Hegemonic Influence and Regional Crisis Management: A Neo-Institutionalist Analysis of Nigeria’s Role in ECOWAS

Abstract

Regional crisis management in West Africa has increasingly drawn scholarly attention, particularly regarding the role of dominant states within regional institutions. Nigeria’s position as a hegemonic actor within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been widely acknowledged; however, existing literature has not sufficiently examined how Nigeria’s influence operates through institutional behaviour to shape crisis management outcomes. This study addresses this gap by examining the nature and extent of Nigeria’s hegemonic influence within ECOWAS and critically assessing how institutional rules, norms, and enforcement mechanisms mediate responses to political crises, including coups and democratic breakdowns. An explorative and descriptive qualitative research design was adopted, drawing data from high-ranking peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, and authoritative regional and international reports. All materials were subjected to rigorous thematic analysis to ensure analytical credibility and authenticity. The analysis is guided by Hegemonic Stability Theory, which provides insight into how a dominant state contributes to regional order through leadership, coordination, and the provision of collective goods. The study finds that Nigeria’s hegemonic role remains central to ECOWAS’s crisis response capacity, yet its effectiveness is constrained by institutional weaknesses, inconsistent enforcement, and fragmented political will among member states. The study recommends strengthening institutional cohesion, enhancing compliance mechanisms, and improving collective burden-sharing. Consequently, this research contributes to international relations, regional integration studies, African studies, and security studies, while offering policy-relevant insights for regional organisations and decision-makers. Future research should explore comparative hegemonic dynamics across other African regional institutions.