Abstract:
Globalization is a major trend that has become irresistibly dominant in contemporary world system. It is a universal force that propels the world towards a unification and integration of production, finance, culture among others. This development has become possible due to the advancement in transportation, information and communication technologies. The emergence of international super high ways have rubbished the barriers hitherto placed on movements of goods and people by distance and time. Today people have become closer than ever before. Unarguably, globalization has brought societies and their economies closer to each. Unfortunately it has impacted on different countries and peoples in an unbalanced manner, marginalizing some and rewarding some, with unequal distribution of benefits and curses. This development has its negative implications on the security and stability of some regions. Against this backdrop, this study examines the nexus between globalization and the rising wave of social conflicts in West Africa. The data for the study were drawn from secondary sources while narrative and trend analytical techniques were employed for data analysis. Rooting its theoretical analysis on the propositions of the clash of civilizations theory, the study avers that globalization has disarticulated the economies, politics, cultures and environment of West African States and exposed the region to socio-economic woes, political tension and social conflict. The study recommends for inter-regional collaborations by West African States through trade and investment, collective security, improved social security and youth employment to ward off the negative effects of globalization. |
