Government

course outline

Topics

• THE MEANING OF GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

  i. Nature of government ii. Definition of terms: a) Government b) Politics c) Sovereignty d) Nation e) Nation-State iii. Differences between Government and Politics iv. Social nature of politics v. Conflict and resolution vi. Relationship between politics and other social sciences.

• BASIC GOVERNMENTAL CONCEPTS

  i. Identification of a) State b) Nation c) Nationality Citizenship ii. Fundamental Human Rights. a) Power b) Influence c) Authority

• THE CONCEPT OF POLITICS & POLITICAL THOUGHTS

  i. The Philosophy and theories of: a) Aristotle b) Karl Marx c) Benito Musolini Baron de Montesique

• THE CONCEPT OF CONSTITUTION AND CONSTITUTIONALISM

  i. Meaning and definition ii. Types: written, unwritten, Rigid, Flexible, Unitary, Federal, Confederal etc.

• GOVERNMENTAL ARMS

  i. Legislature a) Unicameralism b) Bicameralism c) Supremacy of constitution ii. Executive a) Composition and Functions iii. Judiciary a) Independence of Judiciary b) Fundamental Human Rights

• INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

  i. Definition ii. Differences between International Politics and International relations iii. Foreign Policy and its determinants.

• INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS

  i. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) a) Functions b) Constitution/Structure c) Weakness ii. African Union a) Constitution/Structure b) Functions c) Problems iii. The United Nations a) Functions b) Composition/Structure c) Problems

• POLITICAL THEORIES AND POLITICAL ECONOMY

  i. Definition ii. School of thoughts iii. Marsian, Nazism, Authoritarianism etc. iv. Modernization v. Underdevelopment vi. Perspectives

• PARTIES AND ELECTORAL POLITICS IN NIGERIA

  i. Evolution of Party systems ii. Character/Nature of Party politics/party iii. Elections a) Importance b) Constraints iv. Election Management Bodies (EMB) INEC etc. v. Post Electoral Activities: Litigations a) 1963 b) 1983 c) 2011

• MILITARY RULE AND CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONS IN NIGERIA

  i. Definition ii. The role of military in a political system iii. Causes of military intervention iv. Military rule in Nigerian politics v. Achievements and Limitations of military rule in Nigeria vi. The challenges of civilian control of the military.

• DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

  A. Development Planning B. Public Policy i. Meaning and Evolution of Development Administration a) Plans and Planning b) Execution c) Importance and constraints d) Determining Factors e) Implementation f) Importance and Constraints

• PARTY SYSTEMS AND POLITICAL PARTIES

  i. Clarification of Party System a) One party system b) 2-party system c) Multi-party system d) Zero party system ii. Political System a) Definitions b) Functions and c) characteristics.

• PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

  i. Definition ii. Structure and workings of the civil service a) privatization and commercialization of public corporations

• ISSUES IN AFRICAN POLITICS

  i. Colonial incursions into Africa a) The berlin conference of 1884/1885 ii. Colonial powers, their colonies and system of administration in Africa. a) The effects of colonial domination in Africa.

• NIGERIAN POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  i. Pre-colonial political systems(Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Tiv) ii. Nationalism: Its rise and growth).

• CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL ISSUES

  A. ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBAL ISSUES i. Environmental Pollution a) Forms b) Effects ii. HIV/AIDS a) Causes b) Remedies iii. Drug Abuse and Trafficking a) Causes b) Remedies

• TERRORISM

  i. Definition ii. Types iii. State terrorism/individual group terrorism iv. Cultism a) Causes b) Remedies v. Crisis and Security Issues

• BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

  i. Definition ii. Types of corruption iii. Causes/Reasons for corruption. iv. Ways of curbing corruption

• SOCIO-CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA

  i. Meaning and types of Diversity ii. Social Diversity a) Social Groups b) Sectional c) Regional groups etc. iii. Cultural Diversities a) Ethnics b) Linguistics c) Religions etc. iv. Political and Economic Diversities. v. The problems/challenges of Diversities a) The Nigerian civil war (1967-1970) b) Religious conflicts c) Ethnic conflicts d) Political conflicts e) Indigene-Settler conflicts, sectarian crises etc vi. The Management of Diversity and the Policy of National Integration a) The federal Character b) The NYSC c) Creation of States d) Local government creation. e) Creation of Unity Colleges etc.