Blog Discussion Group Nine
Blog post due at 11:55pm on November 21 and comment due at 11:55pm on November 24.
Nigeria
- If you were a member of a particular ethnic group in
- How have the frequent shifts from civilian to military rule and back again exacerbated the country’s many social and economic problems?
- Are political parties the best option for divided societies such as
Are political parties the best option for divided societies such as Nigeria, or are there more efficient channels through which citizens can express themselves and be governed?
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to understand just how divided Nigeria is. Kesselman included a very important quote from Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was leader of the AG. He wrote in 1947 that, "Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no 'Nigerians' int he same sense as there are 'English,' 'Welsh,' or 'French.' The word 'Nigerian' is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not'" (531). This means that trying to form political parties that do not recognize the deep history and difference in the pre-existing tribes is not effective. It was seen that by trying to do this, it made is so political leaders were just bias in their advocacy and tended to only help members of their own tribe or ethnicity.
Before the British came in, it was said that, "Several precolonial societies had democratic elements that might have led to more open and participatory polities had they not been interrupted by colonialism" (528). This makes me think that the self-sanctioned tribes that were and still are in place are the best form of dividing groups up. Although that is my instinct reaction, it is hard to say how well they would function in the current global economic system that we have today. It seems that if they were to just go back to the old ways of disassociation of each other, than there could be a falling apart of the economy.
It is a shame that the British came in and created arbitrary lines of territory, but that is how they function within the world today so it seems to make the most sense economically to come together as one and participate in the world. Culturally, it seems to make the most sense to allow tribes to run themselves and not care about what happens to the countries GDP etc.
The post answered the question in detail and profoundly. But I am a little confused about the ending of the post. Is it relevant to the topic? In what you mentioned, I did not get the answer of the question that are there more efficient channels through which citizens can express themselves and be governed?
DeleteBecause of the division and diversity of Nigeria, there has to be categorizations to unify tribes. The first attempt at unification and identity is the statehood of Nigeria, but that has only had a small margin of success. The next step would certainly be political parties. Political parties who base their platform on particular principles, including religious principles, and laws it believes will be for the benefit of the Nigerian people can also start to bring these hundreds of tribes together. There will definitely be partisanship but not over legislation, but that is necessary for participation in a democracy. Otherwise there will be many governances acting independently of each other, creating laws that don't transcend nationally. Again this may only play a small role in unity but combined with other efforts and channels, politocal parties are one more step in the right direction for unity and democracy.
DeleteIf you were a member of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, what would be your attitudes towards democracy?
ReplyDeleteDemocratization in Nigeria caused a great deal of research interest among countless scholars with a complicated and confusing path. Democratization in Nigeria has suffered many setbacks, but the difficult pace of moving towards lasting democracy has not stopped, even during the protracted military administration. Although the major challenges facing democratization in Nigeria have existed since the country became independent, the new situation emerging on these issues needs to be looked at in a new perspective and dealt with in a new way. Only in this way can Nigeria enter the ranks of modern democracies as soon as possible.
The restoration of the benefits of a peaceful Nigerian state that began to enjoy large foreign exchange earnings from oil also quickly restored the government's corruption to its original level. In addition to the democratization of the democratized government into a junta and the scarcity of many politicians, Nigeria seems to have regained its prewar appearance. However, tribal clashes and religious conflicts persist, and the minority groups in the Nigerian oilfields still have no benefit from the oil fields. The largest populous country on the African continent, with the most educated population in independence, still can not see the hope of rise.
This is a very interesting post, filled with great facts. However, I do not see what your attitudes towards democracy are. With all the information you have provided for us to read, where do you stand, keeping all of it in mind?
DeleteI find it very sad, that this country has no hope. There are obviously changes happening, but not enough to bring abut the hope that people in this society need. Why do you think that is? More elaboration would be great! I would also like to see more of your opinion within this post.
Having done a lot of research and reading into the political history and governance of Nigeria at this point, I feel like if I were in one of those positions I would probably feel the same way that many of the ethnic groups there DO feel; frustrated and angry. A lot of the ethic groups in Nigeria were made to feel unimportant, lumped in with other people named "Nigerians" because of where they are located geographically. Every tribe has their own particular things that make them unique, and when they were colonized those things weren't taken into consieration. They want to feel like they each can be recognized and acknowledged for their own cultures, and that makes unifying for democracy hard. I think that the different ethnic groups at this point realize that democracy is needed to move forward as a country, but it's still difficult to agree on how to reach a stable democratic society because they feel that the things that make them unique will fade.
