| This thesis examines the approaches used by the United States of America (US, henceforth) to
promote democracy in Nigeria, situating them within the broader idea of international democracy
promotion. Through a qualitative case study design, it reveals that the US strategies for promoting
democracy in Nigeria are based on a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches, such as
its foreign policy, support to civil society organizations, workshops, diplomatic visits, and bilateral
forums between US and Nigerian public officials. Although these initiatives have fostered institutional
support, civic engagement, and governance reforms, they continue to face obstacles stemming from
political manipulation and a weak participatory culture among Nigerians in their own affairs. To
promote grassroots involvement and resistance to political manipulation, the research introduces and
explores a complementary strategy that aligns extant strategies with support for political education to
cultivate an inclusive and democratic society in Nigeria. By contributing to the literature on democracy
promotion in Africa, this approach, in tandem with Nigeria’s sociopolitical context, has the potential
to strengthen the practical sustainability and legitimacy of foreign efforts to promote democracy.
Keywords: Democracy, Democracy promotion, US-Nigeria relations, Geopolitics, Civil society. |