Public Policy and International Affair Academic Journal

THE PROFOUND RISE OF CHINA'S TECHNOLOGICAL SUPREMACY: ASSESSING THE IMPLICATIONS OF IT'S REVOLUTIONARY ROBOTIC WARFARE DEVELOPMENT AND THE GLOBAL POWER DYNAMIC IMPACTS ON ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, SECURITY STRUCTURES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

Orie, Sylvester Okorie, PhD, CNA, FCNA, FNIM — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the implications of China's technological rise on global governance, human rights, and environmental sustainability. The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of China's technological advancements on global power dynamics, economic structures, and international relations. This study adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data is drawn from a variety of sources, including peer-reviewed academic journals, government reports, international organization reports, and news articles. The study employs thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics as tools of data analysis. The study applies several theoretical frameworks, including Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, and the Theory of Technological Determinism. The study uses NVivo and SPSS software packages for data analysis.The findings of this study reveal that China's technological rise has significant implications for global governance, human rights, and environmental sustainability. Specifically, the study finds that China's dominance in technological advancements has enabled it to shape global markets and industries, but also raises concerns about the potential for technological determinism. The study also finds that China's development of advanced robotic warfare technology has significant implications for global security structures, and that China's Belt and Road Initiative has significant implications for global economic stability.It was recommended that there is a need for a more inclusive and equitable global governance structure, that China must be held accountable for its human rights record, and that there is a need for increased technological cooperation between nations. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of the implications of China's technological rise on global governance, human rights, and environmental sustainability.

SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION AND THE ABUSE OF POLITICAL POWER IN NIGERIA'S DEMOCRATIC POLITY.

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined systemic corruption, abuse of political power, fiscal indiscipline, weak institutional accountability, and democratic governance challenges within Nigeria’s democratic polity. The study was undertaken to investigate the extent to which corruption, excessive public borrowing, political interference, and weak governance institutions have affected democratic accountability, socio-economic development, and public confidence in governance across Nigeria. The major objective of the study was to critically evaluate the relationship between corruption and governance failures with particular emphasis on fiscal transparency, institutional efficiency, democratic stability, and sustainable national development. The study adopted a mixed-method research approach involving both qualitative and quantitative research designs, while descriptive survey and exploratory research methods were employed to obtain empirical data across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The population of the study comprised approximately 155 million Nigerians, including government officials, politicians, legislators, youth and women organisations, non-governmental organisations, religious leaders, journalists, media practitioners, heads of tertiary institutions, ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, boards, parastatals, and other governance stakeholders. The Yaro Yamane (1967) mathematical sampling technique was applied in determining a scientifically representative sample size of 400 respondents for the study. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires, oral interviews, observational procedures, and documentary assessments, while secondary data were sourced from peer-reviewed journals, government publications, textbooks, reputable scholarly online publications, policy documents, and institutional reports. Institutional Theory, Elite Theory, and Structural Functionalism Theory were adopted as analytical frameworks for explaining governance failures, institutional weaknesses, political power concentration, and democratic accountability challenges within Nigeria’s democratic administration. Data obtained during the study were analysed using percentages, frequency distributions, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and thematic content analysis, while the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences IBM SPSS Statistics and Microsoft Excel were utilised for coding, tabulation, processing, interpretation, and graphical presentation of data. The findings revealed that systemic corruption, political interference, excessive public borrowing, electoral irregularities, selective anti-corruption enforcement, and weak judicial independence have significantly undermined democratic governance, economic stability, institutional credibility, and sustainable national development in Nigeria. The study therefore recommended stronger institutional independence, transparent fiscal governance, electoral reforms, ethical leadership orientation, youth empowerment programmes, judicial autonomy, and strengthened accountability mechanisms as essential prerequisites for sustainable democratic governance and national development in Nigeria.

