Nigeria Africa And The United States

Shepard argues that U.S. policy toward Nigeria has never had much to do with what was going on there or in Africa as a whole. Instead, U.S. policy makers have seen what they wanted to see and proceeded accordingly. He charts the changing face of a relationship which is in many ways typical of U.S. policy toward the nations of Africa. "... the lesser known Nigerian side of the relationship is presented in illuminating detail." --Foreign Affairs "... lucid and straightforward. It is well documented from sources both in the USA and Nigeria... highly recommended... " --The Round Table

Nigeria matters. It is Africa’s largest economy, and it is projected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050, but its democratic aspirations are challenged by rising insecurity. John Campbell traces the fractured colonial history and contemporary ethnic conflicts and political corruption that define Nigeria today. It was not—and never had been—a nation-state like those of Europe. It is still not quite a nation because Nigerians are not yet united by language, religion, culture, or a common national story. It is not quite a state because the government is weak and getting weaker, beset by Islamist terrorism, insurrection, intercommunal violence, and a countrywide crime wave. This deeply knowledgeable book is an antidote to those who would make the mistakes of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq—mistakes based on misunderstanding—in Nigeria. Up to now, such mistakes have largely been avoided, but Nigeria will soon—and Campbell argues already does—require much greater attention by the West.

The U.S. Department of Defense is fighting a new shadow war in Africa. Africa is the battlefield of tomorrow, and the United States military is spreading secret wars in the continent. This book explores how and why this has happened. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the formulation of the United States policy towards Africa has always been based on the strategic importance of the natural resources of Africa and how these can be used in the national interests of the United States. However, most Americans gave very little thought to Africa, but instead referred to it as the Dark Continent, not only because its peoples are dark-skinned, but also because it was unknown to them. Africa is no longer dark, but is rather becoming one of the lions on the move. This book examines and analyzes Nigeria and U.S. policy on the continent since the Cold War. It looks at Nigeria and the challenges facing the country, including problems of development, good governance, and security. It particularly focuses on the impacts of terrorism on Nigeria and U. S.-Africa relations since the Cold War and the realities of September 11, 2001, in relations to Nigeria and United States-Islamists/jihadists' terrorism in Africa. There is huge potential in Nigeria; the country has the largest population in Africa, and is well-endowed in terms of both natural and human resources. Nigeria also has the largest economy on the continent, the largest black population in the world, a burgeoning and vibrant youthful population, and a tradition of international engagement since its independence. Its advantageous geographical location in West Africa enables trade within the continent, as well as with Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Nigeria is the most important strategic partner for the United States in the African continent, and will become increasingly so in this century.

As the "Giant of Africa" Nigeria is home to about twenty percent of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa, serves as Africa's largest producer of oil and natural gas, comprises Africa's largest economy, and represents the cultural center of African literature, film, and music. Yet the country is plagued by problems that keep it from realizing its potential as a world power. Boko Haram, a radical Islamist insurrection centered in the northeast of the country, is an ongoing security challenge, as is the continuous unrest in the Niger Delta, the heartland of Nigeria's petroleum wealth. There is also persistent violence associated with land and water use, ethnicity, and religion. In Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know®, John Campbell and Matthew Page provide a rich contemporary overview of this crucial African country. Delving into Nigeria's recent history, politics, and culture, this volume tackles essential questions related to widening inequality, the historic 2015 presidential election, the persistent security threat of Boko Haram, rampant government corruption, human rights concerns, and the continual conflicts that arise in a country that is roughly half Christian and half Muslim. With its continent-wide influence in a host of areas, Nigeria's success as a democracy is in the fundamental interest of its African neighbors, the United States, and the international community. This book will provide interested readers with an accessible, one-of-a-kind overview of the country.

Nigeria, the United States’ most important strategic partner in West Africa, is in grave trouble. While Nigerians often claim they are masters of dancing on the brink without falling off, the disastrous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the radical Islamic insurrection Boko Haram, and escalating violence in the delta and the north may finally provide the impetus that pushes it into the abyss of state failure. In this thoroughly updated edition, John Campbellexplores Nigeria’s post-colonial history and presents a nuanced explanation of the events and conditions that have carried this complex, dynamic, and very troubled giant to the edge. Central to his analysis are the oil wealth, endemic corruption, and elite competition that have undermined Nigeria’s nascent democratic institutions and alienated an increasingly impoverished population. However, state failure is not inevitable, nor is it in the interest of the United States. Campbell provides concrete new policy options that would not only allow the United States to help Nigeria avoid state failure but also to play a positive role in Nigeria’s political, social, and economic development.