States and non-state actors in hegemonic and counter-hegemonic narratives in international law: the Nigerian experience

Abstract

The historical background of Nigeria as a state and how state and non-state actors within its domain influence the nation's domestic and international activities demonstrate the conflict and complexity between dominant ideologies and resistance between competing actors in Nigeria. Such struggles arose following the imposition of colonial rule and subsequent introduction of the English legal system, which unsettled existing indigenous systems that were hugely dependent on customary law. Although such platforms successfully served colonial interests, they were challenged by different resistance groups. Through historical narrative, this paper contributes to Global South scholarship in the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourse in international law, with Nigeria as a case study. The paper shows that in order to successfully address hegemonic tendencies, which flow from the international system and are sustained by the Nigerian state, the resistant role of non-state actors is imperative in the making of international law to accommodate the Nigerian experience.