to create a path of future economic integration of the two countries involved.
In a marketised global system the role of the state is expected to pave the way and support increased economic openness between Nigeria and other countries. Therefore, local interests could be empowered and guided to manage this kind of programme. But with a definite regulation on some critical professions.
If this is the case, would such inter-country cooperation of the countries in the developing world tame globalisation and reduce their external dependence as earlier claimed. The fact that this programme is exclusively derived from resources of a developing country channelled to another developing country, even if is subjected to market principle, with a minimum regulation, will prevent market fundamentalism and the interests of global corporate business.
Conclusion
On the basis of the analysis above there is no doubt of the need of cooperation between countries of the South. This will go along way of reducing their external dependence on big corporate powers. The TAC programme by Nigeria is one of such endewavours. It has a great potentiality of increasing the diplomatic power of Nigeria in world politics as well as of economic and cultural benefits. On the other hand the programme has inherent deficiencies which needs attention in order to make it more viable.
References
Aluko, O. (1981) Essays on Nigerian Foreign Policy. London. George Allen and Unwin
Ann, S. and Frederick, A. (eds.) (1992) Towards a New Vision of Self-sustainable Development. USA: Africa World Press
Bola, A. A. (2004) Nigerias New Foreign Policy Thrust: Essays in Honour of Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniyi. Ibadan: Vantage Publishers.
FRN (1979) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979.
FRN (1999) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Julius, E. O. (1987) "Assessing the Principles of Nigerian Foreign Policy". In Stephen, O. O. (eds) Alternative Political Futures for Nigeria. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (13th … 1986 May 20-24: Lagos)
Oga, A. (1987) Nigeria’s African Policy since Independence: An analysis of the character and conduct of foreign policy". In Okello Oculi (ed.) Nigerian Alternatives. ABU Zaria: Department of Political Science.
Onoja, A. (2000) Plying the Foreign Pitch: Media portrait of Sule Lamido’s Stewardship as Nigerias Foreign Minister Vol. 1 (1999 - 2000)
BY
M. M. Yusif
Department of Political Science
Bayero University, Kano
Being a Paper to be presented at 11th Orientation Exercise of TAC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria at Aminu Isa Kwantagora Theatre Complex, Makurdi, Benue State on 29th May, 2008
Introduction
Nigeria’s international policy since independence has generally been seen as of continuity and change. The basic principles of Nigerias African policy in particular and for other countries in general was laid down in 1960 and these remain with some amendments to capture local and global political and economic changes.
While in 1960 these principles were the usual respect of sovereign equality of other countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, as well as commitment to cooperation as a means of promoting African unity (Aliko 1981:12), the 1979 constitution of the FRN had gone further to set the foreign policy objectives of the Nigerian state thus:
The state shall promote African Unity.
It shall promote the total political, economic, social and cultural liberation of Africa.
To promote all other forms of International cooperation conducive to the consolidation of Universal Peace and mutual respect and friendship among all peoples and states
To combat racial discrimination in all its manifestation.
That was in the constitution of the FRN 1979. In 1999, in view of the changing global environment, the constitution further redefined Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives as:
Promotion and protection of the National interest
Promotion of African integration and support for African Unity;
Promotion of international cooperation for the consolidation of Universal; peace and mutual respect among all nations and elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations.
Respect for international law and treaty obligations as well as the seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication; and
Promotion of a just world economic order.
In 1999, as in 1979 or even in the 1960s the question of promotion of international cooperation and solidarity among all nations seems the most important objective of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Successive Nigerian Administrations have not had a single and common practice, yet the trend of Nigeria’s assistance to African countries and others outside the continent show a broad outline of solidarity and cooperation.
In view of the challenges posed by globalisation for development of African Countries the Technical Aids Corp (TAC) has become an important policy instrument for cooperation and even integration of the economies of African countries for self-reliance and less-dependency on corporate organisations and other international agencies. The beneficiaries have sincerely endorsed the TAC as alternative development pills which provide critical "curative medicine" for the promotion of sustainable economic growth and development as well as increased cooperation between Nigeria and ACP countries.
In assessing the extent to which Nigerias inter-state relations with African countries and those in the Caribbean promotes cooperation we shall look into the role of Nigeria through TAC assistance to these countries.
Theoretical Considerations
The theoretical light which guides our analysis is the prospect of south-south cooperation in promoting development of developing economies. The idea is that cooperation between countries in the developing world may go along way to weaken big global interest who control the economies of Third World Countries.
There are four strands of thought which have served as the basis of South-South cooperation since the 1950s.
One is that in the early period of independence there was the rejection of both Western and Eastern models of development as the basis of development and progress of the South. That the Southern countries had traditional solidarity which in the modern context was expressed in many variants of socialism - for example, African Socialism whose values could be adopted to meet the needs of attending to problems of development. As well as by support and various forms of assistance to neighbours in social and economic disaster.
Secondly, the first generation leaders of the South raised to a high level a feeling of moral responsibility to assist a sister country as they painted the Western World as "aggressive, exploitative, materialistic, and racist", whose relationship with the South resulted in many social and economic problems. With their personal efforts these leaders believe that the sky will be their limits. Therefore, numerous bilateral and multilateral groups emerged to meet frustrated social and economic problems of each other.
Thirdly, another theoretical element of the need of intensified South-South cooperation is derived from the idea that economic underdevelopment in the South is essentially the result of domination and exploitation of the economies of the south by the developed countries. This is embodied in various perspectives of dependency and underdevelopment theory which holds that the development and prosperity of the North are the result of the underdevelopment and poverty of the South and vice versa.
Finally, globalisation has produced a unified, global processes - economic, technological, cultural, political and social, which has undermined the capacity of the countries in the south to become independent in the economic and political policies. This is because these processes have planted stronger forces in these countries which continues to push for global marketisation. But courageous inter-state cooperation outside the framework of market is likely to weaken these forces.
The above theoretical perspectives, needless to stress, indicate the thinking and the desire of the countries in the South to cooperate with each other in order for them to find alternative development agenda. But what are the prospects and the problems?
An Overview of Nigeria - TAC Assistance to ACP Countries
In less than a year in office. Precisely on 29 November 1985, President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida made his first major foreign policy statement on the occasion of the patron’s Dinner of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. Here, the president promised a dynamic continuity in two major areas of Nigerias interest: African regional issues which includes any form of assistance to deserving African countries and international affairs.
One way of tackling the case of assistance to deserving African countries was the establishment of TAC in 1986, with a mandate of managing technical assistance programme to developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and pacific. It serves as an instrument of foreign policy in developing and strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and recipient countries.
The major objectives of the TAC are: (1) sharing Nigerias know-how and expertise with other African, Caribbean and pacific countries; (2) giving assistance on the basis of the assessed and perceived needs of the recipient countries; (3) promoting cooperation and understanding between Nigeria and the recipient countries; and (4) facilitating meaningful contacts between the youth of Nigeria and those of the recipient countries (Onoja A. 2000:149).
Since the inception of the scheme, many countries in Africa and the Caribbean have benefited from the programme. it was noted that as at 1998, over 1049 volunteers had participated in the scheme in 21 African countries, five Caribbean states and one pacific region country (ibid : 149)
The Prospect of TAC for Increased South-South Cooperation
In view of significance of inter-state cooperation, it is proper to say that National Policies are the foundations and stimulants for the successful pursuit of development objectives at inter-country-level. This is because, what obtains in one country not only determines the course of development of that country, it also impacts directly or indirectly, favourably or unfavourably, on the form or modality or speed of inter-country or even regional cooperation or integration.
It is very evident that in the history of inter-country relations there are wide range of issues and national policies that become relevant in forging inter-country or regional cooperation. Nigeria has a long history of inter-country cooperation, especially with her neighbours and other countries in West African sub-region. These include giving direct financial assistance, supply of electric power resources, also of food grains to starvation countries, joint river project, etc.