DeletePolitical parties are probably not the best option for Nigeria since it is clearly divided by regional ethnicities, notably between north and south. The more efficient way of political power sharing is the "power shift," or ethnic rotation. "This ethnic rotation principle is not formally found in the constitution, but all the major political parties recognize it as a necessity." (Kesselman, 549) This informal understanding has played out with regularity since the '79 constitution with Abubakar (North), then to Obasanjo (South), then Yar'Adua (North), then Jonathan (South). But Jonathan's election caused deadly riots because it broke this cycle of regularity. The cycle was restored in 2015 with Buhari's election. Though ethnic rotation is not formal, the concept of "Federal Character" (which constitutionally mandates ethnic quotas in government hiring practices) , and what ethnic rotation is based upon, is seen by many Nigerians as a positive application towards governance.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how vital this system seems to be, but at the same time not be formal/. Most of the rules we have here in the U.S. are formal, written on some sort of documentation. Be it laws, statutes, or court precedents, they are clearly formal, and we all follow them because of the legitimacy of the rules formality. Perhaps the informality of the ethnic rotation is why it works. Weall know things work without them being put down in documentation. For their culture, maybe that is why the informality of the rule works.
DeleteIf you were a member of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, what would be your attitudes towards democracy?
ReplyDeleteIf i was any member of the smaller ethnic groups in Nigeria, I would be desperate for any form of Democratic government. Nigeria is the most populous nation in its sub-region, and is home to over 250 ethnic groups. There are three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba. Under an authoritarian rule, these three groups would dominate the rest. Clearly so, they have in fact dominated he political process for a while. Using that domination, the three ethnic groups split and divided the other parts of the population, furthering their power. Under a democracy, the smaller ethnic groups would have a voice, a smaller voice than the larger groups, but a voice nonetheless. If i was a member of one of the powerful ethnic groups, I would probably like to maintain an authoritarian regime. if i was a smaller ethnic group,, however, I would much prefer a democratic regime.
• Are political parties the best option for divided societies such as Nigeria, or are there more efficient channels through which citizens can express themselves and be governed.
ReplyDeleteNigeria is a rich country with a large number of citizens in poverty. I don’t believe political parties work well in countries where the citizens are poor. They can be easily manipulated and parties can easily persuade and gain advantage. Although the people would have choices, it would divide the people even more if there are multiple parties to choose from. I believe that if a country were to have a parliament system, or a system where the general population elected representatives, then they could choose who is best fit for the head of government. I believe that this is a better way for citizens to express themselves because there will be less of a divide.
I agree with you on the idea of the general population electing representatives themselves, but at the same time I do not think the parliamentary system would work in Nigeria. I read something the other day that said the first bit of government in Nigeria was based on both the American presidential ideals and the British parliamentary system. This idea was later corrupted and overthrown by military rule. So, in theory, could it work if the parliamentary system was directly voted upon by the general population instead of political parties?
DeleteIf you were a member of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, what would be your attitudes towards democracy? Nigerians seem to have an overwhelmingly positive opinion of democratization despite sharing a history full of civil unrest. With more than two-hundred ethic groups in Nigeria, ethnic differences have been at the root of conflict. Ethnicity is one of the greatest identifying factors of the Nigerian people, dividing the population regionally. On the topic of ethnicity in Nigeria, some social scientists would agree that, ”socio-cultural consciousness of oneness develops and forms the basis of interaction with and participation in other socio-cultural processes, especially in power and resource allocation, within a larger social group or state” (Anugwon, p. 64). The allocation of power and resources in Nigeria has been a driving factor in allowing the take-over of authoritarian, military regimes. These regimes have largely governed through corruption and unnecessary force, and they have favored the preferences of one group over the needs of others. Despite this, democratic ideals have begun to ameliorate the political culture. An overwhelming portion of Nigerians claim to support the notion of democratizing but the process itself has been underwhelming. While the government structure has been constructed to imitate democracy institutions, corruption has continued to interfere with democratization. As a member of an ethnic group in Nigeria, I would be hopeful that democracy could lessen the chance of being marginalized under an authoritarian regime. However, because democratization continues to experience reversals, I would remain wary of the process.
ReplyDeleteAnugwon, E. E. (2000). Ethnic conflict and democracy in Nigeria: The marginalization process. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 15(1), 61-78. Retrieved from: http://pdfproc.lib.msu.edu/?file=/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/social%20development/vol15no1/jsda015001007.pdf
If you were a member of an ethnic group in Nigeria, what would be your attitudes towards democracy?
