Abstract
Reciprocity is a cardinal principle in international relations. Charters of International organisations and regional organisations emphasise equality of status among sovereign member states. But the practice in reality has shown over the years that such prescriptive legalism of the different charters contrasts sharply with how states conduct their affairs in the international state system. This book under review is a critical examination of the applicability and relevance of the principle of reciprocity to Nigeria’s foreign relations over the years since the country’s attainment of political independence in 1960. The book was the outcome of a two-day conference on reciprocity in international relations, which the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) organised in September 2009.
The Opening Remarks by Ambassador I.C. Olisemeka, a former Nigerian career diplomat, is thought-provoking and a worthy introductory piece to the book (pp. 5–9). A paragraph from the piece was lifted and transposed as the back blurb of the book. One notable comment of Olisemeka which could pass for an immortal counsel to Nigerian foreign policy experts is his belief that concern over reciprocity or lack of it was unnecessary; rather there should be consistent effort on the part of the government to properly organise the home front, strengthen the country’s institutions to be able to respond adequately to its interests. Following the Opening Remarks is the Foreword written by Osita C. Eze, the Director-General of NIIA, and subsequently, by the Communiqué—both at pages 11–18 of the book.
The book contains 15 chapters in all. The contributors to this volume comprise senior academics, retired and experienced career diplomats, policy practitioners and serving career diplomats. The varied backgrounds of the authors make the book a rich compendium of ideas on statecraft and international diplomacy. Chapter 1, which was written by Osita C. Eze, provides an introductory treatise on the varying issues of reciprocity in international relations. It situated the concept of reciprocity within the broader provision of the United Nations Charter on sovereign equality of all states in the international system, noting that the proscription of interference in the affairs of member states by the Charter of African Union (AU) was also relevant in understanding the principle of reciprocity. The chapter examines the application of the principle of reciprocity in matters bordering on immigration, commercial challenges and cases of maltreatment of Nigerians abroad (pp. 19–26).
Chapter 2 by Fred Aja Agwu gives a theoretical appraisal and conceptual clarification of the principle of reciprocity in international relations. The chapter sheds more light on the utility and relevance of reciprocity as an optional principle of international law which has the capacity for building mutual trust and confidence that help to strengthen existing international law (pp. 27–35). Chapter 3 is a rendition by C.J. Udeh, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, on the experience of his organisation in respect of issues of reciprocity (pp. 37–41). Chapter 4 by Alaba Ogunsanwo, a Professor of Political Science, presents varying examples of the problematic issue of reciprocity in Nigeria’s relations with her ECOWAS neighbours in the sub-region and other African countries. It identified several cases in Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements in which the principle of reciprocity could not be applied (pp. 43–55).
Chapter 5 by M.K. Ibrahim, a serving Nigerian diplomat, is a reflection on Nigeria–Libya relations from the standpoint of the principle of reciprocity (pp. 57–66). Chapter 6 by Abubakar Jika Jiddere examines Nigerian relations with countries of the Middle East, focusing specifically on Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Lebanon (pp. 67–74). Chapter 7 by George Obiozor, on the relations between Nigeria and the United States, is a refreshing theoretical explication of the realist perspective on international behaviour of states in the global arena. The chapter begins with a highlight of the constraints of weak states (Nigeria inclusive) in their relations with strong ones, and ends on an optimistic note, pointing out that reciprocity in Nigeria-US relations is a possibility and a realisable objective (pp. 75–86).
Chapter 8 by Olufemi George, a former career diplomat, examines the place of reciprocity in Nigeria–Canada relations. The chapter concludes with the assertion that reciprocity has been beneficial to Nigeria in her relations with Canada, regardless of the disparity in power relations between the two countries (pp. 87–101). Chapter 9 by Bola A. Akinterinwa, a professor of international relations, discusses the relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The chapter extensively analysed the different types and manifestations of reciprocity in the context of diplomatic relations between the two countries (pp. 103–119). Chapter 10 by Bolade M. Eyinla analyses the relationship between Nigeria and Germany over the years and concludes that the relationship has remained an unequal one (pp. 121–131).
Chapter 11 by C.N. Odock reveals the different phases of Nigeria–France relations since 1960 when Nigeria attained her independence, and observes that the numerous domestic contradictions, political instability and a myriad of socio-economic problems confronting Nigeria have made it difficult for her to assert any reciprocal claim in her relations with France (pp. 133–162). Chapter 12 by Ngozichukwuka B.O. Ugo chronicles the drawbacks in Nigeria’s relations with the nations of South-east Asia and Australia. The chapter expresses the belief that the relations have remained unequal and tilted against the interest of Nigeria over the years (pp. 163–185). Chapter 13 by Seyi Onafowokan discusses reciprocity in Nigeria–Russia relations since the end of the Cold War. The chapter concludes that despite the visible signs of growing functional cooperation between Nigeria and Russia in strategic sectors, there are some shortcomings including the non-reciprocal treatment of Nigerians seeking travel visas to Russia (pp. 187–192).
Chapter 14 by Chuka Udedibia highlights the strengths, strains and stress in Sino-Nigerian relations. The chapter concludes that regardless of consular problems, Nigeria’s relations with China have been excellent, noting that negative reciprocity against China will be unnecessary if Nigeria follows the example of China in ensuring that those that travel out of the country are actually those that will enhance the power, prestige and the good name of Nigeria (pp. 193–205). Chapter 15 by Marius U. Offor details the series of bilateral diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and India since 1962 when the two countries established diplomatic missions in each other’s capitals—Lagos and New Delhi, respectively. The chapter presents India as a senior partner in the relationship between her and Nigeria while noting the seeming powerlessness of Nigeria and her inability to enforce any negative reciprocity in her relations with India (pp. 207–215).
The book under review has some structural defects. In its current form, the book looks more like a conference proceedings than a synchronised text. The Opening Remarks by Olisemeka could have been converted into the introductory chapter, while the Foreword could have been transformed into the book’s Preface. The book lacks a concluding chapter. The Communiqué containing some observations and recommendations that appear in the early pages of the book could have been restructured into the concluding chapter.
There is every reason to believe that the book was not well edited. The table of contents is misleading in some respects. For instance, Chapter 3 has its title as ‘The Issue of Reciprocity: The Experiences of Nigerian Immigration Services’, and it is authored by C.K. Udeh. But, in the text, the same chapter is titled ‘The Issues of Reciprocity: The Experience of Nigeria Immigration Service’, authored by C.J. Udeh. Similarly, Chapter 4 in the table of contents has its title as ‘Regional Integration and International Cooperation: Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States’. But, in the text, the title of the chapter by the same author is ‘Reciprocity in International Relations: Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States’. These inconsistencies also occurred in Chapters 5, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the book.
The selection of countries for case studies is unrepresentative of the global dimension and applicability of the principle of reciprocity to Nigeria’s foreign relations. Countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia which enjoy good bilateral relations with Nigeria should have been included in order to broaden the scope of the book.
Regardless of the foregoing critical comments, the book is a unique rendition of Nigeria’s diplomatic intercourse with substantial parts of the world since her attainment of political independence in 1960, using the principle of reciprocity as its tool of analysis. Thus, the book is a succinct account of the utility and relevance of the principle of reciprocity to Nigeria’s conduct of her diplomatic relations in the international arena. Therefore, it is a good addition to the growing literature on Nigeria’s international behaviour, which every student and teacher of Nigerian Foreign Policy and indeed comparative foreign policy would find to be intellectually refreshing.