REGIME

country's foreign policy consists of self-interest strategies chosen by thestate to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within the international relations milieu. It is the aggregate of a country’s national interest which results from the interaction of internal and external forces as perceived by the foreign policy decision makers.1 The approaches used are strategically employed to interact with other countries. In recent times however, due to the deepening level of globalization and transnational activities, relations and interactions have been known to exist between state and non- state actors in the international political arena.2 These relations in their own way have influenced several foreign policies between nation states. When talking about the Foreign Policy of a country, it is usual and indeed desirable to focus on the aspects of those policies that have endured over time. In the case of Nigeria, policies or principles of the various administrations at the realm of foreign relations which have endured over time are usually regarded by writers as constituting Nigeria’s foreign policy; Africa being the centre piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy; non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; a strong support for international and regional organizations such as the UN and OAU; resolution of disputes through the peaceful means of arbitration and negotiation, etc. However, it is equally true that, one can also talk about the Foreign Policy of a 1 specific administration of any given country. For the purpose of the study,

This study examines the relationship between international sanctions and state behavior, using Nigeria under the regime of Sani Abacha (1993–1998) as a case study. It interrogates the extent to which sanctions, imposed largely in response to human rights
violations and democratic backsliding, influenced political decisions, governance patterns, and socio-economic outcomes within the Nigerian state. Chapter One provides the background to the study, situating sanctions within the broader framework of international relations and foreign policy instruments. It outlines the research problem, objectives, and significance, emphasizing the persistent debate over whether sanctions effectively compel authoritarian regimes to alter their behavior or merely deepen internal repression and economic hardship. Chapter Two offers a detailed examination of Nigeria under Abacha’s regime, highlighting the consolidation of military power, suppression of political opposition, and widespread human rights abuses. This chapter establishes the internal conditions that prompted international condemnation and set the stage for sanctions. Chapter Three analyzes the various sanctions imposed on Nigeria by international actors, including diplomatic isolation, economic restrictions, and Nigeria’s suspension from key international organizations. It explores the motivations behind these measures and the mechanisms through which they were enforced. Chapter Four assesses the consequences of these sanctions on Nigeria’s development and growth. It argues that while sanctions increased external pressure on the regime, their impact was complex and multifaceted. Economically, they contributed to reduced foreign investment and strained international relations. Politically, however, the regime demonstrated resilience, often circumventing restrictions while maintaining internal control. Socially, the burden of sanctions disproportionately affected ordinary citizens rather than the ruling elite Finally, Chapter Five concludes that sanctions, in the Nigerian case, had limited success in altering state behavior during Abacha’s rule. Instead, they exposed the challenges of using external pressure to influence entrenched authoritarian systems. The study contributes to a broader understanding of the effectiveness of sanctions as a policy tool, suggesting that without complementary internal dynamics and international cohesion, their capacity to induce meaningful political change remains constrained