Okechukwu Iheduru

Okechukwu Iheduru

Professor,
School of Politics and Global Studies
Other ASU affiliations
Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict
Senior Global Futures Scholar, Global Futures Scientists and Scholars
  • okey.iheduru@asu.edu
  • Phone: 480-965-1303
  • ‌
  • COOR 6714 Tempe, AZ 85281
  • Mail code: 3902
    Campus: Tempe
  • ‌
Biography Research Teaching Public Work
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Long Bio

Okey Chris Iheduru joined the Arizona State University faculty in fall of 2004. He received his bachelor's from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, his master's from the University of Akron, and his doctorate from the University of Connecticut. Professor Iheduru is the author of The Political Economy of International Shipping in Developing Countries (1996). He has written numerous book chapters, as well as articles in peer-reviewed journals such as International Affairs (London); International Studies Review; Review of International Political Economy; Territory, Politics and Governance; Commonwealth and Comparative Politics; African Affairs; Journal of Military and Strategic Studies; Journal of Modern African Studies; Ocean Development and International Law; and Maritime Policy and Management. He was a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Scholar in South Africa in 2000-2001; a Fulbright Scholar in Ghana and Nigeria in 2011-2012; and a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow in 2021. He has consulted for the World Bank and the Canadian International Development Agency/SPCS Transport Consortium on the maritime policies of African states; and served on the Expert group of the African Capacity Building Foundation. He is also a visiting professor-at-large of national security governance at the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria; visiting professor of International Relations at Veritas (Catholic) University, Abuja, Nigeria; and adjunct professor of International Relations at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. His current teaching interests straddle comparative politics and international relations for which he has been awarded the Lilly Endowed Teaching Fellow and the Zebulon Pearce Distinguished Teacher; while his current research interests are focused on social transformation and military leadership, state-mediated capitalism and comparative capitalism; and cross-border non-state actors and changes in African political economy and regional integration.

Education
  • Institut de Français, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France (Proficiency and immersion course in French language) 
  • Ph.D.  Political Science, The University of Connecticut 1992
  • M. A. Political Science, University of Akron, Ohio 1988     
  • B.Sc. Political Science (2nd Class Upper, Honors), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

 

CV
Curriculum Vitae
Google Scholar URL
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=OvjL94MAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID Profile ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2874-3186
Research Interests

His current research interests are focused on contemporary transformations in capitalism (varieties of capitalism in Africa; "Africapitalism", state-mediated capitalism/neo-developmental states; government-business relations); migrant transnationalism and transformations in government-citizen relations; and formal and informal cross-border non-state actors (business, transnational religious organizations, transnational terrorism, etc.) and changes in regional identity formation, governance, and integration.

Publications

  • “

    "Hybrid Maritime Security Governance and Limited Statehood in the Gulf of Guinea: A Nigerian Case Study," Journal of Military and Strategic Studies 22, 3 (April 2023): 116-163; jmss.org/article/view/77363.

    "The Catholic Church and Regional Governance in West Africa," International Affairs (London) 99: 2 (2023) 747-767; https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiad019;

    "A ‘fateful compromise’? Transnational religious organizations and regional governance in Africa," Territory, Politics, Governance: A Journal of Regional Studies Association, (Online First, April 2023) DOI: 10.1080/21622671.2022.2160371

  • "The National Chief Imam of Ghana: Religious Leadership and Peacebuilding in an Emerging Democracy," Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis, vol. 2, no. 2, August 2020, pp. 66-98. Available at https://jtpp.uk/current-issue-download/.

  • Business and Social Construction of Regional Identity and Integration in Africa” in Kenneth Amaeshi and Uwaifiokun Idemudia (eds.), Africapitalism, Entrepreneurs, and Socio-Economic Development: Problems, Paradoxes, and Possibilities (Routledge, 2019), pp. 37-59.

  • “The African Corporation, ‘Africapitalism’ and Regional Integration in Africa” in Andreas Nölke and Christian May (eds.), Handbook of the International Political Economy of the Corporation (Handbooks of Research on International Political Economy Series) (Edward Elgar Publishers, 2018), pp. 329-345. 

  • “Leadership, Critical Thinking and Nigeria’s Social Cohesion Conundrum,” in Patrick C. Osakwe (ed.), Leadership and Complex Military Operations in Nigeria (Kaduna: Nigerian Defense Academy Press, 2015), pp. 1-24. 