The TAC is one of such National policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria, not only an alternative to direct financial aid to recipient countries, but a vehicle for mutual understanding and cooperation between Nigeria and ACP countries. Because selection is dependent on the recipient countries needs, there is no limit to the professional fields from which volunteers are recruited. Nonetheless, the areas in high demand by receiving states include medicine, nursing, law, general technology, management, teaching, agriculture and journalism
Any analysis of the role of TAC raises Nigeria’s international relations to a new perspective. This is because the TAC cuts across the traditional geographical boundary of cooperation inherited from the colonial period. As areas of cooperation for some time after independence generally tended to follow the economic and political dichotomy between English and French Speaking Countries. One significant feature of these two groups is the unique influence which the cultural, social, economic and political systems of the mother countries have had on these African countries. A glance through the beneficiaries will show diverse ‘economic and cultural background of the countries - e.g. Cape verde, Mozambique, Angola, Suriname, Guyana, Jamaica, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Seychelles, etc.
This has undoubtedly increased the diplomatic space of Nigeria such that there is hardly any African problem in international relations which Nigeria’s opinion is not heard. Secondly, Nigeria always got the support of the beneficiaries whenever it has an interest in any affair in international relation. Thirdly, the programme has promising potentiality of increasing range of economic, political, technological, managerial and other activities between Nigeria and the beneficiaries. Then finally, what do the corps bring home from their areas of service?
Problems of Inter-country Cooperation in Developing Countries
Inter-country cooperation outside a framework of a multilateral regional cooperation and integration is hardly fully documented. This is probably because such cooperation relationships are national policies, therefore do not get the attention of foreign policy analysts quickly. Secondly, such policies like of the TAC has a weak organisational linkage for implementation of the programme, as there might not be any institutionalised body for collection and dissemination of information about the positive and/or negative gains on both the giver and the beneficiaries.
Lack of institutionalised support drawn jointly with the expected beneficiaries naturally would render such programme a philanthropic project aimed as in the case of TAC, promoting not necessarily National interest of the giver but of the leaders. In International Relations Theory, this is far from a realist approach to attain a foreign policy goal.
While there is deficiency of institutional framework, ultimately the inter-country cooperation is not founded on a strategy based on the economic and political structure of these countries. Whereas diverse economic and political structures may be of great importance for diplomatic purpose, but an analysis of the structure of the economies of the giver and the beneficiaries is imperative in order to create a path of future economic integration of the two countries involved.
In a marketised global system the role of the state is expected to pave the way and support increased economic openness between Nigeria and other countries. Therefore, local interests could be empowered and guided to manage this kind of programme. But with a definite regulation on some critical professions.
If this is the case, would such inter-country cooperation of the countries in the developing world tame globalisation and reduce their external dependence as earlier claimed. The fact that this programme is exclusively derived from resources of a developing country channelled to another developing country, even if is subjected to market principle, with a minimum regulation, will prevent market fundamentalism and the interests of global corporate business.
Conclusion
On the basis of the analysis above there is no doubt of the need of cooperation between countries of the South. This will go along way of reducing their external dependence on big corporate powers. The TAC programme by Nigeria is one of such endewavours. It has a great potentiality of increasing the diplomatic power of Nigeria in world politics as well as of economic and cultural benefits. On the other hand the programme has inherent deficiencies which needs attention in order to make it more viable.
References
Aluko, O. (1981) Essays on Nigerian Foreign Policy. London. George Allen and Unwin
Ann, S. and Frederick, A. (eds.) (1992) Towards a New Vision of Self-sustainable Development. USA: Africa World Press
Bola, A. A. (2004) Nigerias New Foreign Policy Thrust: Essays in Honour of Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniyi. Ibadan: Vantage Publishers.
FRN (1979) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979.
FRN (1999) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Julius, E. O. (1987) "Assessing the Principles of Nigerian Foreign Policy". In Stephen, O. O. (eds) Alternative Political Futures for Nigeria. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (13th … 1986 May 20-24: Lagos)
Oga, A. (1987) Nigeria’s African Policy since Independence: An analysis of the character and conduct of foreign policy". In Okello Oculi (ed.) Nigerian Alternatives. ABU Zaria: Department of Political Science.
Onoja, A. (2000) Plying the Foreign Pitch: Media portrait of Sule Lamido’s Stewardship as Nigerias Foreign Minister Vol. 1 (1999 - 2000)
WTO AFTER HONG KONG: Death or Survival?
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO.
NIGERIA.
BRIEFING PAPER
WTO AFTER HONG KONG:
Death or Survival?
By
MM Yusif
@2008
Introduction
The mighty unpenetrable block of globalization is most likely cracking. The world trade organization, the unmovable stone holding tight this process is already over stretched. The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision and policy-making body of this great organization. Yet it failed to hold its regular meeting of the year 2007.
Going by the records of these meetings it is not wrong to say that it is the only forum which brings every sovereign state, major corporate business interest as observers and lobbys and many other groups as civil society organizations and media crew. In short it is a gathering of global economic powers and interests.
According to the law establishing the WTO the Ministerial Conference holds every two years. The last was at Hong Kong in 2005. The next was to convene in 2007 but up till now, in the year 2008 it did not hold. What is the problem with WTO that its major activity cannot meet a constitutional provision? Does it mean that at Hong Kong there was no accepted agenda to carry out the organization forward through the following two years? Or are there stalements in the negotiations which were to take place after Hong Kong? What is happening with the implementation of WTO Agreement? What of the power structure within the WTO?
From Cancun to Hong Kong
The first Ministerial Conference of the WTO was in Singapore in December 1996. The Second was in Geneva in May 1998. The controversial Seattle Ministerial Conference was the Third major multilateral trade negotiation meeting. But it was a total failure. The failure at Seattle was a serious setback to the global trading system. It was like the entire multilateral trading system under the WTO was going to collapse and give way to another. Inspite of Seattle, the WTO system returned with full force, deception and viciousness on the countries of the developing world. At Doha Ministerial Conference, in Qatar November 2001, the developing countries are deceived and silenced with so called Doha development Agenda. The Doha appeared like an appeasement but in reality ministers from the developing countries were coerced to consent to all issues pertaining to liberalization of agriculture, market access for non-agricultural products; the implementation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)S to support industrialization, relationship between trade and investment e.t.c (see WTO website- www.wto.int.)
The interim between Doha and Cancun-Mexico in September 2003 generated discord over implementation related difficulties. For many developing countries these difficulties are expressed in term of lack of technical know-how, lack of financial, human and institutional resources and that many of the Agreements were beyond the comprehension of many government officials and were unable to put it into effect even if they had wanted to do. The power structure in the WTO reflects the power relationship in the global economic system. The giant corporate business interests control the organization. All the agreements under the WTO regime are drafted and compiled by these multinational corporations and sold to WTO. Their home governments are very influential to defend them. That is why in the activities and administration of WTO there is always hearing of the Quads. i.e United State, Canada, European Union and Japan. The idea of reaching Agreement by consensus is to allow the position of these to prevail. Also of the Green Room.
For this reason, the Cancun Ministerial Conference ended in an impasse. Instead of a democratic dialogue between the developed and the developing countries to ease the tensions of developing states over the implementation of the WTO agreements as Pascal Lamy, the current Director General of WTO, who was the chief negotiator of the EU at Cancun, termed the WTO as a "medieval" organization. What does this show? This reveals that the WTO at Cancun conducted itself like a chieftaincy system, refusing to hear and discuss the complaints of majority members of the organization. Therefore, the problem since Hong Kong has started from Cancun. The former Indian commerce minister summed up the outcome of the Cancun in one sentence when he said that we ended with "no deal is better than a bad deal."
The fragile condition of the WTO regime is the result of explosive growth in the capacity and influence of the developing states to refuse to be coerced by the strong powers in the WTO. First, from global perspectives of global governance, the coming states in the South-China, India, Brazil and South Africa are already taking the global system off its traditional course. Thus, the supremacy of USA and the West is beginning to falter. Secondly there is increasing growth of regional trade relations which although are being regulated by the global trade regime but is moving beyond the control of WTO.
These have helped to erode the power of the strong economies in the world and is mirrored most dramatically in the WTO system. A reflection of this in the global trade structure is the forming of coalitions to oppose the dictate of the major interests in the organization. Many such coalitions as G20 later becomes G22, G33 and G90 exist.
The coalitions are making the weaker nations gradually acquiring stronger voice demanding a genuine market opening concessions from powerful nations like the United States.
Exactly the G20 alliance was created around the issues of agricultural trade, but its strength and success generated counter balance against United States and European Union in other trade negotiations. This group which appeared shortly before Cancun meeting, the members are all from developing countries. These are:
Brazil; China; India; South Africa; Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Cuba; Egypt; Indonesia; Mexico; Nigeria; Pakistan; Paraguay; Philippine; Thailand; Tanzania; Venezuela; Zimbabwe; Kenya.
