The Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought appears in an inauspicious period in world history.  Terrorism, refugeeism, nagging poverty in the developing nations, economic uncertainty in the developed nations, regional conflicts, global insecurity, to mention just a few, are now threatening human existence on this planet.  But, despite these threats, humans all over the world have often shown undaunted efforts in finding solutions to their problems.  Academicians in different intellectual endeavors as well as non-academicians have in their respective roles used many and different avenues to articulate analytical discussions that would provide solutions to the crises facing humanity.  We hope that the Lincoln Journal of Social and Political Thought will be used by scholars in the social sciences and humanistic disciplines to contribute ideas that would foster explanation for and solutions to contemporary human crises.

We have dedicated the maiden issue to Lincoln University’s contribution to social and political thought, particularly in the 20^th Century.  In this regard, we have chosen three of its alumni for focus, Martin Kilson, Lincoln University class of 1953, who held an endowed chair at Harvard University, is internationally known for his intellectual progressivism, the late Nnamdi Azikiwe and Kwame Nkrumah, class of 1930 and 1939 respectively, both contributed much to dismantle colonialism in their respective countries, and both became their country’s first president.

We thank Lincoln University School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies for initiating and sponsoring this Journal.  We thank, in particular, Professor Judith A. W. Thomas, the Dean of the School.  She dreamt the idea, and the Faculty Development Committee financed the birth of the idea.  We also give special thanks to Dr. Ivory V. Nelson, the President, for the  encouragement he gave and the university support he guaranteed.

We hope that the academic community will embrace this Journal by contributing articles as well as subscribing to the Journal.

Levi A. Nwachuku, Editor