  • “Social Transformation and Military Leadership: The Nigerian Army and Fourth Generation Wars,” in Ebenezer Obadare and Wale Adebanwi (eds.), Governance and the Crisis of Rule in Contemporary Africa: Leadership in Transformation (New York: Palgrave/ Macmillan, 2015). 

  • “Organized Private Sector and Regional Integration in Africa,” Review of International Political Economy, vol. 22, no. 5 (October 2015), pp. 910-940. 

  • “Nigeria: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Democratizing Society,” in Jeffrey Kopstein, Mark Lichbach and Stephen E. Hanson (editors), Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Changing Global Order. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014), pp. 506-568.

  • “Civil Society and Regional Integration in West Africa,” in Lorenzo Fioramonti (ed.), Civil Society and World Regions. How Citizens Are Reshaping Regional Governance in Times of Crisis (Lanham: Lexington Books/Rowman Littlefield, 2013).

  • “The ‘New’ ECOWAS: Implications for the Study of Regional Integration,” in Tim M. Shaw, Scarlett Corneliessen and J. Andrew Grant (eds.), The Research Companion to Regionalisms (Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishers, 2011);

  • "Regional Integration and the Private Authority of Banks in West Africa,” International Studies Review, vol. 14, no. 2 (June 2012), pp. 273-302.
  • “African States, Global Migrations and Transformations in Citizenship Politics,” Citizenship Studies, vol. 15, no. 4 (April 2011), pp. 181-203.
  • “The ‘New’ ECOWAS: Implications for the Study of Regional Integration,” in Tim M. Shaw, Scarlett Corneliessen and J. Andrew Grant (eds.), The Research Companion to Regionalisms (Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishers, 2011).
  • “The African Diaspora’s Impact on Homeland National Identity,” in Emannuel Yewah and ‘Dimeji Togunde (eds.), Across the Atlantic: African Immigrants in the United States Diaspora (Urbana-Champaign, IL.: Common Ground Publishing/The University Press, 2010), pp. 149-174.
  • “Why ‘Anglo Licks ANC’s Boots’: Globalization and State-Capital Relations in South Africa,” African Affairs: Journal of the Royal African Society, vol. 107, no. 428 (July 2008), pp. 333-360.
  • “Chapter 14 Nigeria,” in Jeffrey Kopstein and Mark Lichbach (editors), Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Changing Global order. Third Edition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008), pp. 534-587.
  • “State Failure, Globalization and Maritime Insecurity in West Africa,” Ocean Yearbook, vol. 21 (May 2007), pp. 475-504. 
  • Okechukwu Iheduru. Continuity and Change in African Entrepreneurship in South Africa. African Analyst Quarterly (2006).
  • “Black Economic Power and Nation Building in Post-Apartheid South Africa,” Journal of Modern African Studies, vol. 42, no. 1 (March 2004), pp. 1-30.
  • “New Regionalisms, States and Non-State Actors in West Africa,” in Andrew Grant and Fred Söderbaum (eds.), New Regionalism in Africa (Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishers, 2003), pp. 47-66.
  • “Corporate Amazons or Empowerment Spice Girls?: Elite Black Businesswomen and Transformation in South Africa,” Journal of Developing Societies, vol. 19, no. 4 (2003), pp. 473-507.
  • “Developments in Transport and Communications” (with Folu Ogundimu) in Ebere Onwudiwe and Minabere Ibelema (eds.), Afro-Optimism: Perspectives on Africa’s Advances (Westport, CT.: Praeger Publishers, 2002), pp. 109-118.
  • “Social Concertation, Labor Unions and the Creation of a Black Bourgeoisie in South Africa,” Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, vol. 40, no. 2 (July 2002), pp. 48-85.
  • “Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa and the United States,” in Toyin Falola and Alusine Jalloh (ed.), Black Business and Economic Power (Rochester, NY.: University of Rochester Press, 2002), pp. 572-604.
  • Okechukwu Iheduru. Organized Labor, Globalization and Economic Reform: Union Investment Companies in South Africa. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa (Durban) (2001).
Courses
2025 Spring
Course Number Course Title
POS 359 African Politics and Society
POS 465 International Organization/Law
POS 359 African Politics and Society
2024 Fall
Course Number Course Title
POS 160 Global Politics
POS 486 Internatl Political Economy
2024 Spring
Course Number Course Title
POS 359 African Politics and Society
POS 465 International Organization/Law
2023 Fall
Course Number Course Title
POS 160 Global Politics
POS 486 Internatl Political Economy
2023 Spring
Course Number Course Title
POS 359 African Politics and Society
POS 465 International Organization/Law
2022 Fall
Course Number Course Title
POS 160 Global Politics
POS 486 Internatl Political Economy
2022 Summer
