Ideology and International Politics: Finding a Place for Africa

Abstract

An ideology serves as a tool for socioeconomic and political transformation in any polity. Global politics is littered with several political ideologies that serve as guides for several countries. The central place of ideology in governance has led some scholars to argue that no State can exist without an ideology, whether well-articulated by its leaders or not. Therefore, ideology is the bedrock of governance. This implies that the political ideology that guides a particular political community affects the relationship between citizens and their leaders. An ideology also determines and influences the foreign policy of a nation. Given the imperativeness of ideology, this paper discusses and elaborates on the several ideologies in play in global politics. However, special focus is placed on Africa given the dire need for socioeconomic and political transformation in the continent. This paper concludes that the African quest for development can only be realized when African leaders generate the right socioeconomic and political ideology that will enhance the status of the continent in international politics and transform Africans.