FOREWARD

History has been defined as the study of man through the evidence of his past actions. But, historians are not only concerned with the ordinary facts or evidence of man’s past actions; they are also keenly interested in explaining ‘how’ ‘why’ and ‘when’ past events and situations came about.

The historian’s main plan of action for solving his problem of explaining the past essentially involves issues about methodological cannons and approaches. If its is valid to define history, as we have done here, as the study of man through the evidence of his past actions, then the simple logic that follows is that, History as a discipline must of necessity embrace aspects of several other disciplines which are able to contribute to an understanding of man by means of what he has achieved (or attempted to achieve) in the past. This submission underscores the need for the multidisciplinary approach to the study of History. Yet, even though the traditional study of History in Nigeria (nay, Africa) has long been well established with its essential methods of research, the quintessential addition of “International Studies” to the traditional concerns of teaching and studying History in institutionas of higher learning in Nigeria has, as it were, further deepened the necessity for embracing aspects of several other disciplines which are able to contribute to an understanding of man’s past actions. But, why “International Studies”?

Briefly, when, in the mid 1990s, we, at what was then the Department of History, Imo State University, Owerri, blazed the trail by successfully making a case for the addition of “International Studies” to the traditional concerns of teaching and studying History, one of the major reasons for the name change was the felt need to better equip and enable the student of History to place the right methodological emphasis on the interactive nature of human society in a comprehensive way. Well, of course, there was also the desire for the revival of the dwindling fortunes of History among university students. But, the main idea, then, was to reemphasize the inter-relatedness of man’s actions across national borders, especially in the post-Westphalian world order.

Much as it is valid to say that, today, History and International studies enjoy amazing popularity in majority of higher institutions in Nigeria, it is also necessary to continue to make clarion calls for the use of the right methodological approaches in conducting painstaking research in the novel twin discipline, if we are going to get it right and sustain the enthusiasm about the programme. It is in this connection that one welcomes, with a shout of ‘Hosanna’ and its anti-religious equivalents, the present work, Issues in the Multi-disciplinary and Methodological Approach to African History and International Studies, edited by Dr. Chukwuemeka Nwosu, Esq.

From chapters dwelling on isssues of methodology, such as “The Interdisciplinary Approach: Avenue for Choice of Method in Historical Studies,” “The Use of Quantitatives in Historical Research,” “Guidelines for Embarking on a Research Work: A Historical Perspective,” among others, to the ones revolving around historiography, the efforts of the contributors are commendable. Certainly, there are lacunas, as many areas in the field still beg for attention. But the fact is that, Dr. Nwosu’s book is very much welcome for undertaking the not-so-easy task of wading through aspects of the enormous tissue of methodology and historiography in our novel twin discipline. Kudos to him and his team of contributors!

Ndu Life Njoku, PhD

(Professor of African Development History &

Director of the Center for Igbo Studies,

Imo State University, Owerri)

Owerri, Nigeria,

March 12, 2020.