Whereas there is no ranking among the members, yet the first four listed above set the tone. This is no surprising as they are the strongest economies of the developing world and at other levels of global politics are being canvassed to join the G8 in the global governance.
There is also the G33. These too are developing countries. These countries which also appeared in Cancun are importers of Agricultural products, many of them also single crop producers and exporters. They demand exceptions for certain products as full liberalization could badly hurt their economies and populations. They are.
Barbados, Botswana, Congo, South-Korea, Coted’voire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hondorus, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru Philippine, Senegal, Srilanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
There is also the G90. Like the G20and G33, this group was also born in Cancun to oppose attempts by the USA and EU to include the so called Singapore issues - investment, competition policy, government procurement and trade facilitation, in the negotiations. This group drawn from the developing economies of Latin America and Asia was led by Guyana.
By the time of Cancun, whereas there were divisions of interest among and between members of the various coalitions and some skillfully tried to identify with the major powers in the WTO regime yet, this has never covered the reality that the global trade system is getting into crisis. One exhibition of this crisis is that some developed countries in the WTO-France, Italy, Germany and Britain- are identifying with interest of these coalitions. Secondly, many disputes between the USA and the developing states were settled in favour of the developing countries. Thirdly some of the negotiations to prepare for Hong Kong were never concluded. So the Hong Kong was virtually called and attended by developing state without enthusiasm toward any agreement.
The Hong Kong
One analyst from center for International Trade, Economics and Environment, India observed that "The Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong began on a very pessimistic note. A day before the inaugural, the attendance was very poor. Delegates of the WTO member countries even did not reach. The general impression was that not much was going to happen at Hong Kong."
Undoubtedly, that was how the Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting started and that was how it ended. The scene of the conference looked like Gramscian "war of Position" between four centers of power - G20; G33; the USA and EU on one side and then the least developed countries; each wanted to contest against the coalition of the USA and EU.
The developing countries had many vital issues to be resolved. These include:
The cotton initiative: Agreement to address all trade distorting policies affecting the sector--farm subsidy to be eliminated by developed countries. To allow market access for cotton exports from LDCS; promote export competition by not subsiding export. These are generally applicable to agricultural trade
Amendment of TRIPS Agreement to address the public Health concerns of poor countries
The duty and quota free market access on all product i.e. NAMA. This involved tariff reduction, non tariff barriers; and preference erosion.
Services: developed countries are to make higher level of liberalization of trade in services with appropriate flexibility for developing countries. But because of the weakness of the economies of LDCs, to allow them the right to regulate trade in services.
Small economies: to guarantee full integration of small economies into the multilateral system without creation of sub-category of WTO members
Problems of implementation of WTO Agreements - e.g. of TRIP relating to biological diversity
Aid for trade: particularly for LDC’s, aid should be provided to build capacity and related infrastructure in order to benefit from participation in global multilateral trade system.
Many other less important issues such as on technical cooperation, commodity issues, trade and transfer of technology, trade and finance and on settlement of disputes.
However, the developed countries remained non-committed to those seven critical issues of the developing countries. They have refused even to discuss the problems such that there had not been any deal at Hong Kong as negotiations were only postponed. But it was brilliantly managed in order to avoid another collapse of WTO Ministerial Conference
Naturally, as observers argued, the only achievement of Hong Kong is that the Ministerial did not fail. A journalist from financial times said the trade ministers had met just to keep the organization alive.
AFTER HONG KONG: WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Three years after Hong Kong the most powerful international organization, managing and moving the current globalization has gone to sleep and still is not awake. What is happening?
In between ministerial conferences which hold every two years, there is a general council which carries on the activities of the organization and the direction set by ministerial meeting. Inspite of the disagreement at Hong Kong, the ministerial declaration was released and it was expected that by 2006 negotiation in various panels and committees would be concluded, and therefore, the 2007 target of the ministerial could be met. But it seems these negotiations are once again plunged into serious crisis. A WTO monitor has observed that in 2006 three deadlines of meetings on eliminating farm export subsidies, and non-Agricultural market access failed. Another meeting on the issue of services too is revised. Again what is it that is happening?
Disagreement among countries on trade issues were and are not uncommon. In the past history of global trade relations these took dangerous dimension leading to wars between nations. Famous historians and economists documented that in the past, global free trade came and collapsed because big economic powers monopolized the benefits and the weaker ones suffers lacks of growth and development as well as poverty.
The contemporary global free market trade under the WTO regime is undoubtedly being captured and is controlled by American corporate interests. These have created irreconcilable differences between the USA and the developing world, the developed and the developing countries, also divisions of opinions and expectations among the developed countries. So many other deep divisions.
The disharmony is enough to bedevil completion of negotiations to prepare for another Ministerial Conference after the Hong Kong. Add to this, the situation is taking sharp political and ideological differences. This can be seen from the following issues for WTO regime to address
Unlike the GATT dealing separately with few developing countries. Or even the WTO regime, when it started with only 65 countries who attended the Uruguay Round, now there are more than 140 developing countries. Their number is a strength, yet the WTO had not evolved a new decision-making process to accommodate this new force. Thus, it has become impossible for the WTO regime to continue to function as an undemocratic organization.
Subsequently, there is need of reform of the institutional structure of the WTO regime as it is becoming increasingly evident that the largest trading countries who manipulate the WTO system, has now bred mutual distrust and lack of credibility in the system. For example the so called "Green Room" consultation process which had worked well in early years of WTO system, is now hardly accepted with large number of member country delegations. Therefore, the question of transparency has become an issue which must be resolved in order to move forward.
Question of unity but with diverse interest is often at the heart of the WTO system. Therefore, the global trading institution could always get it much easier to do the bidding of the big corporate interests. Its consensus strategy would not be disturbed. However, with growth of coalition movements G20; G33, G90; G77 and many other blocs around specific interests has already turned the table against the WTO regime.
Naturally, the Dispute Settlement Process (DSP) too is getting a new force because of the silent revolution in the WTO system. The DSP is like a judicial system of the regime. Rather than retaliate or apply blockage the system allows a member to file a complain against another member. A panel is established to hear the case and make recommendation. The process is thorough. The record of the WTO system shows that in the early years of this "New Trade" the USA had made all the complaints and had won all the cases. But now the united states of America had lost many cases. The government and the corporate interest in united state of America are not silent on these issues. They have already started a debate whether the WTO regime is good for the interest of USA. In other words, they are asking a question whether the Multilateral Trading System will continue to be the engine for growth and prosperity. The stakes for USA are that on the DSP, many members do not adhere to the decisions, while many DSP decisions do not consider US trade laws in passing judgment. Other issues of disagreement with WTO system are on the rules and regulations of standards on labour, environment and food safety. The US corporate interests in developing countries are putting pressure to follow these standards. But in their own country the debate is whether the WTO regime has the power to make the government of USA to change its domestic laws
While the united state has an interest in the benefit derived from being part of the WTO system, some corporate interest are turning against the multilateral trading system, and the debate is still going on whether to continue to participate or go for alternatives through bilateral or regional trade relation.
Conclusion
An activist and critic of the WTO system, Walden Bello has already noted that from the free market paradigm that underpins the international trading system, "to the rules and regulations set forth in the different agreement that make up the Uruguay round, to the system of decision making and accountability, the WTO is a blue print for global hegemony of corporate America".
The system is deliberately designed to execute the majority members from the developing world so that they could suffer untold consequences or marginalization and inequality in favour of increasing richness of giant corporations in the global trading system.
Given this trend, the belief widely held by countries in the developing world is that this process must be reversed. The problem however, is whether an organization such as the WTO, which is fundamentally founded to promote powerlessness and inequality of the south vis-à-vis the north, could be reformed.
The developed countries, the USA in particular, still needs the WTO arrangement. But is there willingness to carry out some reform measures in the regime. Whatever, as a result of solidarity among the developing countries, there is already a silent revolution seen coming in the international trading system. Some giant corporate interests in USA, transnational elites and professionals in the WTO secretariat, are against these changes.
Now, in the third year after Hong Kong. What will happen to the WTO regime? Will it be left to die or a checkered living? Or will the giant corporations and their governments return to the control of the WTO regime with a renewed military power and strategy against the developing world.