Course Number Course Title
POS 493 Honors Thesis
2022 Spring
Course Number Course Title
POS 160 Global Politics
POS 492 Honors Directed Study
POS 486 Internatl Political Economy
2021 Fall
Course Number Course Title
POS 465 International Organization/Law
POS 359 African Politics and Society
2021 Spring
Course Number Course Title
POS 160 Global Politics
POS 359 African Politics and Society
2020 Fall
Course Number Course Title
POS 465 International Organization/Law
POS 486 Internatl Political Economy
Presentations
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. "Regionalizing West African Civil Society: Constraints, Lessons, and Opportunities for Reshaping Regional Governance From Below,"presented at the workshop on Regionalizing African Civil Societies: Lessons, Opportunities and Constraints organized by Nordic Africa Institute and West African Civil Society Institute (Accra, GHANA) at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala (SWEDEN), 30-31 October, 2014. Workshop on Regionalizing African Civil Societies, NAI, Uppsala, Sweden (Oct 2014).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. "Mobile Money, Mobile Banking and the Governance of Emerging Technologies in Africa". The 2nd Annual Conference on Governance of Emerging Technologies: Law, Policy and Ethics, Scottsdale (May 2014).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. "Contending Perspectives on Civil Society and Regional Governance in West Africa". Building Regions from Below: Regional Integration and Civil Society from Eur, University of Pretoria (May 2013).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. "Non-military Threats to National Security: The Nigerian Experience,". Conference on The Changing Dynamics of National and Regional Security Challenges (May 2013).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. "Contending Perspectives on Civil Society Engagement With Regionalism: The Case of West Africa". the Governance and Innovation Conference, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Af (May 2013).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. "African Mining Protests: Local Rebellions Against the State and Global Capital and Spaces of Hope for Alternative Discourses on Rights,". The "Post-Post" Independence? Contemporary Protests, U. of London (May 2012).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. Making Regionalism Work in West Africa: The Role of Cross-Border Business Coalitions,. 53rd Annual Convention of the International Studies association, 17-20 February 201 (Feb 2010).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. Africa’s Oceans as a Global Security Problem: The Case of the Gulf of Guinea and the Horn of Africa. 51st Annual Convention of the International Studies association, 17-20 February 20 (Feb 2010).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. The Past, Present and Future of Our Common History and Humanity: Through the Prism of the Model United Nations Conferences. 59th Annual Session of the Model United Nations of the Far West, San Francisco (Apr 2009).
  • Okechukwu C. Iheduru. State-Led Transnationalism and African Migrations: What We Know and the Implications of the African Experience. 51st Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association (Nov 2008).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. African Politics in America: Globalization, Transnationalization, and the New African Diasporas in the 21st Century. The 49th annual meeting of the African Studies Association, 10-14 November 2006, San Fr (Nov 2006).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Globalization, the State and Capital: The Case of Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa. The Symposium on Political Economy Series, 19 October 2006, Thunderbird: Gavin School o (Oct 2006).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Elusive Synergy: Government-Business Relations and Transformation in Post-Apartheid South Africa," presented at the African Studies Association meeting, 1418 November 2005, Washington, DC. African Studies Association Meeting, 14-18 November (Nov 2005).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Fair Trade, Economic Development and the Future of the African Youth. 3rd Youth and Human Rights Forum (Oct 2005).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. West Africa's Oil, American Interests and Regionalism in West Africa. International Conference on US and West Africa, University of Texas at Arlington (Apr 2005).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Post-Apartheid South Africa and Its Neighbors: A Ten Year Retrospective. 47th Meeting of the African Studies Association, 11-14 November 2004, New Orleans (Nov 2004).