Political Culture of Nigeria

Geography

-Located in Western Africa -About twice the size of California  -Capital - Abuja -Largest City - Lagos -North and South are divided    North-Muslims    South- Christians 

Geography (cont.)

-Niger River     -Main source of water.     -Flows from northwest southward through the tropical rain         forests.    -Empties into the Gulf of Guinea -Terrain    -Southern lowlands    -Central hills and plateaus    -Northern plains    -Mountains- Southeast

Geography (cont.)

-Agricultural commodities main source of economy

-Largest exporter of palm oil in the world

-Other exports: cocoa, peanuts, cotton

Political Socialization

-Family    -main way people are politically socialized         -polygamous families more common        -results in large families with much support from "kinship"

-Schools    -mission is to develop a sense of community among people         -Media    -Very independent press     -Newspapers do not have as great of an effect because half of the adults are illiterate     -About 99% of Nigerians get there political information from radio

Political Socialization (cont.)-State    -MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Economic Recovery, and Social Justice)        -Created to shape political culture to recognize democracy         -Abolished in 1995 by Abacha regime-Similar organizations also banished

-Urban Life    -Oil Boom in 1980's caused massive urbanization    -Made more citizens physically close to political institutions -Religion    -Important to many Nigerians; often a focus of many politicians    -"powerful instrument of mobilization"

      

Population Density

Ethnic Groups

- 250+ ethnic groups - Three most influential ethnic groups        - Hausa-Fulani - 29%        - Yoruba - 21%        - Igbo - 18%       - further divided into sub-ethnic groups

- Official Language - English- Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba- all recognized languages

Hausa-Fulani-live in northern Nigeria -two cultures became intertwined after Fulani rule over Hausa in nineteenth century -agricultural population -majority Muslim

-challenge resistant, stratified

                                                               

Yoruba-live in southern Nigeria-subsistence farmers and rural people    -grew cocoa and palm during colonial period-long tradition of commerce-separated into warring kingdoms that are divided today.    -kingdoms once ruled by oba and  lineage chiefs                                                                                                                     A Yoruba antique.

                                                                                             

Igbo- southeastern Nigeria

- egalitarian

- innovative

- economic prosperity from petroleum industry

- immigration to Europe and Americas                                            An Igbo bride on her wedding day.

                                           

                                           

Ways to Determine Ethnicity

-differences in dialect

-manner of dress

-tribal marks    -patterned marks associated with ethnic  identity that mark a     right of passage

Map of Ethnicities

Prebendalism• term created to describe patron-client system in Nigeria

• derived from the word "prebendal" - a Catholic term meaning one who shares in the revenues and endowment of an Anglican church or cathedral

• networks most always associated with Nigeria's oil supply/wealth and corruption

•  definition according to political scientist Richard Joseph

    "involves a pattern of political behavior that rests on the 'justifying principle that offices should be competed for and then utilized for the personal benefit of office-holders as well as of their reference or support group'"

Prebendalism (cont.)• Nigerian elected officials & government workers, as well as

the religious/ethnic groups they come from, feel they have a right to share in government revenues

 • "loyalty pyramids" - top figures known in Nigeria as "big men"

• leaders' personal and/or ethnic ambitions often take priority over national interests

• aspects of Nigerian prebendalism can be compared to nomenklatura in Russia and guanxi in China

Civil Society

 "An arena where manifold social movement organizations of all classes attempt to constitute themselves in an ensemble of arrangements, so that they can express themselves and advance their interests" - Michael Bratton Roles: • Checking corruption• Promoting free flow of information • Designing and implementing programs • Unifying the country• Promoting democracy

Reading Discussion:    "Five Things Nigerian Civil Society Needs to Know"         by Dr. Doyin Abiola

1. According to the article, who is included in the civil society of Nigeria?

2. What is the "Nigerian problem" and what are some efforts that have been made to resolve it?

3. Get in your Nigeria project groups and create your own plan, based on this reading, to improve the civil society of Nigeria.

Civil Society (cont.)

• Distinction from government and the market • Aims to strengthen and stabilize Nigeria and contribute to

social change • Work in progress- still many flaws • Wants to fix large scale poverty, unequal distribution of

wealth, and political corruption  • Ideas are halted by language, religion, and regional barriers

 • Strong civil society will be essential in a successful

democracy

Nigeria's Civil Society

• Generally weak system• Insincerity of devotion to cause• Lack of discipline and responsibility 

 • Action Aid• Dev Net• Association for Child Health • Development in Africa Inc.

Works Cited

http://compgovpol.blogspot.com/2007/05/nigerian-political-culture-again.html

http://magazine.biafranigeriaworld.com/ozodi_thomas_osuji/2005/10/06/osuji_lectures_2_nigerias_political_culture.php

http://www.classjump.com/Beitler/documents/Nigeria%20Political%20Culture%20and%20Current%20Issues.pdf

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Prebendal

Works Cited (cont.)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EOpXgZ-4en4/TXU-VjzxoHI/AAAAAAAAAxk/-PCB6RqdGYc/s1600/nigeria_map_m.gif

http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2010/09/07/nigerias_next_president__99162.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=XygZjbNRap0C&pg=PA210&lpg=PA210&dq=definition+of+civil+society+nigeria&source=bl&ots=ESzKvLe-PO&sig=c9GsN8D5dLxKxChMOd2eruCeAHA&hl=en&ei=acy2TcmCOoy2twfn0dGUAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=definition%20of%20civil%20society%20nigeria&f=false

http://www.jstor.org/pss/220210

http://www.africaresource.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=373:civil-society-and-nigeria&catid=36:essays-a-discussions&Itemid=346(link to article)

Works Cited (cont.)

Order of Presentations

• Beginning and geography- Michael Ondrusek•  Political Socialization- Michael•  Ethnic Groups- Sean• 3 Different Ethnicities- Liz •  Prebendalism- Sydney• Civil Society- Sharon• Reading and discussion- Sydney• Civil Society continued- Sharon