References
Dilip K.D (2002). Global Trading System. Website
Dimas Garba (2006) The Myths and Realities of WTO agreements on industrialization in Third World countries. Being a Project submitted to the department of political science, faculty of social and management sciences, Bayero University Kano, in partial fulfillment of the Award of Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science.
Lan F.F and Lenore S. (2005), World Trade Organization: The continue Participation Debate. CRS Report for Congress. Website.
Walden Bello(2001). The Future in the Balance: (Essay on globalization and resistance Oaxland, California food First Books
William G (2003) The Nation. Website
WTO (2005) Hong Kong Draft Ministerial Declaration. Website.
ANNEX A
DIRECTION FOR WTO MOCK SUMMIT
AUGUST, 2008
The fourth WTO Mock Summit is planned to hold in first week of August.
It is the 2007/2008 performance-tagged Senegal 2008
It is going to be modeled on the situation of the WTO regime after Hong Kong.
The situation is that the regime is in crisis:
The governance of the WTO system is questioned by the majority members from developing countries.
Subsequently, these countries have mastered power, through coalitions to turn many activities of the WTO regime in their favour.
Therefore, many negotiations are stalled to check the excesses of the quads in another Round. Accordingly, this Mock round is going to be tense.
In the sense that the developed world would come with usual show of power to reassert their positions in the regime
The developing countries will insist against the bad practices of the WTO regime.
We will like the scenario to show that developing countries are winning, the rank of the developed states breaking, and a deadlock because of the stand of USA.
The principal issues to be aware of are
Agriculture
Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures
Trade-related Aspects of intellectual property rights
Standard: labour, environment and food safety- covered by SPS measures
Trade Related Investment Measures
Trade and Competition policy
Services - particularly information technology products
Textile and Clothing
Market Access for non-Agricultural products
Transperancy and government procurement
Regional Trade Agreement
Dispute settlement understanding
General institutional structure of WTO system
Implementation problems
ANNEX B
PREPARATION FOR THE MOCK SUMMIT
Training will take-off by the Director delivering a lecture on the recent issues before the WTO.
All the participants are expected to attend. This year I will take it very serious, to drop those who are missing the training exercise.
After the lecture all the participants will be divided into working groups each to be headed by one of the participants - according to my judgement of his/her ability on the issues
The topics of the working groups would be: Agriculture, NAMA, DSP; institutional structure of WTO; The agreements; WTO-Regional Trade; implementation; Agro-allied interests
The resource persons as chairmen of the working groups are; Umar Danjuma; Hamza Marafa; Adamu Isma’il, Shehu Haruna; Aliyu Zubairu; Awwal Abubakar; Fararaddeen Abdulrahman Dodo; Isma’il Galadima; and Murtala Garba.
Following the working group discussions the actors will be given one week to do further research and submit a report on the issues to be presented during the summit.
Finally, there will be a rehearsal of two weeks. Then the Summit will hold.
ANNEX C
SELECTED COUNTRY’S REPORT
BRAZIL
Contrary to WTO message of liberalization of trade, the USA imposed sanctions against Brazilian Exporters of steel products to US market
Also with Canada on the subject of subsidies for the export of airplanes for regional passenger transportation
Then conflict with the multinational pharmaceutical corporations which produce medicines distributed free of charge by the Brazilian Government to HIV infected persons.
Deadlock on barriers to and subsidies for agricultural products imposed by developed countries.
Reassessment of TRIMS or Demanding at least that trade-related investment measures not be applicable to the developing countries
Brazil with three other countries - Argentina. Paraguay and Uruguay in an independent regional cooperation arrangement - measures which brings it into conflicts with USA and hence the WTO procedures.
Thus, it is persistently against the WTO on the issue that WTO must not undermine the national sovereignty of members from the developing world.
NIGERIA
Whereas we need assistance and even partnership to build our small and medium scale industries, but we insist that such assistance would not be under condition that we must source production machine and equipments from developed countries that gave development aid to those enterprises
We in Nigeria want to build a national economy by among other things encouraging local fabrication of machines to hold the economy independent. In any way there are cheaper and more locally adaptive machines that can be sourced from the far East-Asian countries.
We in Nigeria are very sorry that inspite of many years with WTO rules and regulations, the business communities are still unable to access foreign markets in traditional export items such as agricultural produce, textile and clothing, e.t.c
Subsequently, the economy of Nigeria is still dominated by the oil sector as the non-export oil volume is up to now very low.
Of great concern to public health is that Nigeria’s membership of the WTO has thrown the nations door wide open to the importation of foreign goods, and has made Nigeria a dumping ground for fake drugs from other countries. This is compounded by the restriction under intellectual property rights to patent our biological resources for our needs.
Most of our industries in Nigeria have collapsed as the dumping of foreign goods has led to a large volume of unsold locally manufactured goods, thereby depressing the production volume of the manufacturing sector.
In Nigeria, as in Brazil and South Africa we have tested a scientific mixture of local herbs that could be processed to manufacture Anti-Viral against HIV affordable to every Nigerian infected by the disease. But foreign pharmaceutical companies had already launched a campaign against this scientific test as contrary to international medicine standard. Although we remain silence on this matter, but we filed a dispute settlement long time ago.
Finally, the position of Nigeria is that there is hardly any benefit being in the WTO, therefore we demand for total review of all the WTO Agreements.
CUBA
The government and the people of Cuba are aware beyond any reasonable doubt that the WTO is the USA corporations dominated Organization to promote their interest of global domination and control of the economies of the developing countries
The government of Cuba is in this body to monitor and opposed the sinister plan of those corporations against our economy
It is a common knowledge to world community that the government of USA by a legislation - the Helms Birton Act- sectioned companies dealing with countries it does not like and the most victim being Cuba.
In the same Act the USA penalized any Foreign firm with American property, doing business with people Republic of Cuba
In the wake of deregulation and liberalization of trade, the USA export regulations relaxed controls on many countries but not Cuba
On market access to developed countries Cuba is convinced that inspite of many years of WTO rules and negotiation, global liberalization of trade had not materialized. In order to allow "real and effective market opportunities", the people of Cuba feel that future negotiations should take into account the need to develop a package of measures aimed at improving the national food security in developing countries, thus maintaining a high standard of living of the rural population.
Cuba is of the view that the Agreement would be worthless if, at the end of it’s implementation, market access had been restricted. Indeed it is not relevant to contemplate any new commitment, if this problem had not been determined.
Cuba is disturbed with increasing food insecurity in developing countries as a result of WTO multilateral trading system. The situation has become that if a country wants to pass laws that enable it to feed its people, and those laws are not consistent with so called free trade they are disallowed. Trade is thus given a higher priority than food.
Further more, the Trips has become a stumbling block on food security as it has direct bearing on food production in particular and agriculture in general. This is because if a process to produce a plant is patented, the owner of the patent has exclusive right over the plants obtained using the process. Farmers are then forbidden the use of any seeds coming from such a plant.
In a similar way the Trips undermines public health and medical research in general.
Finally, we in Cuba do not subject our economy to these rules and regulations of the corporate managed trade under the WTO regime. About agriculture in particular our orientation is food security not agriculture for trade.
And in order to avoid any embarrassment we have developed organic agricultural method and other local technologies to sustain our method of production.
Lastly, in this ministerial conference we have to reflects over all the agreement under the WTO system with a view of renegotiating them again.
Zimbabwe
When Zimbabwe attained it’s independence in 1980, there were high hopes for the country’s economic future
It became one of the top four more industrilised countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; the food basket of Southern Africa; with diversified economy than most African Countries; there were considerable investment in social development; the economy itself grew.
In 1990 the country embarked on an Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP). ESAP has the standard World Bank-IMF-WTO emphasis on trade liberalization. Farmers have been hit particularly hard. Government support for farmers has been drastically reduced- which in turn affected food output
The WTO measures on Agreement on Agriculture became fully implemented. Zimbabwe commitment under AOA includes the removal of Import and Export subsidies, the removal of subsidies to be replaced by direct transfers and reduction of tariffs.
Further more, domestic trade in all agricultural products except maize has been liberalized
The consequence of all these is that a rapidly deteriorating economic climate descended on Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe renamed the ESAP as "Extreme Suffering for African People’s Programme".
However, Zimbabwe has no other alternative but of a return to protectionist policies characterized by a reintroduction of price controls on some basic food items, tariff protection and exchange controls.