UJAMAA SOCIALISM: TRENDS AND IMPACTS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN STATES

Adekunle Alaye, PhD. — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study aims to review the holistic impacts of one of the classical and Pan African Political theories (breed socialism) of Julius Nyerere, known as Ujamaa Socialism. It is an African grown political economy theory with the fundamental philosophy of liberating Postcolonial African States, from the perennial trends of colonialism and imperial invasion of African countries by their white colonialists. In the contextual discourse, meticulous effort shall be made to examine the key theories of Ujamaa Socialism, its vision and the impacts. Hence, the legacies it left to the furtherance of Postcolonial African socio-economic development cum political liberations of the Postcolonial African States. We shall explore Liberalism, Conservatism and Marxist theories to dissect the dialectical and historical understanding of Ujamaa Socialism as a core African made socialist ideology and its impacts from the era of Colonial and the Postcolonial African States. Liberalism envisions the ideal society to be one that embraces a wide range of individual liberties. These include, personal dignity, free expression, religious tolerance, right to own property, freedom of association, transparency of government, limitations on government power, the rule of law, equality, free market economy and free trade. Nyerere’s vision of society was based on Ujamaa philosophy that essentially under-scored anti-capitalist socio-economic milieu. In this case, Nyerere’s view tends to be at variance with liberalism. Hence, the conservative theory is examined. Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour tradition and gradual change, where tradition refers to religious, cultural or nationally defined beliefs and customs. Nyerere’s position on Ujamaa, tends to cohere with the conservative theory to some reasonable extent. First, he espoused Ujamaa as the basis for social and economic development. By Ujamaa, Nyerere meant three things: Work by everyone, fair sharing of resources collectively produced and respect for human dignity. Essentially, indigenous African communalism was to be adopted and adapted to post independent Tanzania and African States. The Marxist theory with relevance to Ujamaa Socialism, on the other hand explains the interpretation of society, considers competition for material resources and wealth as the main cause of conflict. The social classes emanating from possession of property creates antagonism between them, one of which becomes the dominant or ruling class. Nyerere’s vision of an egalitarian society based on indigenous value system tends to reflect a Marxist social paradigm. He argues that precolonial African societies were classless and socialist. He castigates capitalist societies as ‘man-eat-man societies’. However, Nyerere does not advocate for a revolution of the masses in order to embrace his African socialism. The foregoing reviews of theories depict a scenario where Nyerere’s ideas relate more with conservatism and Marxism. Whereas he does not categorically state specific affiliation to any one of them, he tends to embrace certain tenets of the two theories. Therefore, Ujamaa socialism was a bold and innovative attempt to chart a new course for the Postcolonial African States, due to its in-depth understanding of African culture, history and politics. While it faced significant challenges and criticisms, its emphasis on communal values, self-reliance, and social equality has left a lasting legacy in the quest for African liberation and socio-economic development.

THE PARADOX OF SILENT GOVERNANCE AND LOUD SUFFERING IN NIGERIA: POLITICAL PRIORITIES, MASS POVERTY, POLICY INERTIA, AND THE STRAIN ON DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PRE-2027 ERA

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study reflects on the paradox of governance failure and persistent mass poverty in Nigeria. It examines how political priorities, policy inertia, corruption, and weak institutional accountability shape socio-economic deprivation. The main objective is to assess the relationship between governance practices and poverty outcomes in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design supported by qualitative content analysis. Primary data were obtained through questionnaires and key informant interviews. Secondary data were drawn from government reports, academic journals, policy documents, and credible media sources. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, percentages, and mean scores. Thematic content analysis was also applied for qualitative interpretation. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used as the analytical software package. Sampling size determination was guided by the Yaro Yamane mathematical model for finite populations. Theoretical analysis was anchored on Elite Theory, Structural Functionalism, and Dependency Theory. The study reveals that entrenched political corruption distorts public resource allocation. It also shows that policy inconsistency and governance inertia intensify poverty and unemployment. Furthermore, weak accountability structures sustain underdevelopment despite rising national revenues. It is recommended that anti-corruption institutions be strengthened with greater independence and enforcement capacity. It also recommends the institutionalisation of policy continuity frameworks across political administrations. In addition, public financial management systems should be restructured to improve transparency and equitable distribution of resources. Therefore, the study concludes that Nigeria’s development challenges are deeply rooted in governance failures that require urgent structural and institutional reforms.

MIGRATION POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES: TRENDS AND IMPACTS ON THE CONTEMPORARY NORTH AMERICA.

Adekunle Alaye, PhD. — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Migration crises have become very critical challenges with North America, particularly the United States, being a central destination for displaced populations. This study examines the multifaceted impacts of the "Zero Tolerance" policy, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Title 42, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which are significant shifts in policy direction, particularly between the Trump and Biden administrations. U.S. administrations have developed, implemented, and modified policies to manage migration flows, regulate asylum procedures, and accommodate refugees while balancing national security concerns, economic demands, and humanitarian obligations. The study adopts a qualitative approach, drawing on a review of secondary sources including government documents, policy briefs, and executive orders. We shall also explore sources like academic articles and reports from international organizations. Key public policy responses are analyzed within the framework of political ideology, international cooperation, and domestic legal systems. Additionally, the research assesses the impacts of these policies on migrants, asylum seekers, and broader U.S. immigration trends. Findings revealed that while Biden administration has sought several measures in promoting more humanitarian and inclusive immigration policies, Trump administrations in a sharp twist however, reversed some of the policies as he emphasized deterrence and border enforcement. Political opposition, administrative challenges, and recurring crises at the southern border have complicated implementation. U.S. foreign policy and international aid initiatives have attempted to address the root causes of migration, particularly from Central American countries. Despite efforts to create legal pathways and promote regional stability, gaps remain in the coordination and effectiveness of policy responses. The study concludes that public policy plays a crucial role in managing migration and refugee issues, yet outcomes are heavily influenced by political will, public opinion, and international cooperation. It recommends a more integrated and sustainable approach to immigration reform—one that balances security with humanitarian principles, ensures legal clarity, and builds resilience through international partnerships. By doing so, the United States can better fulfill its global leadership roles in refugee protection and uphold the values embedded in its historical identity as a nation of immigrants.