Nigeria-South Africa Relations and Regional Hegemonic Competence

215 Pages·2019·2.57 MB·English

by  Oluwaseun Tella

Advances in African Economic,
Social and Political Development
Oluwaseun Tella Editor
Nigeria-South
Africa Relations
and Regional
Hegemonic
Competence
Advances in African Economic, Social
and Political Development
Series Editors
Diery Seck, CREPOL - Center for Research on Political Economy, Dakar, Senegal
Juliet U. Elu, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA, USA
Yaw Nyarko, New York University, NY, USA
Africa is emerging as a rapidly growing region, still facing major challenges, but
with a potential for significant progress – a transformation that necessitates vigorous
efforts in research and policy thinking. This book series focuses on three intricately
related key aspects of modern-day Africa: economic, social and political
development. Making use of recent theoretical and empirical advances, the series
aims to provide fresh answers to Africa’s development challenges. All the socio-
political dimensions of today’s Africa are incorporated as they unfold and new
policy options are presented. The series aims to provide a broad and interactive
forum of science at work for policymaking and to bring together African and
international researchers and experts. The series welcomes monographs and
contributed volumes for an academic and professional audience, as well as tightly
edited conference proceedings. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to,
economic policy and trade, regional integration, labor market policies, demographic
development, social issues, political economy and political systems, and
environmental and energy issues.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/11885
Oluwaseun Tella
Editor
Nigeria-South Africa
Relations and Regional
Hegemonic Competence
Editor
Oluwaseun Tella
Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
ISSN 2198-7262 ISSN 2198-7270 (electronic)
Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development
ISBN 978-3-030-00080-6 ISBN 978-3-030-00081-3 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00081-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018963750
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book
are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the
editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors
or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims
in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Introduction: Nigeria-South Africa Relations
In terms of power dimensions (hard and soft) and the regional influence that accom-
panies such capabilities, Nigeria and South Africa arguably have an edge over their
regional contemporaries. Indeed, Nigeria and South Africa are the largest econo-
mies in Africa. Nigeria’s peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts in states such as the
DRC, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali and Sudan, and South Africa’s in Burundi,
Comoros, DRC, Sudan and Zimbabwe have rendered them major peacemakers on
the continent. Similarly, these countries have exercised their soft power in pursuit of
their foreign policy objectives. Examples include Nigeria’s Nollywood and techni-
cal aid corps scheme and South Africa’s multinational corporations’ footprint and
norm entrepreneurship in the international system.
“Accordingly, it is often argued that the continent’s fate is directly linked to the
success or failure of these regional powers. Relations between the two countries are
thus pivotal to peace, sustainable development, Pan-Africanism and regional inte-
gration in Africa” (Tella, 2018). In recognition of this fact, both countries have
engaged in cooperative initiatives such as the establishment of the African Union
(AU), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the establish-
ment of Bi-National Commission (BNC) in 1999 and its resuscitation in 2016.
However, there are also areas of competition including the quest for a permanent
seat in a reformed UNSC, the debacle leading to the election of Dlamini-Zuma as
the AU Commission Chairperson in 2010 and the 2011 Libyan crisis. The incessant
xenophobia in South Africa targeting Nigerians and the presence of Nigerian crimi-
nal networks that are involved in drug trafficking are equally germane.
While there is widespread reference to both states’ capabilities and regional
influence in the extant literature, little analysis is offered on Nigeria-South Africa
relations and their impact on regional governance and the provision of public goods
on the continent. It is therefore pertinent to explore the relations between them and
the implications for both countries and Africa at large.
This book provides one of the very few comprehensive studies of Nigeria-South
Africa relations. Although a recent book by Adekeye Adebajo (2017) titled The
Eagle and the Springbok focuses on both countries, it does not engage with the wide
range of issues that this publication covers. These include critical questions such as:
v
vi Introduction: Nigeria-South Africa Relations
Do Nigeria and South Africa act as effective hegemons? How do we explain their
rollercoaster relations? What role does the dark side of globalisation play in such
relations? To what extent have these regional powers mobilised other African states
to achieve sustainable development on the continent? What are the areas of coopera-
tion and competition? The book is structured around 4 parts and 11 chapters to
address these questions.
The first part engages the sources and limits of Nigeria and South Africa’s power
capacity and critiques their status in the international system. In Chap. 1, Tella
examines Nigeria and South Africa’s capacity to act as effective hegemons in Africa.
He explores the challenges at the domestic – including political corruption, high
levels of poverty and unemployment, ethnicity and racism – and international
level – ranging from envy on the part of their regional counterparts to the great pow-
ers’ influence on the continent that circumscribe the African powerhouses’ capacity
to act as effective hegemons. He highlights the need to counteract these constraints
to enable Nigeria and South Africa to take their rightful place in the international
system and effectively promote their interests and pursue the African agenda.
In Chap. 2, Ahmed Jazbhay offers a decolonial critique of Nigeria and South
Africa’s power resources and influence in the international system. He observes
that, rather than cooperating to address the colonial matrices of power and tame
global injustice towards Africa, they are engaged in an unnecessary battle for
supremacy on the continent. Abuja and Pretoria should thus cooperate to promote
their interests and those of the continent. Thekiso and van Wyk address the long-
standing debate on Nigeria and South Africa’s credentials for permanent member-