Combine with the land occupation exercise this escalated conflict between Zimbabwe and the major imperialist nations and the Supra-national Organizations that managed the global economy on their behalf
But the government of Zimbabwe, inspite of everything insisted on going ahead with the anti-liberalization measures.
ANNEX D
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCESS
A central feature of WTO regime is it’s dispute settlement mechanism
It is a sort of juridical and legalistic system, whose decision comes out as a legal verdict and is binding on it’s members
Furthermore the process has had an enormous political and economic impact on global trade system and diplomacy.
However, the WTO dispute settlement system build upon the GATT dispute settlement procedures.
But the GATT system is more of a voluntary arbitration which allows for appeal in the world court in some circumstances.
Accordingly, at GATT system, disputes were settled at semi-annual meeting of the contracting parties. If this failed disputes were brought to inter-sessional committee of the parties and subsequently delegated to a working party and later to a panel of private individuals who have no interest with any of the parties.
Of course there are many problems of the GATT system, especially with interpretation of Article XVIII of the GATT regulations and the implementation of the verdicts.
Without solving all the problems associated with GATT, the dispute settlement understanding at the Uruguay Round improves over the GATT dispute settlement procedure by
Establishing unified dispute settlement instead of each agreement has its own.
All relevant legal texts of Uruguay Round becomes law applicable in resolving dispute
The rights of a complaining party to have a panel - without complain being blocked by other interest.
Indeed, a unique procedure emerged.
In the WTO regime dispute is only government versus government.
That is that every member has the right to settle differences with another member according to procedures of the WTO as elaborated in Dispute Settlement understanding.
The procedure begins if a request is made transmitted to the secretariat.
Then Dispute settlement number is assigned to the dispute. All documents about that dispute bear that number.
If more than one country brings complains on the same issues, they are consolidate as one.
The process starts with consultation. If the parties failed to settle within 60 days then dispute panel is established. The parties have to accept the panel. But if there are sharp differences on members of the panel the Director General has final say and all must accept.
The panel operates under terms of reference. It receives oral and written submission from the parties and from a third party if any.
After oral and written submissions from the parties, an interim report is written and given to the parties to make comment.
Then a final report is written and submitted to dispute settlement board for adoption. But appeal is allowed after which a final report is submitted which becomes binding on parties and other members
We hereby create a scenario of dispute between the government of Nigeria and the government of USA representing its pharmaceutical corporations in Nigeria.
The complainant is Nigeria. The ground of the complain is that one resourceful Nigerian-Dr Abalaka, a medical scientist and consultant based in Abuja tested and proved some local substances that could be used to process anti-virals to cure HIV Aids at very cheap price
The USA based pharmaceutical corporations through their government accused the government of Nigeria of
A report of a scientific investigation which is patented long time ago.
Secondly, of agricultural resources that are already owned by some business corporate interests
Thirdly, these are agricultural products found in the area the federal government of Nigeria gave to the white farmers of Zimbabwe who came with their farm enterprises to Nigeria - therefore under TRIMS these are not the rights of the government and people of Nigeria
Fourthly, the government of Nigeria is accused of condoning attempt to violate WTO-DSU decision taken many years ago
Subsequently, the government of the USA threatened the federal government of Nigeria with a trade sanction if it allows Dr Abalaka to continue talking about his scientific investigation.
Thus, the federal government of Nigeria is forced to stop the campaign of Dr. Abalaka for Cheap anti-viral HIV AIDs Drugs
By this submission the FRN is demanding/praying for our national sovereignty, autonomous economic development and for no intervention in the public health of Nigerians.
Finally, we demand for reverse of all judicial decisions of the WTO system not favourable to demands above.
ANNEX E
WORKING GROUPS TOWARD PREPARING FOR THE MOCK SUMMIT
WTO Agreements
Umar Danjuma and Lawi Isa Abdullahi as co-chairman
Agreement On Agriculture
Hamza Marafa as Chairman
WTO and Regional Trade
Adamu Isma’il as Chairman
Non-Agricultural Market access
Shehu Haruna
Problems of Implementation
Murtala Garba
Agricultural trade and food security
Fararadden Abdulrahman Dodo
Dispute settlement understanding
Aliyu Zubairu and Yusuf Koroka
Institutional structure of WTO
Awwal Abubakar
The QUAD in the WTO System
Isma’il Galadima
Developing countries in the WTO
Umar Kabir
On Media
Sani Sabi’u
Sadiq Mahdi
ANNEX F
By 9:00am the Venue will be set
Then the audience and invited guests will be coming and got seated.
While that is going on the delegates/participants too are coming around in their full regalia (hanging outside the venue).
Meanwhile the media men are getting set with their instruments
At appropriate time the BBC will start broadcasting news capturing that the WTO summit is now holding in Dakar-Senegal.
Then the media would be showing, see the Director General arriving with his crew e.t.c
These would be followed by delegates
Then on the conference hall the Director General would be seen talking and making consultation, then he would announce that the minister of trade of Senegal will now take his seat as the chairman of the summit.
By this time the agenda and some papers will be placed before the chairman.
The head of state of Senegal is arriving.
The Director General would now welcome the Head of State of Senegal and invite him to declare the conference open.
This is by making speech.
As soon as he finished and left with his entourage the chairman will start the agenda by calling the Director General to give opening remarks.
Then to be followed by speech of the chairman
After the speech the chairman would refer to the DG for report of committees. Then the reports would come one by one- Agriculture; Textile; TRIPS; Services
After the reports the chairman will open the floor for comments by delegates-this would come by raising of hands and by the chairman recognizing one at a point.
During the US trade representative speech, the demonstrators will come in and disrupt the summit, chanting slogan against WTO. However, the demonstrators will be blocked by having security men dispatched. The US trade representative will then continue.
It is always better that there are disagreements. So that by the time each has spoken, the situation becomes very tense
Then the floor would be open again for some countries to make assertions which would still appear more controversial.
Then going to the green room would announced by the Chairman and who would go there with USA, EU, Canada; Japan and Director General to decide on the issues finally.
Going to the green room would be vehemently opposed as undemocratic by delegates from developing countries.
The final declaration will be read.
Then the summit closes.
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO.
NIGERIA.
BRIEFING PAPER
WTO AFTER HONG KONG:
Death or Survival?
By
MM Yusif
@2008
Introduction
The mighty unpenetrable block of globalization is most likely cracking. The world trade organization, the unmovable stone holding tight this process is already over stretched. The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision and policy-making body of this great organization. Yet it failed to hold its regular meeting of the year 2007.
Going by the records of these meetings it is not wrong to say that it is the only forum which brings every sovereign state, major corporate business interest as observers and lobbys and many other groups as civil society organizations and media crew. In short it is a gathering of global economic powers and interests.
According to the law establishing the WTO the Ministerial Conference holds every two years. The last was at Hong Kong in 2005. The next was to convene in 2007 but up till now, in the year 2008 it did not hold. What is the problem with WTO that its major activity cannot meet a constitutional provision? Does it mean that at Hong Kong there was no accepted agenda to carry out the organization forward through the following two years? Or are there stalements in the negotiations which were to take place after Hong Kong? What is happening with the implementation of WTO Agreement? What of the power structure within the WTO?
From Cancun to Hong Kong
The first Ministerial Conference of the WTO was in Singapore in December 1996. The Second was in Geneva in May 1998. The controversial Seattle Ministerial Conference was the Third major multilateral trade negotiation meeting. But it was a total failure. The failure at Seattle was a serious setback to the global trading system. It was like the entire multilateral trading system under the WTO was going to collapse and give way to another. Inspite of Seattle, the WTO system returned with full force, deception and viciousness on the countries of the developing world. At Doha Ministerial Conference, in Qatar November 2001, the developing countries are deceived and silenced with so called Doha development Agenda. The Doha appeared like an appeasement but in reality ministers from the developing countries were coerced to consent to all issues pertaining to liberalization of agriculture, market access for non-agricultural products; the implementation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)S to support industrialization, relationship between trade and investment e.t.c (see WTO website- www.wto.int.)