ReplyDeleteEthnicity is a fundamental theme in the analysis of Nigerian politics. There is a large variation in the size and beliefs of many ethnic groups in Nigeria. Ethnic political parties are consistent with strong communal allegiances. It is also commonly asserted that Nigerian political behavior is driven by ethnic solidarities. These groups only try benefit themselves as apposed to thinking about what would be best for the entire country. I find that identity in Nigeria is fluid and contingent, with variation among groups over time. The construction of identity influences attitudes and collective action. The nature of elections provides substance for the intensity of ethnic identification, the strength of political ethnicity, and attitudes toward democracy. There is no question that communal divisions are crucial in the political life of the country. In this type of system, I would argue that I would prefer a more democratic government unless I was a part of one of the powerful and larger ethnic groups.
Are political parties the best option for divided societies such as Nigeria, or are there more efficient channels through which citizens can express themselves and be governed.
ReplyDelete"An unfortunate legacy of the party and electoral systems after independence was that political parties were associated with particular ethnic groups." (Kesselman, 559) In other words, political parties are not the best option due to the many ethnic groups in the region. These ethnic groups basically encouraged the idea of political and social fragmentation that ultimately destroyed the First Republic. Since Nigeria is a poor country, political parties can easily persuade the population in doing what the party thinks is best, but is not necessarily the best option for the country. Maybe a system of the direct election of representatives to power could allow the citizens to vote in who they thought was the best option and who would make the greatest impact on the country.
Political parties don't seem to work well in countries where the citizens are poor and have a "this is the way we have always done it" mindset. Unfortunately there is a tribal loyalty and the political parties would never get the respect or following that their individual tribes have. I think it would cause more of a divide between the people and the government if there are multiple parties to choose from. We can see that through military rule and even trying to switch to a United States modeled government there was still discord and corruption. The people were even given the option of how they wanted to handle things in court, either religious/tribal or government. So with an unwillingness to become a cohesive people: speaking the same "language", following the same laws and abiding by them I don't think that political parties are the best option for societies such as and already divided Nigeria. "Nigeria’s prolonged experience with military rule has resulted in a policy process based more on top-down directives than on consultation, political debate, and legislation." Comparative Politics, Kessleman, Krieger, Joseph, page 523. Nigerians are too focused on holding on to their cultural belief system and filling the pockets of the already wealthy and powerful. It is quite sad that they cannot see the proverbial forest for the trees.
DeleteHow have the frequent shifts from civilian to military rule and back again exacerbated the country’s many social and economic problems?
ReplyDeleteThe problem in Nigeria regardless of whether it's military or civilian rule is corruption through loyalty to their individual trIbes. Nigeria has amassed large debt through economic dependence on the US and European countries as well as social influence to take the many resources for the benefit of the wealthy. There is no national loyalty, so whichever power is in control of the government, also controls the resources. The resources are exploited and distributed to the military or the civilian region in charge. Also there is extreme dependency on the US and European influence, trade, and aid. Nigeria attempts to mock the Western govermental systems, but without the same foundations the social and economic structures fail. Socially they suffer from administrative battles between traditional and western politics, Christian versus Muslim religions, and agriculture versus oil revenues. The lack of unity and unified goals contributes to corruption and the cycle of social and economic problems.
I completely agree. Nigeria’s largest problem is the lack of unity within the country no matter what type of rule they are currently under. Until they can better control the allocation and sourcing of resources as well as the rift between religions and different ethnic groups the type of rule will have no bearing on the country’s social and economic problems.
DeleteIf you were a member of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, what would be your attitudes towards democracy?
ReplyDeleteI think it would depend on which ethnic group I was a member of. If I was a member of one of the larger ethnic groups then I would be aligned with one of the political parties that has the most power so I wouldn’t necessarily be in favor of a more democratic government. However if I was a member of one of the minority ethnic groups then I would be in favor of a more democratic government because the interests of my ethnic group would not currently be seen as a priority by the government. The relationship between ethnic groups and democracy is very interesting while considering Nigeria because even though they are so interwoven into the political parties and corruption of the Nigerian government the citizens of Nigeria identify with their ethnic groups first and political institutions last so in some ways they reject democracy all together.
I would agree with you. Depending on what ethnic group I was a part of, it would change my attitude towards democracy. Nigeria is extremely corrupt. With corruption comes loyalty. If I were part of the upper class where most of the corruption occurs I wouldn't be in favor of democracy. However, if I was in the lower class I would be in favor of democracy in hopes to remove the corruption.
DeleteAre political parties the best option for divided societies such as Nigeria, or are there more efficient channels through which citizens can express themselves and be governed.
ReplyDeleteWell from reading page 559 in the Kesselman text book, it talked a little bit about political parties and after I got done reading that page I figured out that… the best option would be that there weren’t political parties in Nigeria. They don’t need them. Political parties just tell the poor people that something needs to take place and they believe everything that is said. I’m not sure what kind of system would work best I just know that the political parties wouldn’t be a very good option. This is a though question for me and I would love some feedback to more understand what would be best for their situation.