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Victims, National Pride, and Saboteurs: Youth and Political Participation in Post-Apartheid South Africa. University of London, Institute of Commonwealth Studies "Looking at South Africa Ten Years On" (Sep 2004).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Black Youth, Ethnic Redistribution and Nation Building in Post-Apartheid South Africa. African Studies Association meeting (Oct 2003).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. The State and the Development of a Black Capitalist Class in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Canadian Association of African Studies (May 2002).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. New Regionalisms, Africa, and the 'Uni-Multipolar' World Order. Seminar on Regionalisms and the International System (Apr 2002).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. New Regionalisms, States and Non-State Actors in West Africa. 43rd Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association (Mar 2002).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. Sisterhood, Patriarchy, and Capitalism: Black Women's Business Movement in Post-Apartheid South Africa. CASID/WID Symposium (Sep 2001).
  • Iheduru, Okechukwu. The State and the Development of a Black Capitalist Class in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Departmental Seminar (Jun 2001).
Service
  • African Affairs, Mansucripts Reviewer (2008 - Present)
  • Review of International Political Economy, Manuscript Reviewer (twice) (2008 - Present)
  • International Journal of Social and Management Sciences, Editorial Committee (2007 - Present)
  • Boren Fellowship Program, Member (2005 - Present)
  • Institute of International Education (IIE), Washington, DC, Member (2005 - Present)
  • National Competitive Scholarships Committee (Rhodes, Fulbright,NSEP, Gates, Mitchell, Marshall, etc.), Committee member (2005 - Present)
  • National Screening Committee, Member (2005 - Present)
  • National Security Education Program (NSEP), Member (2005 - Present)
  • Undergraduate Studies Committee, Dept. of Political Science, Committee member (2005 - Present)
  • School of Politics and Global Studies, Director of Undergraduate Studies & Chair, Undergraduate Committee; Chaired the committee's work on curriculum, teaching, scholarships, etc. (2013 - 2015)
  • National Scholarships Committee & Barrett Honors College, Reviewed ASU students' applicantions for Fulbright and Boren Fellowships, etc. (2014 - 2014)
  • U.S. National Security Education Program/Boren Fellowship Program, Fellowship Grant Application Reviewer (2014 - 2014)
  • African Studies Review, the official journal of the 4,000-member African Studies Association, USA, Manuscript Reviewer (2014 - 2014)
  • Abia State (Nigeria) Association of America, Public lecture on the role of the African Diaspora in homeland development (2014 - 2014)
  • 110th annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC., Panel Chair and Discussant (2014 - 2014)
  • Educational Testing Service/The College Board, Princeton, NJ., Faculty Consultant & Member, Examinations Development Committee (2014 - 2014)
  • CBS 5 KPHO-TV, Phoenix, Guest/Resource person on the 6:20 am News segment on Monday, May 12th, 2014 (2014 - 2014)
  • Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders., Grant Application Reviewer and Selection/Recommendation Panel member (2014 - 2014)
  • Educational Testing Service/The College Board, Princeton, NJ., Faculty Consultant & Member, Examinations Development Committee (2013 - 2013)
  • Strategic Security and Africa Peace Review journals, Blind-reviewed two manuscripts for each for each of the three issues of the two journals during the year. (2013 - 2013)
  • National Scholarships Committee & Barrett Honors College, Reviewed 8 ASU applicants for Fulbright and Boren Fellowships, etc. (2013 - 2013)
  • Oxford University Press, Reviewed book manuscript "Thinking About Democracy" by Del Dickson (2011 - 2013)
  • National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nigeria., Member of program accreditation panel for Pol. Science & International Relations at 3 universities (2012 - 2013)
  • National Defense College, Abuja, Nigeria, Member, University Transition Committee & Liaison with National Universities Commission (2011 - 2013)
  • ETS/College Board, AP Comparative Govt. & Politics Development Committee, Develop new exam questions; review and revise old ones; coordinate workshops and write training mate (2010 - 2013)
  • Ministerial Conference of the Abidjan Convention on Coastal and Marine Environment Management of West and Central Africa at Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, Rapporteur for COP10 (2012 - 2012)
  • Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Auto Section)., Keynote Lecturer at the 2012 annual symposium (2012 - 2012)