The interim between Doha and Cancun-Mexico in September 2003 generated discord over implementation related difficulties. For many developing countries these difficulties are expressed in term of lack of technical know-how, lack of financial, human and institutional resources and that many of the Agreements were beyond the comprehension of many government officials and were unable to put it into effect even if they had wanted to do. The power structure in the WTO reflects the power relationship in the global economic system. The giant corporate business interests control the organization. All the agreements under the WTO regime are drafted and compiled by these multinational corporations and sold to WTO. Their home governments are very influential to defend them. That is why in the activities and administration of WTO there is always hearing of the Quads. i.e United State, Canada, European Union and Japan. The idea of reaching Agreement by consensus is to allow the position of these to prevail. Also of the Green Room.
For this reason, the Cancun Ministerial Conference ended in an impasse. Instead of a democratic dialogue between the developed and the developing countries to ease the tensions of developing states over the implementation of the WTO agreements as Pascal Lamy, the current Director General of WTO, who was the chief negotiator of the EU at Cancun, termed the WTO as a "medieval" organization. What does this show? This reveals that the WTO at Cancun conducted itself like a chieftaincy system, refusing to hear and discuss the complaints of majority members of the organization. Therefore, the problem since Hong Kong has started from Cancun. The former Indian commerce minister summed up the outcome of the Cancun in one sentence when he said that we ended with "no deal is better than a bad deal."
The fragile condition of the WTO regime is the result of explosive growth in the capacity and influence of the developing states to refuse to be coerced by the strong powers in the WTO. First, from global perspectives of global governance, the coming states in the South-China, India, Brazil and South Africa are already taking the global system off its traditional course. Thus, the supremacy of USA and the West is beginning to falter. Secondly there is increasing growth of regional trade relations which although are being regulated by the global trade regime but is moving beyond the control of WTO.
These have helped to erode the power of the strong economies in the world and is mirrored most dramatically in the WTO system. A reflection of this in the global trade structure is the forming of coalitions to oppose the dictate of the major interests in the organization. Many such coalitions as G20 later becomes G22, G33 and G90 exist.
The coalitions are making the weaker nations gradually acquiring stronger voice demanding a genuine market opening concessions from powerful nations like the United States.
Exactly the G20 alliance was created around the issues of agricultural trade, but its strength and success generated counter balance against United States and European Union in other trade negotiations. This group which appeared shortly before Cancun meeting, the members are all from developing countries. These are:
Brazil; China; India; South Africa; Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Cuba; Egypt; Indonesia; Mexico; Nigeria; Pakistan; Paraguay; Philippine; Thailand; Tanzania; Venezuela; Zimbabwe; Kenya.
Whereas there is no ranking among the members, yet the first four listed above set the tone. This is no surprising as they are the strongest economies of the developing world and at other levels of global politics are being canvassed to join the G8 in the global governance.
There is also the G33. These too are developing countries. These countries which also appeared in Cancun are importers of Agricultural products, many of them also single crop producers and exporters. They demand exceptions for certain products as full liberalization could badly hurt their economies and populations. They are.
Barbados, Botswana, Congo, South-Korea, Coted’voire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hondorus, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru Philippine, Senegal, Srilanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
There is also the G90. Like the G20and G33, this group was also born in Cancun to oppose attempts by the USA and EU to include the so called Singapore issues - investment, competition policy, government procurement and trade facilitation, in the negotiations. This group drawn from the developing economies of Latin America and Asia was led by Guyana.
By the time of Cancun, whereas there were divisions of interest among and between members of the various coalitions and some skillfully tried to identify with the major powers in the WTO regime yet, this has never covered the reality that the global trade system is getting into crisis. One exhibition of this crisis is that some developed countries in the WTO-France, Italy, Germany and Britain- are identifying with interest of these coalitions. Secondly, many disputes between the USA and the developing states were settled in favour of the developing countries. Thirdly some of the negotiations to prepare for Hong Kong were never concluded. So the Hong Kong was virtually called and attended by developing state without enthusiasm toward any agreement.
The Hong Kong
One analyst from center for International Trade, Economics and Environment, India observed that "The Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong began on a very pessimistic note. A day before the inaugural, the attendance was very poor. Delegates of the WTO member countries even did not reach. The general impression was that not much was going to happen at Hong Kong."
Undoubtedly, that was how the Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting started and that was how it ended. The scene of the conference looked like Gramscian "war of Position" between four centers of power - G20; G33; the USA and EU on one side and then the least developed countries; each wanted to contest against the coalition of the USA and EU.
The developing countries had many vital issues to be resolved. These include:
The cotton initiative: Agreement to address all trade distorting policies affecting the sector--farm subsidy to be eliminated by developed countries. To allow market access for cotton exports from LDCS; promote export competition by not subsiding export. These are generally applicable to agricultural trade
Amendment of TRIPS Agreement to address the public Health concerns of poor countries
The duty and quota free market access on all product i.e. NAMA. This involved tariff reduction, non tariff barriers; and preference erosion.
Services: developed countries are to make higher level of liberalization of trade in services with appropriate flexibility for developing countries. But because of the weakness of the economies of LDCs, to allow them the right to regulate trade in services.
Small economies: to guarantee full integration of small economies into the multilateral system without creation of sub-category of WTO members
Problems of implementation of WTO Agreements - e.g. of TRIP relating to biological diversity
Aid for trade: particularly for LDC’s, aid should be provided to build capacity and related infrastructure in order to benefit from participation in global multilateral trade system.
Many other less important issues such as on technical cooperation, commodity issues, trade and transfer of technology, trade and finance and on settlement of disputes.
However, the developed countries remained non-committed to those seven critical issues of the developing countries. They have refused even to discuss the problems such that there had not been any deal at Hong Kong as negotiations were only postponed. But it was brilliantly managed in order to avoid another collapse of WTO Ministerial Conference
Naturally, as observers argued, the only achievement of Hong Kong is that the Ministerial did not fail. A journalist from financial times said the trade ministers had met just to keep the organization alive.
AFTER HONG KONG: WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Three years after Hong Kong the most powerful international organization, managing and moving the current globalization has gone to sleep and still is not awake. What is happening?
In between ministerial conferences which hold every two years, there is a general council which carries on the activities of the organization and the direction set by ministerial meeting. Inspite of the disagreement at Hong Kong, the ministerial declaration was released and it was expected that by 2006 negotiation in various panels and committees would be concluded, and therefore, the 2007 target of the ministerial could be met. But it seems these negotiations are once again plunged into serious crisis. A WTO monitor has observed that in 2006 three deadlines of meetings on eliminating farm export subsidies, and non-Agricultural market access failed. Another meeting on the issue of services too is revised. Again what is it that is happening?
Disagreement among countries on trade issues were and are not uncommon. In the past history of global trade relations these took dangerous dimension leading to wars between nations. Famous historians and economists documented that in the past, global free trade came and collapsed because big economic powers monopolized the benefits and the weaker ones suffers lacks of growth and development as well as poverty.
The contemporary global free market trade under the WTO regime is undoubtedly being captured and is controlled by American corporate interests. These have created irreconcilable differences between the USA and the developing world, the developed and the developing countries, also divisions of opinions and expectations among the developed countries. So many other deep divisions.
The disharmony is enough to bedevil completion of negotiations to prepare for another Ministerial Conference after the Hong Kong. Add to this, the situation is taking sharp political and ideological differences. This can be seen from the following issues for WTO regime to address
Unlike the GATT dealing separately with few developing countries. Or even the WTO regime, when it started with only 65 countries who attended the Uruguay Round, now there are more than 140 developing countries. Their number is a strength, yet the WTO had not evolved a new decision-making process to accommodate this new force. Thus, it has become impossible for the WTO regime to continue to function as an undemocratic organization.
Subsequently, there is need of reform of the institutional structure of the WTO regime as it is becoming increasingly evident that the largest trading countries who manipulate the WTO system, has now bred mutual distrust and lack of credibility in the system. For example the so called "Green Room" consultation process which had worked well in early years of WTO system, is now hardly accepted with large number of member country delegations. Therefore, the question of transparency has become an issue which must be resolved in order to move forward.
Question of unity but with diverse interest is often at the heart of the WTO system. Therefore, the global trading institution could always get it much easier to do the bidding of the big corporate interests. Its consensus strategy would not be disturbed. However, with growth of coalition movements G20; G33, G90; G77 and many other blocs around specific interests has already turned the table against the WTO regime.
