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Identity and Conflict in Nigeria’s Niger Delta: New Evidence from Attitude Surveys.

Authors :
Lewis, Peter M.
Source :
Conference Papers -- American Political Science Association. 2004 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, p1-29. 30p. 8 Charts.
Publication Year :
2004

Abstract

This paper examines public attitudes and participation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, a major site of contentious ethnic mobilization and conflict. The data is drawn from three Afrobarometer surveys, providing a time series from a large and uniquely representative sample of citizens from the Delta region. There are three preliminary findings, based upon descriptive statistics and partial event analysis. The pattern of attitudes in Niger Delta, when situated within events, is consonant with constructivist accounts of identity formation. Subjective identities are volatile, and shifts in identity can be explained with reference to political opportunities and economic inducements. Second, with regard to the discourse of grievance in the Niger Delta, parochial ethnic identities are predominant, rather than an overarching regional identity. Ethnic identities are animated by a combination of political challenges and economic interests. Third, regime type does not adequately account for changes in identity and behavior. Democratic governance can reduce communal polarization when the political system furnishes desired collective goods. When citizens perceive that the system has failed to provide essential political or economic goods, they are more likely to gravitate to communal identities and to pursue contentious mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Conference Papers -- American Political Science Association
Publication Type :
Conference
Accession number :
16025421
Full Text :
https://doi.org/apsa_proceeding_28972.PDF