MA Thesis Defence: Isaac Toyin - "The Role of the Commonwealth Organization in Global Governance, 1949-2020, with Reference to Nigeria as a Case Study”

Isaac Toyin, MA Thesis Defence

The Role of the Commonwealth Organization in Global Governance, 1949-2020, with Reference to Nigeria as a Case Study

Abstract:

The Commonwealth of Nations (CWN) is the only international organization that survived the Cold War. The organization’s role in global governance has experienced neglect in the field of International Relations. This study examined the extent to which the organization has successfully spawned international development through robust global governance and partnership. The study examined the organization’s evolution and the dynamics of its membership cooperation in current international relations. The research work explored the organization’s role in tackling various global challenges and, most especially, the promotion of democratic governance, human rights, and development through the employment of various tools had promoted changes within its member states, especially those accused of gross human rights violations and undermining international principles of international relations. In the case of Nigeria, the focus of this study, the organization between the 1980s and 1990s employed the use of various sanctions, peer pressures, and promises, including the suspension of Nigeria from the organization, in order to effectively bring back Nigeria along the line of international principles of democracy, good governance, and human rights that way the organization had been able to promote good governance through multilateralism, which is a diplomatic approach. The study concluded, nevertheless, that by the role of the organization as a significant institution of global governance, it has strengthened democratic culture principles and governance as well as democratic institutions. It is in this respect that this study concludes that the Commonwealth as an international institution has promoted sustainable peace, order, stability, development, cooperation, and good governance through its platform as an arena and forum in international relations.