Naturally, the Dispute Settlement Process (DSP) too is getting a new force because of the silent revolution in the WTO system. The DSP is like a judicial system of the regime. Rather than retaliate or apply blockage the system allows a member to file a complain against another member. A panel is established to hear the case and make recommendation. The process is thorough. The record of the WTO system shows that in the early years of this "New Trade" the USA had made all the complaints and had won all the cases. But now the united states of America had lost many cases. The government and the corporate interest in united state of America are not silent on these issues. They have already started a debate whether the WTO regime is good for the interest of USA. In other words, they are asking a question whether the Multilateral Trading System will continue to be the engine for growth and prosperity. The stakes for USA are that on the DSP, many members do not adhere to the decisions, while many DSP decisions do not consider US trade laws in passing judgment. Other issues of disagreement with WTO system are on the rules and regulations of standards on labour, environment and food safety. The US corporate interests in developing countries are putting pressure to follow these standards. But in their own country the debate is whether the WTO regime has the power to make the government of USA to change its domestic laws
While the united state has an interest in the benefit derived from being part of the WTO system, some corporate interest are turning against the multilateral trading system, and the debate is still going on whether to continue to participate or go for alternatives through bilateral or regional trade relation.
Conclusion
An activist and critic of the WTO system, Walden Bello has already noted that from the free market paradigm that underpins the international trading system, "to the rules and regulations set forth in the different agreement that make up the Uruguay round, to the system of decision making and accountability, the WTO is a blue print for global hegemony of corporate America".
The system is deliberately designed to execute the majority members from the developing world so that they could suffer untold consequences or marginalization and inequality in favour of increasing richness of giant corporations in the global trading system.
Given this trend, the belief widely held by countries in the developing world is that this process must be reversed. The problem however, is whether an organization such as the WTO, which is fundamentally founded to promote powerlessness and inequality of the south vis-à-vis the north, could be reformed.
The developed countries, the USA in particular, still needs the WTO arrangement. But is there willingness to carry out some reform measures in the regime. Whatever, as a result of solidarity among the developing countries, there is already a silent revolution seen coming in the international trading system. Some giant corporate interests in USA, transnational elites and professionals in the WTO secretariat, are against these changes.
Now, in the third year after Hong Kong. What will happen to the WTO regime? Will it be left to die or a checkered living? Or will the giant corporations and their governments return to the control of the WTO regime with a renewed military power and strategy against the developing world.
References
Dilip K.D (2002). Global Trading System. Website
Dimas Garba (2006) The Myths and Realities of WTO agreements on industrialization in Third World countries. Being a Project submitted to the department of political science, faculty of social and management sciences, Bayero University Kano, in partial fulfillment of the Award of Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science.
Lan F.F and Lenore S. (2005), World Trade Organization: The continue Participation Debate. CRS Report for Congress. Website.
Walden Bello(2001). The Future in the Balance: (Essay on globalization and resistance Oaxland, California food First Books
William G (2003) The Nation. Website
WTO (2005) Hong Kong Draft Ministerial Declaration. Website.
ANNEX A
DIRECTION FOR WTO MOCK SUMMIT
AUGUST, 2008
The fourth WTO Mock Summit is planned to hold in first week of August.
It is the 2007/2008 performance-tagged Senegal 2008
It is going to be modeled on the situation of the WTO regime after Hong Kong.
The situation is that the regime is in crisis:
The governance of the WTO system is questioned by the majority members from developing countries.
Subsequently, these countries have mastered power, through coalitions to turn many activities of the WTO regime in their favour.
Therefore, many negotiations are stalled to check the excesses of the quads in another Round. Accordingly, this Mock round is going to be tense.
In the sense that the developed world would come with usual show of power to reassert their positions in the regime
The developing countries will insist against the bad practices of the WTO regime.
We will like the scenario to show that developing countries are winning, the rank of the developed states breaking, and a deadlock because of the stand of USA.
The principal issues to be aware of are
Agriculture
Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures
Trade-related Aspects of intellectual property rights
Standard: labour, environment and food safety- covered by SPS measures
Trade Related Investment Measures
Trade and Competition policy
Services - particularly information technology products
Textile and Clothing
Market Access for non-Agricultural products
Transperancy and government procurement
Regional Trade Agreement
Dispute settlement understanding
General institutional structure of WTO system
Implementation problems
ANNEX B
PREPARATION FOR THE MOCK SUMMIT
Training will take-off by the Director delivering a lecture on the recent issues before the WTO.
All the participants are expected to attend. This year I will take it very serious, to drop those who are missing the training exercise.
After the lecture all the participants will be divided into working groups each to be headed by one of the participants - according to my judgement of his/her ability on the issues
The topics of the working groups would be: Agriculture, NAMA, DSP; institutional structure of WTO; The agreements; WTO-Regional Trade; implementation; Agro-allied interests
The resource persons as chairmen of the working groups are; Umar Danjuma; Hamza Marafa; Adamu Isma’il, Shehu Haruna; Aliyu Zubairu; Awwal Abubakar; Fararaddeen Abdulrahman Dodo; Isma’il Galadima; and Murtala Garba.
Following the working group discussions the actors will be given one week to do further research and submit a report on the issues to be presented during the summit.
Finally, there will be a rehearsal of two weeks. Then the Summit will hold.
ANNEX C
SELECTED COUNTRY’S REPORT
BRAZIL
Contrary to WTO message of liberalization of trade, the USA imposed sanctions against Brazilian Exporters of steel products to US market
Also with Canada on the subject of subsidies for the export of airplanes for regional passenger transportation
Then conflict with the multinational pharmaceutical corporations which produce medicines distributed free of charge by the Brazilian Government to HIV infected persons.
Deadlock on barriers to and subsidies for agricultural products imposed by developed countries.
Reassessment of TRIMS or Demanding at least that trade-related investment measures not be applicable to the developing countries
Brazil with three other countries - Argentina. Paraguay and Uruguay in an independent regional cooperation arrangement - measures which brings it into conflicts with USA and hence the WTO procedures.
Thus, it is persistently against the WTO on the issue that WTO must not undermine the national sovereignty of members from the developing world.
NIGERIA
Whereas we need assistance and even partnership to build our small and medium scale industries, but we insist that such assistance would not be under condition that we must source production machine and equipments from developed countries that gave development aid to those enterprises
We in Nigeria want to build a national economy by among other things encouraging local fabrication of machines to hold the economy independent. In any way there are cheaper and more locally adaptive machines that can be sourced from the far East-Asian countries.
We in Nigeria are very sorry that inspite of many years with WTO rules and regulations, the business communities are still unable to access foreign markets in traditional export items such as agricultural produce, textile and clothing, e.t.c
Subsequently, the economy of Nigeria is still dominated by the oil sector as the non-export oil volume is up to now very low.
Of great concern to public health is that Nigeria’s membership of the WTO has thrown the nations door wide open to the importation of foreign goods, and has made Nigeria a dumping ground for fake drugs from other countries. This is compounded by the restriction under intellectual property rights to patent our biological resources for our needs.
Most of our industries in Nigeria have collapsed as the dumping of foreign goods has led to a large volume of unsold locally manufactured goods, thereby depressing the production volume of the manufacturing sector.
In Nigeria, as in Brazil and South Africa we have tested a scientific mixture of local herbs that could be processed to manufacture Anti-Viral against HIV affordable to every Nigerian infected by the disease. But foreign pharmaceutical companies had already launched a campaign against this scientific test as contrary to international medicine standard. Although we remain silence on this matter, but we filed a dispute settlement long time ago.
Finally, the position of Nigeria is that there is hardly any benefit being in the WTO, therefore we demand for total review of all the WTO Agreements.
CUBA
The government and the people of Cuba are aware beyond any reasonable doubt that the WTO is the USA corporations dominated Organization to promote their interest of global domination and control of the economies of the developing countries
The government of Cuba is in this body to monitor and opposed the sinister plan of those corporations against our economy
It is a common knowledge to world community that the government of USA by a legislation - the Helms Birton Act- sectioned companies dealing with countries it does not like and the most victim being Cuba.
In the same Act the USA penalized any Foreign firm with American property, doing business with people Republic of Cuba
In the wake of deregulation and liberalization of trade, the USA export regulations relaxed controls on many countries but not Cuba
On market access to developed countries Cuba is convinced that inspite of many years of WTO rules and negotiation, global liberalization of trade had not materialized. In order to allow "real and effective market opportunities", the people of Cuba feel that future negotiations should take into account the need to develop a package of measures aimed at improving the national food security in developing countries, thus maintaining a high standard of living of the rural population.
