Comparative Analysis of the European Union and the United States of America Democracy Promotion Strategies in Nigeria

This research addresses the question of external efforts to promote democracy in Nigeria. Samuel Huntington observed that the ‘Third Wave’ of democracy catalysed a rise in global democracies following the 1970s, notably influencing sub-Saharan Africa by the century's close. It is essential to recognize that many African countries, including Nigeria, face considerable challenges arising from the dominance of authoritarian governments and the variety of ethno-religious divisions rooted in colonial history. In the wake of numerous elections since 1999, Nigeria continues to grapple with the complexities of democratic consolidation, contending challenges such as electoral malpractice and human rights violations. By utilizing a comparative case study methodology to explore the parallels and distinctions between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), the analysis revealed that despite a notable convergence in the dual strategies adopted by both actors—striking a balance between democratic principles and geostrategic concerns such as security, socio-economic development and migration and insufficient funding for democracy-related initiatives—this impedes any substantial advancement in democratic development in Nigeria. Consequently, this research contributes to understanding the dynamics of external democracy promotion in Africa. This research contributes theoretically by examining the interplay between democratic principles and geostrategic priorities in external democracy promotion, and empirically by revealing how the dual strategies of the US and EU—marked by insufficient funding and competing interests—hinder democratic consolidation in Nigeria.