The totality of Nigeria's participation in the international system is known as ______?

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the term that describes everything Nigeria does in its dealings with other countries and international organisations. This includes its diplomacy, trade relations, treaties, and membership of bodies like the UN, AU, and ECOWAS.

2. Explain the concept Foreign policy is the sum of a country's objectives, strategies, decisions, and actions in relation to other states and international bodies. It covers:

• Diplomatic relations (embassies, high commissions)
• Membership of international organisations (UN, AU, ECOWAS, OPEC, Commonwealth)
• Economic and trade relations with other countries
• Peacekeeping and security cooperation

Examples of Nigeria's foreign policy are the "Afrocentric" policy, the support for decolonisation in Southern Africa, and peacekeeping in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

3. Solution: eliminating the options

• A. International policy: Not a standard term in Government. Policies are made by individual states, not "internationally" in this sense.
• B. Foreign policy: Correct. It is the standard term for a nation's total external interactions.
• C. Economic policy: This concerns only the management of the domestic economy, such as taxes, budgets, and monetary matters.
• D. Social policy: This concerns welfare, health, education, and similar domestic matters.

4. Answer The correct option is B. foreign policy.

5. Exam tip Remember: "Foreign = Facing outward." When a question mentions a country's dealings with other countries or international bodies, think foreign policy. Words like "external relations" or "participation in the international system" are also pointers to it.