  • The Abidjan Convention/UN Environmental Program (UNEP) on Coastal and Marine Environment Management of West and Central Africa, Member, Experts Committee on Science and Technology Policy (2011 - 2012)
  • Annual meeting of the Nigerian Political Science Association, University of Abuja, Nigeria., Panel Chair (2011 - 2011)
  • World Development, Reviewed "Authoritarianism and Democracy and Anti-Growth Regimes in Africa",(MS Ref #: WD-904). (2011 - 2011)
  • Citizenship Studies journal, Reviewed "Yoruba Cultural Construction of Citizenship and National Identity: The Emerging Trends in Nigerian Socio-Political Behaviors" (Manuscript ID CCST-2010-0059). (2011 - 2011)
  • Advisory Committee, Personnel advisory; recruitment, policy (2010 - 2011)
  • National Scholarships Screening Committee, Review scholarship and fellowship application (Fulbright, NSEP, NSF, etc.) (2004 - 2011)
  • National Screening Committee, Review scholarship and fellowship application (Fulbright, NSEP, etc.) (2004 - 2011)
  • 69th meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, 30 March-2 April 2011, Chicago, Illinois., Panel Chair; & Panel Discussant (2011 - 2011)
  • Undergraduate Studies Committee, Political Science, Committee Chair & Undergraduate Director (2010 - 2010)
  • Business Day newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria, Weekly Columnist on politics and economics of Africa (2010 - 2010)
  • Study Abroad, Director, ASU Ghana Summer Study Abroad & Internship Program (2010 - 2010)
  • The Light of Hope Institute, Volunteer (2010 - 2010)
  • The Rising Sun Club, Inc. (of Phoenix), President (2010 - 2010)
  • Advisory Committee, Personnel advisory; recruitment, policy (2009 - 2010)
  • Journal of Modern African Studies, Manuscript Reviewer (2009 - 2009)
  • International Foundation for Self-Help (IFESH), Consultant (2009 - 2009)
  • Business Day newspaper, Lagos, Nigeria, Weekly Columnist (2009 - 2009)
  • Study Abroad, Director, ASU Ghana Summer Study Abroad Program (2009 - 2009)
  • The Light of Hope Institute, Volunteer (2009 - 2009)
  • The Rising Sun Club of Phoenix, Administrative Coordinator (2009 - 2009)
  • Africa Today, Manuscritp Reviewer (2009 - 2009)
  • African Studies Review, Manuscript Reviwer (2009 - 2009)
  • Boren Fellowship Program, Fellowship Grant Reviewer (2009 - 2009)
  • US Dept. of Education, Reviewer for Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program grant competitions (2009 - 2009)
  • National Competitive Scholarships Committee, Member (2006 - 2008)
  • Southern Inter-Disciplinary Research on Africa, Executive Committee Member (2004 - 2007)
  • Africa Today, Manuscript Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • Honors Disciplinary Faculty, Barrett Honors College, ASU, Faculty (2006 - 2006)
  • Southern Interdisciplinary Roundtable on African Studies, Chair of the Executive Committee (2006 - 2006)
  • The Light of Hope Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, Affiliate (2006 - 2006)
  • African Affairs, Manuscript Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • The State Press, Gave interview on the politics of global oil price hikes and their impact on U. S. domestic politics (2006 - 2006)
  • International Journal of African Studies, Manuscript Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • International Journal of Human Development, Manuscript Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
  • Arizona Black Film Festival, Reviewer and post-screening teach-in for the South African film "Tsotsi." (2006 - 2006)
  • African Studies Review, Manuscript reviewer (twice) (2005 - 2005)
  • Southern Inter-Disciplinary Research on Africa, Chair (2005 - 2005)
  • A. Wade Smith Memorial Lecture Series on Race, Coordinator (2004 - 2005)
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Administrative Council (2004 - 2005)
  • Committee on African and African American Research, Coordinator (2004 - 2005)
  • Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Committee of Chairs and Directors (2004 - 2005)
  • Institute for Social Studies Research Planning Committee, Executive Committee (2004 - 2005)
  • The Light of Hope Institute (Phoenix, AZ) Annual Youth Forum on Human Rights, Co-organizer and Panel Leader and Lecturer on "Fair Trade and Human Rights in Africa" (2005 - 2005)
  • A. Wade Smith Memorial Lecture Series, Planning Committee Member (2004 - 2005)
  • Advisory Committee, African Studies Center, Elected Member (2004 - 2004)
  • MSU Multidisciplinary Study Abroad Program, Accra, Ghana, Director (2002 - 2004)
  • Africa Today, Reviewer (2004)
  • African Studies Review, Reviewer (2004)
  • African Students Association, MSU, Faculty Advisor (2002 - 2003)
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