ship of the UNSC in Chap. 3. They employ the criteria set out in the High-Level
Panel Report, such as pan-African credentials, broader representation of the devel-
oping world and contributions to the UN and its activities as their analytical frame-
work and submit that both countries fare relatively well and thus qualify for
permanent seats.
The second part investigates the significance of Nigeria-South Africa relations in
combating the dark side of globalisation including climate change, xenophobia and
drug trafficking. In Chap. 4, Olutola Oluwole discusses the countries’ relations in
the context of climate change. The chapter shows that despite the fact that both
contribute significantly to climate change at least in the African context, the fact that
they have not jointly engaged this matter does not augur well for them and the con-
tinent as a whole. Akinyemi extends this argument in Chap. 5 that explores the
nexus between climate change adaptation and conflict prevention, using livestock
production in Nigeria and South Africa as a case study. He reveals that while the two
countries have similar interests in such production, Nigeria is witness to incessant
conflict between farmers and migrant pastoralists, in contrast to the relative tran-
quillity that marks this sector in South Africa. This is attributed to more advanced
adaptation through innovation in South Africa.
In Chap. 6, Adesina explores the experiences of Nigerian migrants in South
Africa in light of the xenophobic attitudes and attacks that have characterised South
Africans’ relationship with immigrants. She highlights the various dimensions of
anti-Nigerian sentiments and concludes that xenophobia punctures South Africa’s
Introduction: Nigeria-South Africa Relations vii
attempt to overcome its legacy of discrimination and intolerance. The author thus
advocates for the need to address this menace. In their contribution in Chap. 7,
Ettang and Leeke locate Nigeria-South Africa relations in the context of drug traf-
ficking. They observe that high demand for illicit drugs in South Africa has enabled
Nigerian drug syndicates to prosper. The authors suggest possible ways in which
these countries can strengthen their relations to combat this scourge.
The third part focuses on Nigeria and South Africa’s roles in regional integration.
Drawing on hegemonic stability and Pan-Africanism frameworks, in Chap. 8,
Oloruntoba emphasises the need for the two countries to shelve the rivalry and con-
testation which aim to pursue their narrow interests and focus on broader African
interests with the ultimate objective of enhancing pan-African identity and African
Renaissance in order to fast-track development of the continent. In similar vein, in
Chap. 9, Akinola examines Nigeria and South Africa’s contributions to peace and
security in Africa, focusing on their roles in ECOWAS and SADC, respectively. The
chapter highlights the challenges that constrain them from effectively championing
the cause of their regions and notes that Nigeria has fared better. However, it con-
cludes that Nigeria and South Africa’s assertiveness in their respective regions is
critical for sustainable peace and security.
The final part of this book offers a comparative analysis of Nigeria and South
Africa in the areas of transitional justice and civil society. In Chap. 10, Benyera
provides a comparative study of Nigeria and South Africa’s transitional justice pro-
cesses, focusing on the former’s Oputa Panel and the latter’s Truth and Reconciliation
Commission. He highlights the TRC’s success that is evident in its global commen-
dation but also notes its weaknesses, such as its disregard for punitive measures that
breed the “trading of justice for peace”. For its part, the Oputa Panel failed on many
levels, illustrated by its inadequate funding, the lack of an acceptable legal frame-
work and the non-appearance of many perpetrators. In the concluding Chap. 11,
Adeogun compares Nigeria and South African civil society organisations that focus
on women’s issues. Drawing on statistical data on women’s involvement in decision-
making processes in both countries, she argues that such organisations are more
effective in South Africa. However, she submits that both countries need to do more
to ensure equality at all levels.
Oluwaseun Tella
References
Adebajo, A. (2017). The Eagle and the Springbok: Essays on Nigeria and South Africa.
Johannesburg: Fanele.
Tella, O. (2018). Nigeria-South Africa Relations: A Roller Coaster Ride. https://www.dailymav-
erick.co.za/opinionista/2018-06-19-nigeria-south-africa-relations-a -roller-coaster-ride/#.
WytT6_ZuJPY
Contents
Part I N igeria and South Africa’s Regional Powerhood:
Sources, Limits and Critique
1 Internal, Regional and External Impediments
to Nigeria and South Africa’s Hegemonic Competence in Africa . . . 3
Oluwaseun Tella
2 African Powerhouses: A Decolonial Critique
of Nigeria and South Africa’s Perceived Economic
and Political Strengths in the Modern World-System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Ahmed Haroon Jazbhay
3 The Quest for African Permanent Membership
of The UNSC: A Comparative Assessment of Nigeria
and South Africa’s Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Michael Thekiso and Jo-Ansie van Wyk
Part II N igeria-South Africa Relations
and the Dark Side of Globalisation
4 Nigeria-South Africa Relations in the Context
of Climate Change: Prospects and Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Oluwole Olutola
5 Climate Change Adaptation and Conflict Prevention:
Innovation and Sustainable Livestock Production
in Nigeria and South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Temitope Edward Akinyemi
6 Globalization, Migration and the Plight of Nigerians
in South Africa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Olubukola S. Adesina
ix
x Contents
7 Africa’s Emerging Giants and the Drug Scourge:
Exploring a Nigeria-South African Bilateral Partnership . . . . . . . . . 129
Dorcas Ettang and Nthatuwa Leeke
Part III Nigeria and South Africa’s Roles in Regional Integration
8 From Economic Diplomacy to Pan-African Identity:
Exploring Nigeria-South Africa Cooperation
for Continental Integration and Development in Africa . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba
9 Nigeria and South Africa in Sub-Regional Peace
and Security Agenda: A Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Adeoye O. Akinola
Part IV C omparative Studies of Nigeria
and South Africa’s Transitional Justice Mechanisms
and Civil Society Organisations
10 South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
and Nigeria’s Oputa Panel: Comparison, Lessons
and the Future of Truth Commissions in Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Everisto Benyera
11 Civil Society Organizations and Policy Making
on Gender Issues: South Africa and Nigeria
in Comparative Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Tolulope Adeogun