Nigeria Day Four Review

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power National Question – who should rule? Basics of rule? Constitutionalism – 1914 to 1999 – so many that legitimacy is questioned by the people Legitimacy – challenging priority; country has strong impulses to fragmentation; military ironically only continuing source of stability, little to no trust in government Traditions Pre-colonial – trade, early influence of Islam, kinship-based politics, complex political identities, democratic impulses Colonial – authoritarian rule, duel mandate, interventionist state, individualism, Christianity, intensification of ethnic politics Independence – parliamentary then presidential system, intensification of ethnic conflict, military rule, personalized rule and corruption, federalism, economic dependence on oil Is a FRAGILE democracy

Political Institutions – 1 of 3 Political Culture Patron-clientism – prebendalism State control but a rich civil society Tension between modern and tradition Religious conflict between Islam and Christianity Geographic Influences Hausa Fulani Kanuri Federal Capital Territory Abuja Middle Zone Yoruba Igbo Southern Zone Lagos

Political Institutions – 2 of 3 Political Parties People’s Democratic Party – PDP – dominant party All Nigeria People’s Party – ANPP – former dominant opposition party Action Congress – AC – break away of PDP Congress for Progressive Change – CPC – current dominant opposition party and also break away from PDP Elections and Procedures National election for president and legislative posts Fraud in 2003, 2007, 2011 elections: 2011 best election yet Executive Branch Since 2nd Republic is presidential system, generals used patrimonialsim when in power Bureaucracy was bloated and corrupt Para-statals State Corporatism

Political Institutions – 3 of 3 Legislative Branch Senate and House of Representatives in the National Assembly Only recently is an effective check on executive power Corrupt Judiciary Early on was autonomous and operated independent from executive Military rule ravaged court system, judicial review suspended, cronies appointed Judicial review today has returned, is exerting more authority Military Military in government vs. military in the barracks Subject to internal discord One of the few institutions that are national in character

Citizens, Society, and the State – 1 of 2 Societal Characteristics Poverty – 60% below poverty line Gap between rich and poor- most are very poor Health issues – HIV/AIDS 1 in 11 in the world are in Nigeria Literacy – gap between men and women Cleavages Ethnicity – 250 – 400 different groups Religion – Muslim vs. Christian North vs. South – follow ethnic and religious divide Urban vs. Rural – cities have many more resources Social Class – division between elites and regular people Public Opinion and Political Participation Patron-clientalism (pre-bendalism) – way most people participate in government Civil Society – like MOSOP and NUPENG Voting Behavior – higher than some LDN but hard to determine due to fraud Attitudes toward government – low level of trust Protests, Participation, & Social Movements –some successful; most violent put down

Citizens, Society, and the State – 2 of 2 Interest Groups Are an array of civil society organizations that often cooperate with political parties Labor Unions – challenge to government; Babangida used corporatism to limit their influence but still active in Nigeria today Business Interests – some worked in collaboration with military as elites but others have made real difference for members Human Rights Groups – protested against Babangida and Abacha, loosely connected Mass Media Long and well developed independent press Most outspoken are in the South Radio is the main source for majority of Nigerians

Political and Economic Change Pre-Colonial Occurred through cultural diffusion Sokoto Caliphate created through jihad created change in North Slave trade impact on the South Colonial 1860 British direct rule Creation of trade outlet when resources and labor are exploited Emphasized difference between north and south; gave more power to elites and reinforced tendency to use position for personal benefit Independence Import substitution – failed and created high inflation Obasanjo released power willingly to Shagari but 1983 coup by Buhari Ethnic identity is a major basis for conflict in Nigeria Institutionalization of corruption among political elite was made worse by Babangida Numerous rules through coup – formulated disappointment and resentment by Nigerians

Public Policy – 1 of 2 Face top down policy making process with power concentrated in the presidency; most input comes from patron-clientelism and the creating of a loyalty pyramid Economic Issues- squandering of Nigeria’s wealth, deeply in debt, most live in poverty, oil revenues are a source of conflict along Niger Delta Oil: is a rentier state that gets income from exporting oil and leasing oil fields; in 1970s gave it leverage but when oil prices drop so does the economy; over relies on oil, MEND uses violence to make statement for Niger Delta Structural Adjustment – started with Babangida with support from IMF and World Bank, but has mostly failed 2008 Economic Crisis – mixed reaction Federal Character – is the goal that unites all, but some feel need devolution while others want more shared revenue

Public Policy – 2 of 2 Democratization Since 1999 some enterprises have been privatized and wages have increased Some money has returned to the nation from foreign banks and revival of civil society since 2007 Have an independent media and have had peaceful succession of power Freedom House scores it as “partly free”