JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU’S SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY: RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF PEACE-BUILDING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper is an exposition on the relevance and application of Rousseau’s social contract
theory in the context of peace-building in Nigeria. The aim of the paper was to contribute to
the ongoing efforts at enthroning lasting peace in Nigeria, in the light of Rousseau’s social
contact theory. Content and conceptual analysis was adopted as a method, while secondary
sources were used for data collection. The study was a qualitative one. The paper discussed
the concept of peace education, peace-building, Rousseau’s social contract theory, and
relevance of the theory in the context of peace-building in Nigeria. These were critically
articulated. Sundry evidence from literature shows that peace education and peace-building
are indispensable for sustainable development in Nigeria. The paper postulated that
Rousseau’s ideas such as mutuality, communal justice and collective security have positively
contributed to the shaping of sustainable peace through peace-building. Observations are
that in Nigerian context, lack of teamwork in the spirit of mutuality, lack of social justice,
flagrant neglect of collective security, selfishness among the leaders, foreign interventions,
ethnic and religious bigotry among others, are some of the factors that affect peace-building
adversely. It was, therefore, concluded that Rousseau’s social contract theory, which
emphasizes teamwork, social justice, mutual agreement and collective interest, is relevant to
the Nigerian peace-building process, and so its application will boost the effort. Based on the
conclusion, the paper recommended, among others, that Rousseau’s social contract theory
be adopted and applied to the process of peace-building in Nigeria, and that the spirit of
mutuality should be entrenched in peace-building by peace builders, and that social justice
should be practiced for an effective and sustainable peace-building to thrive