Journal of Social Science and Humanities

China’s Partnership with West Africa and Its Implications for Economic Sovereignty

Onome Odokuma — 2026-02-01

This study critically examined China’s expanding influence in West Africa, considering five key states, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Mali, to assess the implications on economic sovereignty. The objectives are to critically assess the implications of China’s expanding influence in West Africa and the implications on economic sovereignty of the sub-region; examine the nature and extent of China’s economic engagement in West African states; and analyse how Chinese investments and infrastructure enhance or undermine the economic sovereignty of West Africa. Adopting a qualitative research design, the paper interrogates how Chinese loans, trade, and infrastructure investments reshape political economy dynamics and strategic dependencies across the sub-region. The method adopted for the study is the historical method relying on the Marxist imperialism and the dependency theories, which revealed a contemporary form of economic imperialism wherein capital accumulation benefits the dominant power while constraining the fiscal and policy autonomy of peripheral states. It was revealed that there is a shift from transactional partnerships to structural influence, positioning China as a development financier stakeholder in the sub-region. Chinese loans and investments have bridged critical infrastructural gaps, especially in energy, transport, and telecommunications. However, these projects are loan-driven and mainly executed by Chinese firms, thereby reinforcing the financial subordination of West African states, especially through capital export for surplus extraction. Multi-polarity has produced a competitive dependency where states oscillate between Chinese, Western, and multilateral financiers without achieving autonomy. West African sovereignty is being redefined, nominally independent but materially constrained as the region becomes a site of accumulation within the global capitalist order dominated by emerging powers like China. The study recommended that ECOWAS must be strategically reinforced to enable collective bargaining with China on major projects. West African governments must aggressively pursue diversification strategies, focusing industrial policy on high-value-added exports rather than raw materials.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Policies in Nigeria

Daniel Mevayerore Igbini — 2026-02-03

Climate change has become one of the most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges globally, and Nigeria is particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on agriculture, energy production, and natural resources. This study examined the policies and strategies adopted by the Nigerian government to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, highlighting their effectiveness, challenges, and implications for sustainable development. Employing a historical research design, the study analyzed secondary data from government policy documents, environmental reports, academic literature, and international climate agreements to trace the evolution of climate policies in Nigeria over time. The study was anchored on the Sustainable Development Theory, which emphasizes the integration of environmental, social, and economic considerations in policy planning to ensure the long-term well-being of society. Findings indicate that Nigeria has developed a range of mitigation and adaptation policies, including the National Climate Change Policy, the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action (NASPA), and participation in the Paris Agreement. These policies have led to some progress in renewable energy development, afforestation programs, and community-based adaptation projects. However, challenges such as weak institutional capacity, inadequate funding, poor enforcement mechanisms, and limited public awareness continue to undermine policy effectiveness. The study concluded that Nigeria’s climate policies are ambitious but constrained by systemic and structural weaknesses. To move from policy formulation to measurable outcomes, the country must strengthen governance, boost domestic financing, and prioritize inclusive, community-driven approaches. It is recommended, among others, that the government should strengthen institutional capacity and policy enforcement by improving coordination among ministries, agencies, and state governments, while building technical expertise and establishing robust monitoring systems to ensure accountability.

Social Prophetism in Fitri Merawati’s Poetic Texts

Risqi Kurniasih — 2026-02-05

Literature within the constellation of modern civilization is compelled to assume a proactive role as an instrument of social enlightenment to address structural inequalities, moral crises, and the disorientation of national identity. This study aims to deconstruct and formulate the representation of social-prophetic ethics embedded in two contemporary poems by Fitri Merawati, titled “Wanita Utama” and “Di Balik Benteng.” This inquiry is firmly grounded in Kuntowijoyo’s prophetic literature framework, which positions literary works as catalysts for civilizational transformation through the pillars of humanization, liberation, and transcendence. A sociology of literature approach is comprehensively applied to dissect the sharp dialectic between poetic texts and the social problems entangling contemporary society. The analytical findings indicate that Fitri Merawati successfully converts her imaginative space into a platform for social critique and prophetic enlightenment. Both works position the female subject and the silence of spiritual practice as central forces in orchestrating a movement of social piety. At the level of humanization, the poetic texts dismantle public historical amnesia by revitalizing local traditions as a protective shield against the tides of mass dehumanization within the sphere of social interaction. On the axis of liberation, the texts expose the hegemony of structural oppression through cultural resistance strategies that operate in silence yet hold broad implications for the emancipation agenda. The entirety of the humanistic impetus and the endeavor for liberation is absolutely secured by the pillar of transcendence, wherein surrender is positioned as a moral anchor for creating a more equitable sociocultural system. The aesthetic construction in these verses proves that the social prophetism voiced by a female poet is capable of generating a deeply rooted model of cultural mission, while simultaneously transforming social despair into a persistent field of societal transformation.

Humanization, Liberation, and Transcendence in the Works of Achmad Charris Zubair

Zahwa Aliya Rastiani — 2026-02-10

This studi aims to examine the prophetic aspects in two poems by Achmad Charris Zubair entitled “Elegi Buat Mbayuku yang Pergi” and “Perjalanan ke Arah Bukit”. Prophetic literature, as developed by Kuntowijoyo, is an approach in literary studies that emphasizes three main aspects humanization, liberation, and transcendence. Through the descriptive qualitative method, this study seeks to interpret the deep meaning contained in the poems in a spiritual and deep thinking manner. The results of the study show that Achmad Charris Zubair’s peoms provide strong peotic reflections on inner struggles in the face of suffering, loss, and the search for the meaning of life. The values of humanization are reflected in empathy for others and recognition of human dignity. Liberation is shown in the form of resistance to social injustice and efforts to liberate the mind from wordly attachments. Meanwhile, teh value of transcendence is discussed in the comtemplation of the existence of God, the universe, and the soul’s journey towards kinner peace. These there aspects form a structure of meaning that is not only aesthetic, but also ethical and philosophical.

Reconstruction of the Scientific Integration Model in Indonesia: The Offer of Qur'anic Epistemology

Abid Nurhuda — 2026-02-11

This research stems from concerns about the deeply rooted dichotomy of knowledge within the Indonesian education system, where religious and general knowledge are often positioned separately, even in opposition to each other. This situation not only creates epistemological divisions but also weakens the nation's competitiveness in facing global challenges. This study offers a reconstruction model for scientific integration based on Qur'anic epistemology as an alternative that can present a more holistic, ethical, and relevant approach to the needs of the times. Using qualitative research methods based on literature reviews, this study critically examines the relationship between revelation, reason, and empirical experience, and places it within the context of the dynamics of contemporary Indonesian education and development. The results of the study indicate that Qur'anic epistemology has great potential to become a foundation for scientific integration, because it affirms the unity of knowledge sources, connects the transcendental dimension with empirical reality, and offers an ethical orientation for scientific development. This integration model encompasses epistemological, curricular, and institutional dimensions that together form a new scientific paradigm.