The influence of religion on Nigerian foreign policy

The study deals with the impact of domestic politics on Nigerian foreign policy. The dissertation focuses on the religious factor in Nigeria's domestic politics and its influence on the country's foreign policy. Within this context, the country's primary constituency for foreign policy making is examined, and the politicization of religion in the Nigerian polity outlined.;Specifically, the study examines the following fundamental questions: (1) Does the Christian/Muslim division in Nigeria also involve ethnic diversity? (2) To what extent do external religious groups influence Nigeria's foreign policy? (3) What is the Nigerian membership status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)? (4) What were the reasons behind Nigeria's severance of diplomatic relations with Israel?;The findings reveal that the Christian/Muslim division in Nigeria, in part, reflects ethnic and regional diversities. This confirms the hypothesis that the religious diversities in the country also reflect ethnicity. The majority of those against Nigeria's full association in the OIC are from the southern part of the country where Christians are in the majority. On the issue of renewing diplomatic relations with Israel, those against the move are largely in the northern part of Nigeria. Many Nigerians believe Israel is a Christian state. The majority of Israeli supports come from the southern part of Nigeria.;The primary data utilized include government documents, newspaper articles, journals, and personal conducted interviews.;The politicization of religion in Nigeria's constituency for foreign policy making is reflected in the activities of the two non-traditional religions in the country, Christianity and Islam. Although there are other traditional religions in Nigeria, they are not as vocal as Christianity and Islam in the country's domestic politics. The involvements of these two religious groups in the country's foreign policy are also linked to fellowships with similar religious faiths outside Nigeria. Sympathy towards religious groups outside the country is always reflected in Nigeria's primary constituency for foreign policy making by the two non-traditional religions.;In all, the religiosity of the Nigerian polity is traced to her historical background when the two non-traditional religions became the means for political participation and social attainment. Political participation and social attainment were made possible through Western education and traditional rulership. It is established that the religious factor in Nigeria's domestic politics impacts her foreign policy making.