Carson, I completely agree with you on this. I to believe that they would be better off with out political parties. I feel like they have to many political parties as it is now and the country is split in 20% here, 21% there and 18 %. The numbers are not drastic enough to make a difference as it was were there was a 50 50 shot in christianity and Muslim I believe they said tonight
DeleteI also agree. The conversation we had about the political parties and the bias that was executed by the people in different ethnic groups just shows that they really shouldn't try and replicate a western form of government. They need to go back to the way they were with different ethnic groups and unite that way.
DeleteHow have the frequent shifts from civilian to military rule and back again exacerbated the country’s many social and economic problems?
ReplyDeleteI feel like based on all we were taught today in class it shows that there is a circle of corruption. They continue to do The same cycle over and over. The move from military regime and swap back to civilian regime. The corruption has landed on both sides and they continue to do The same cycle over and over and they never seem to get on an even play field. There is also a large debt in Nigeria. They continue to borrow money putting the country in a worse place verses paying it back as they should.
Agreed. Nigeria's government, especially since the 1960's, has been influenced by the military's Strong man/top-down/pyramid structure. This structural mind-set from rulers carries over to the democratic end as well. "Over four decades after the first military coup of January 1966, most Nigerians now believe that the country's political and economic development has been profoundly hampered by military domination and misrule." (Kesselman, 550) Patronage, coercion, and personal interest are still the main drivers of policy following the pattern of "Big Man."
DeleteAre political parties the best option for divided societies such as Nigeria, or are there more efficient channels through which citizens can express themselves and be governed.
ReplyDeletePolitical parties don't seem to work well in countries where the citizens are poor and have a "this is the way we have always done it" mindset. Unfortunately there is a tribal loyalty and the political parties would never get the respect or following that their individual tribes have. I think it would cause more of a divide between the people and the government if there are multiple parties to choose from. We can see that through military rule and even trying to switch to a United States modeled government there was still discord and corruption. The people were even given the option of how they wanted to handle things in court, either religious/tribal or government. So with an unwillingness to become a cohesive people: speaking the same "language", following the same laws and abiding by them I don't think that political parties are the best option for societies such as and already divided Nigeria. "Nigeria’s prolonged experience with military rule has resulted in a policy process based more on top-down directives than on consultation, political debate, and legislation." Comparative Politics, Kessleman, Krieger, Joseph, page 523. Nigerians are too focused on holding on to their cultural belief system and filling the pockets of the already wealthy and powerful. It is quite sad that they cannot see the proverbial forest for the trees.
This is an interesting view. I agree with your points on how tribal loyalty and the ethnic divides culturally prevent political parties from being functional. Due to "Nigeria’s prolonged experience with military rule..." i wonder if democracy is even a valid choice for Nigeria. With current poverty, corruption, and focus on top down decisions i would think that some form of Democratic Communism hybrid be a better option. Make broad sets of laws and economic decisions at national level but then leave the tribes and local groups to govern themselves within the parameters of the centralized government.
DeleteI agree with the your conclusion that political parties would exacerbate the divisive political climate in Nigeria but I interpret your supporting reasons differently. I think it is unfair to say that the people of Nigeria were given the option to become a cohesive people because of the history of their country. Kesselman quotes Chief Obafemi Awolowo who says "Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression" the borders are arbitrary to the cultures that live there because they had no power in determining what the borders were. (365) Furthermore the people of Nigeria have proved that they can incorporate democratic practices into their societies because "Several precolonial societies had democratic elements". Keselmen et al. (528)
DeleteHow have the frequent shifts from civilian to military rule and back again exacerbated socially and economically.
ReplyDeleteThe constant shift from civilian to military rule and back again has created many problems. Corruption being the major one. The constant shift in power and the group of loyalist which follow have created gaps in social classes. Being corruption is so dominant in Nigeria the individuals who are in power often are selfish Nigeria needs reorganize their government and to adopt a more democratic ideology. They also need to start monetizing their resources such as oil and redistribute the funds to provide basic amenities.
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DeleteI completely agree, The constant shift created many problems in Nigeria. An unstable government affects the economy and slows a countries development. Nigeria must stabilize their government in order to develop economically. The different parties within the government must work together to have a positive effect.
DeleteIn Nigeria the divisive societal atmosphere is only understood when the history of the region is understood. The current political landscape only reflects the ideological war that has been waged by different groups in Nigeria for a large amount of its history. It is impossible to say what a good option would be without being able to see it in practice, but I definitely agree that due to how much trouble they are going through political parties as they are right now are not the best method of political expression. Its possible to say this because "Several precolonial societies had democratic elements that might have led to more open and participatory polities” but all societies like these were ended when Africa was “interrupted by colonialism" Kesselmen et al (528).
ReplyDelete