Cuba is of the view that the Agreement would be worthless if, at the end of it’s implementation, market access had been restricted. Indeed it is not relevant to contemplate any new commitment, if this problem had not been determined.
Cuba is disturbed with increasing food insecurity in developing countries as a result of WTO multilateral trading system. The situation has become that if a country wants to pass laws that enable it to feed its people, and those laws are not consistent with so called free trade they are disallowed. Trade is thus given a higher priority than food.
Further more, the Trips has become a stumbling block on food security as it has direct bearing on food production in particular and agriculture in general. This is because if a process to produce a plant is patented, the owner of the patent has exclusive right over the plants obtained using the process. Farmers are then forbidden the use of any seeds coming from such a plant.
In a similar way the Trips undermines public health and medical research in general.
Finally, we in Cuba do not subject our economy to these rules and regulations of the corporate managed trade under the WTO regime. About agriculture in particular our orientation is food security not agriculture for trade.
And in order to avoid any embarrassment we have developed organic agricultural method and other local technologies to sustain our method of production.
Lastly, in this ministerial conference we have to reflects over all the agreement under the WTO system with a view of renegotiating them again.
Zimbabwe
When Zimbabwe attained it’s independence in 1980, there were high hopes for the country’s economic future
It became one of the top four more industrilised countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; the food basket of Southern Africa; with diversified economy than most African Countries; there were considerable investment in social development; the economy itself grew.
In 1990 the country embarked on an Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP). ESAP has the standard World Bank-IMF-WTO emphasis on trade liberalization. Farmers have been hit particularly hard. Government support for farmers has been drastically reduced- which in turn affected food output
The WTO measures on Agreement on Agriculture became fully implemented. Zimbabwe commitment under AOA includes the removal of Import and Export subsidies, the removal of subsidies to be replaced by direct transfers and reduction of tariffs.
Further more, domestic trade in all agricultural products except maize has been liberalized
The consequence of all these is that a rapidly deteriorating economic climate descended on Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe renamed the ESAP as "Extreme Suffering for African People’s Programme".
However, Zimbabwe has no other alternative but of a return to protectionist policies characterized by a reintroduction of price controls on some basic food items, tariff protection and exchange controls.
Combine with the land occupation exercise this escalated conflict between Zimbabwe and the major imperialist nations and the Supra-national Organizations that managed the global economy on their behalf
But the government of Zimbabwe, inspite of everything insisted on going ahead with the anti-liberalization measures.
ANNEX D
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCESS
A central feature of WTO regime is it’s dispute settlement mechanism
It is a sort of juridical and legalistic system, whose decision comes out as a legal verdict and is binding on it’s members
Furthermore the process has had an enormous political and economic impact on global trade system and diplomacy.
However, the WTO dispute settlement system build upon the GATT dispute settlement procedures.
But the GATT system is more of a voluntary arbitration which allows for appeal in the world court in some circumstances.
Accordingly, at GATT system, disputes were settled at semi-annual meeting of the contracting parties. If this failed disputes were brought to inter-sessional committee of the parties and subsequently delegated to a working party and later to a panel of private individuals who have no interest with any of the parties.
Of course there are many problems of the GATT system, especially with interpretation of Article XVIII of the GATT regulations and the implementation of the verdicts.
Without solving all the problems associated with GATT, the dispute settlement understanding at the Uruguay Round improves over the GATT dispute settlement procedure by
Establishing unified dispute settlement instead of each agreement has its own.
All relevant legal texts of Uruguay Round becomes law applicable in resolving dispute
The rights of a complaining party to have a panel - without complain being blocked by other interest.
Indeed, a unique procedure emerged.
In the WTO regime dispute is only government versus government.
That is that every member has the right to settle differences with another member according to procedures of the WTO as elaborated in Dispute Settlement understanding.
The procedure begins if a request is made transmitted to the secretariat.
Then Dispute settlement number is assigned to the dispute. All documents about that dispute bear that number.
If more than one country brings complains on the same issues, they are consolidate as one.
The process starts with consultation. If the parties failed to settle within 60 days then dispute panel is established. The parties have to accept the panel. But if there are sharp differences on members of the panel the Director General has final say and all must accept.
The panel operates under terms of reference. It receives oral and written submission from the parties and from a third party if any.
After oral and written submissions from the parties, an interim report is written and given to the parties to make comment.
Then a final report is written and submitted to dispute settlement board for adoption. But appeal is allowed after which a final report is submitted which becomes binding on parties and other members
We hereby create a scenario of dispute between the government of Nigeria and the government of USA representing its pharmaceutical corporations in Nigeria.
The complainant is Nigeria. The ground of the complain is that one resourceful Nigerian-Dr Abalaka, a medical scientist and consultant based in Abuja tested and proved some local substances that could be used to process anti-virals to cure HIV Aids at very cheap price
The USA based pharmaceutical corporations through their government accused the government of Nigeria of
A report of a scientific investigation which is patented long time ago.
Secondly, of agricultural resources that are already owned by some business corporate interests
Thirdly, these are agricultural products found in the area the federal government of Nigeria gave to the white farmers of Zimbabwe who came with their farm enterprises to Nigeria - therefore under TRIMS these are not the rights of the government and people of Nigeria
Fourthly, the government of Nigeria is accused of condoning attempt to violate WTO-DSU decision taken many years ago
Subsequently, the government of the USA threatened the federal government of Nigeria with a trade sanction if it allows Dr Abalaka to continue talking about his scientific investigation.
Thus, the federal government of Nigeria is forced to stop the campaign of Dr. Abalaka for Cheap anti-viral HIV AIDs Drugs
By this submission the FRN is demanding/praying for our national sovereignty, autonomous economic development and for no intervention in the public health of Nigerians.
Finally, we demand for reverse of all judicial decisions of the WTO system not favourable to demands above.
ANNEX E
WORKING GROUPS TOWARD PREPARING FOR THE MOCK SUMMIT
WTO Agreements
Umar Danjuma and Lawi Isa Abdullahi as co-chairman
Agreement On Agriculture
Hamza Marafa as Chairman
WTO and Regional Trade
Adamu Isma’il as Chairman
Non-Agricultural Market access
Shehu Haruna
Problems of Implementation
Murtala Garba
Agricultural trade and food security
Fararadden Abdulrahman Dodo
Dispute settlement understanding
Aliyu Zubairu and Yusuf Koroka
Institutional structure of WTO
Awwal Abubakar
The QUAD in the WTO System
Isma’il Galadima
Developing countries in the WTO
Umar Kabir
On Media
Sani Sabi’u
Sadiq Mahdi
ANNEX F
By 9:00am the Venue will be set
Then the audience and invited guests will be coming and got seated.
While that is going on the delegates/participants too are coming around in their full regalia (hanging outside the venue).
Meanwhile the media men are getting set with their instruments
At appropriate time the BBC will start broadcasting news capturing that the WTO summit is now holding in Dakar-Senegal.
Then the media would be showing, see the Director General arriving with his crew e.t.c
These would be followed by delegates
Then on the conference hall the Director General would be seen talking and making consultation, then he would announce that the minister of trade of Senegal will now take his seat as the chairman of the summit.
By this time the agenda and some papers will be placed before the chairman.
The head of state of Senegal is arriving.
The Director General would now welcome the Head of State of Senegal and invite him to declare the conference open.
This is by making speech.
As soon as he finished and left with his entourage the chairman will start the agenda by calling the Director General to give opening remarks.
Then to be followed by speech of the chairman
After the speech the chairman would refer to the DG for report of committees. Then the reports would come one by one- Agriculture; Textile; TRIPS; Services
After the reports the chairman will open the floor for comments by delegates-this would come by raising of hands and by the chairman recognizing one at a point.
During the US trade representative speech, the demonstrators will come in and disrupt the summit, chanting slogan against WTO. However, the demonstrators will be blocked by having security men dispatched. The US trade representative will then continue.
It is always better that there are disagreements. So that by the time each has spoken, the situation becomes very tense
Then the floor would be open again for some countries to make assertions which would still appear more controversial.
Then going to the green room would announced by the Chairman and who would go there with USA, EU, Canada; Japan and Director General to decide on the issues finally.
Going to the green room would be vehemently opposed as undemocratic by delegates from developing countries.
The final declaration will be read.
Then the summit closes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
