Publications

Title: Citizen Diplomacy and Nigeria’s International Image: The Social Constructivist Explanation
Author(s): Ese C. Ujara & Jide Ibietan
Year 2014
Publisher: Covenant Journal of Business and Social Sciences (CJBSS)
URI: https://publications.fulokoja.edu.ng/publication-page.php?i=citizen-diplomacy-and-nigeria%E2%80%99s-international-image-the-social-constructivist-explanation
File: PDF
Keywords: Citizen Diplomacy Foreign Policy International Image Social Constructivism

The perception of any country is a vital ingredient in assessing her
international standing. This implies that a country with negative or image crisis is
a bad item in the diplomatic market. Nigeria‟s international image has oscillated
between periods of positivity and negativity, with the latter being preponderant.
Citizen diplomacy as Nigeria‟s foreign policy thrust emerged in 2007 to
interrogate and reconstruct the country‟s dwindling image in the international
system. Through secondary sources of data and social constructivism as
framework of analysis, the paper posits that restoration and sustenance of citizen
diplomacy and vigorous drive have the potentials for creating a better image for
Nigeria. Other recommendations proffered can also redress the image deficit of
the country.