SOCIAL SCIENCES

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Browsing SOCIAL SCIENCES by Subject "(2000-2014)"

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    AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT IN ECOWAS-EUROPEAN UNION TRADE RELATIONS (2000-2014)
    (2018-05) AJIBADE, Adetunji
    This study investigated the effects and challenges of the Economic Partnership Agreement in ECOWAS-European Union trade relations since it was scheduled for negotiation in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement of 2000 to the time the negotiated text was initialled by the concerned parties in 2014. The study was significant as some aspects of the EPA had become sources of contention in West Africa and European Union‘s trade relations. Considering that both regions had since 1995, when they became members of the World Trade Organization, subscribed to the principles guiding free trade and that throughout the negotiation of the EPA relations between the two Parties had incrementally been conducted largely in compliance with WTO requirements, an in-depth study of the contentious EPA-related issues became imperative. Equally, unlike most other studies that had treated the EPA out of its context by focusing solely on the 2014 text of the EPA (which was essentially the modality for the implementation of free trade principles already endorsed under WTO), the current study placed emphasis on the process around the EPA since its introduction in 2000 thus situating it in its right context for thorough investigation and understanding. The study was qualitative and descriptive, and open-ended in-depth interview questions had been deployed to generate primary data from sources that had relevant information on the subject. The study adopted Neo-liberal Institutionalism as it best explains most of the more important objectives of the principles underpinning the negotiation of the EPA. The study found that, beyond many of the error-laden perceptions about EPA, the process that EPA-related issues had driven since their introduction had speeded up the regional integration objective of ECOWAS, thereby affirming the position of Neo-liberal Institutionalism theorists that cooperation is possible through international regimes and institutions, and through them states could rationally focus on long-term benefits (collective goods). It was also found that the free trade principles behind EPA had been a major framework of the relations between the two parties in the period under study, had spurred certain national/regional economic-related reforms, and that the demands of living up to free trade principles placed on ECOWAS member states had contributed to the contentious nature of the EPA negotiations, while noting that the Master-Servant relationship between ECOWAS members and the EU would not diminish except the economies of the former became competitive. Consequently, in order for ECOWAS member states to be relevant on the global stage that was solely driven by free trade philosophy, they would have to embark on national/regional reforms and restructuring in the areas of fiscal policy, economic governance, greater integration etc. that would reposition them and make them competitive in the face of unavoidable external challenges such as the ones that the EPA presented.
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    IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY‟s (BATC‟s) CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF KADUNA STATE (2000-2014)
    (2017) NATSA, YORKS JAMES
    Industrial societies are changing in an unprecedented speed due to the activities of Multinational Corporations (MNCs). MNCs are in the middle of a contending debate about their activities, most especially in the Less Developed Countries. The Neo-Liberal scholars believed that MNCs provide lots of benefits to the host community, most especially in the aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility like the provision of scholarship scheme, basic social amenities etc. while the Dependency school of thought believed that the disadvantages of MNCs operating in their host communities outweigh the advantages or the benefits. In this regard, the problematic of this research is to assess the impact of the British American Tobacco Company (BATC) in the aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from year 2000 when the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) became BATC, to the year 2014 when they stopped production in Zaria and downsized. The reason for this research is in an attempt to understand why despite effort by MNCs to contribute to CSR in the area of operation, there is still agitation and restiveness between the host community and the MNCs. The study adopted Dependency Theory as a framework for analysis. Relevant data were collected using the instrumentality of both secondary and primary sources. Survey and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) methods were used to obtain relevant information. The study area location was considered prior to the period or scope of study (before year 2000) when the company was known as NTC; this formed the baseline data. The research revealed that BATC Zaria has performed below expectation in terms of its duties and responsibilities as a MNC in providing basic social amenities, and has not contributed to any meaningful development of its host community. As such, the people of the host community are not generally satisfied with the performance of BATC as they feel neglected by both government and the company, that the government and the company do not work with their consent and in their own interest, and they have not been carried along, thereby depriving and denying them of some benefits meant for the community. We however recommend that government should find a way to compel firms to do more for the society in which they operate; this will help reduce conflict and give the firm a better image.