Department of political science, federal university, dutsinma, katsina state. The result of neocolonialism is that foreign capital is used for the exploitation rather than for the development of the less developed parts of the world. Leftwing nationalism refers to any political movement that combines leftwing politics with nationalism. Factors that led to nationalism in nigeria in 2019 legit. In recent years, political instability, religious competition, ethnic differences and the need to become more modern continue to plague nigeria. However, nigerian nationalism by the 1940s was already facing regional and ethnic. Thus, cultural heritage and patrimony are active agents of nationalism and political identity in southwestern nigeria. During the 19th century nationalism became one of the most significant political and social forces in history. In preindependence era, party politics in nigeria was based on ethnic factor. Nationalism presupposes african unity against european domination and rule in africa or the creation in africa united nationstates as well as their economic and political transformation. More recently, in the 1990s, similar sentiments have brought devastation to the balkans, the great lakes and the horn of africa, mano river and nigeria respectively. Pdf nationalism and nationalist agitation in africa. In politics and public policy, nationalism is a doctrine whose mission is to protect a nations right to selfgovern and shield fellow residents of a state from global economic and social pressures.
In this post we look at the 10 problems of nigeria national integration and possible solutions. Actually, much of the material on nigeria has been inspired by the paradigms of the study of ethnicity in the social sciences generally. Introduction it is a commonplace fact that nigeria is a multi ethnic nation state with sociocultural differences between its component ethnic groups all of which have resulted into cultural dissimilarity. Ethnicity, cleavages, and electoral politics week 11 nov 8. The article argues that ethnic politics persist in nigeria based on the nature of interactions between political institutions, institution. This article tests this proposition by examining how ethnic parties affect protest and communal conflict across 82 countries and 2 ethnic communal groups from 19852003.
Ethnic nationalism and other tongue policy in nigeria l. Ethnic cleavages and alliances in civil conflicts week 10 nov 1. In this writeup, you will have the opportunity to learn about what actually transpired in nigeria during the colonial days. Historical perspective nationalism, within the african context, simply refers to an act of political awareness or consciousness of the colonized people. This article examines the emergence of a neobiafran movement, known as, the movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of biafra massob in nigeria. Traditionally, ethnic nationalism typifies a sense of identity. The situation in nigeria today seems to prove those fears true. But the concept is not completely independent of patriotism.
Nations can evolve from ethnic groups, but a nation is more than an ethnic group. State nationalism and justifications for state unity. The term nationalism is as controversial as its etymological and historical roots. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity. The history of the nationalist movement in nigeria and most postcolonial african countries is full of negative reports that characterized the nigerian nationalist struggle. Nigeria as a pluralistic polity shares in this category of countries where fierce competition for power among its various ethnic groups has made governing a difficult task. The international politics of nationbuilding week nov 29. Abstract nationalism as a concept has been misconstrued to fit into our mental category and because the idea of nationhood is debased, we lose the meaning of patriotism in its proper sense. The emirate structure and politics in the north the first party to be introduced in the north was the northern people. Rather than breeding metaphoric blood relatives as argued above, nationalism in nigeria has. The yoruba nationalist movements, ethnic politics and. Introduction the history of nationalism in nigeria and most postcolonial african states has been more of negative reports and complaints about civil strife resulting from difficulties in inter ethnic relations than of a growth of the spirit of. At the controllable level, ethnic nationalist agitation may involve a call to restructure a state in such ways that more power and. He argues that african politics are driven by an economy of affection, whose communal orientation underlies ethnic solidarities.
Political parties usually play crucial role in the democratic. Notions of ethnicity and nationalism during the 1940s, for example, helped tear europe apart in the twentieth century. Studies by political scientists and theorists have identified ethnicity and ethnonationalism as potential obstacles to democracy and political stability in multiethnic states. Alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 4, case study. We will also study the effects of nationalism on political identities, state formation, patterns of political violence, definitions of citizenship and migration policies, as well as voting behavior.
Through ethnography, this paper examines the working of history, tradition and modernity on ethno nationalism. Ethnicity and politics african studies oxford bibliographies. Nationalism, in particular,remains the preeminent rhetoric for attempts to demarcate political communities, claim rights of selfdetermination and legitimate rule by reference to the people of a country. Thus, core to ethnic nationalism is the fact that each ethnic group has right to selfdetermination. Ethnic nationalism defines the nation in terms of ethnicity, which always includes some element of descent from previous generations, i. Lessons from nigeria paul oluwatosin bello1 abstract. Against the backdrop of a conceptual framework that locates ethnicity as historically cumulative and ethnic inter. The need to reclaim african territory economically, socially, and politically from imperialism and colonialism united africans, especially after the second world war, in pressing for the independence of african nations from colonialism is imperative. Her nationalism is a reality that played a part in ending territorial colonialism but nationhood itself is an ambition rather than a reality.
A loose use is one in which the author has captured only part of the concept or has stretched the meaning of the term to an extreme degree. However, nigerian nationalism by the 1940s was already facing regional and ethnic problems to its goal of promoting a united, pan. It is based on the belief that koreans form a nation, a race, and an ethnic group that shares a unified bloodline and a distinct culture. The paper further argues that most of this cultural heritage addresses a fairly welldefined audience, most especially those sympathetic to yoruba nationalism and politics. And of course, this country has quite a history behind it. Its meaning in each of these categories is not less diverse nor is the categories explicitly defined. All journal articles featured in nationalism and ethnic politics vol 26 issue 1. It first emerged in the 1920s under the influence of herbert macaulay who is considered the founder of nigerian nationalism. Nationalism is a term used to describe a fervent emotional identification with ones country and its people, customs, and values. Ethnic politics and its implications for the survival of. Traditionally, ethnic nationalism typifies a sense of identity, national pride and solidarity, to mention a few. The central theme of ethnic nationalists is that nations are defined by a shared heritage, which usually includes a common language, a common faith, and a. The snag however in nigeria is that the mass media both publicly and privately owned are more or less ethnic jingoist. The response earned 1 point for the description of how the boundaries created by the colonizer that put different tribes and ethnic groups together in a single country have led to tensions in contemporary nigerian politics.
Ethnic politics and democratic consolidation in nigeria. Using the nigerian case as analytical compass, this paper interrogates the concepts of nationalism and nationalist agitations in africa, especial. There is enough evidence of the devastating effect of ethnic nationalism to convince most people that it would be a monumental mistake for nigeria to ignore the damage ethnic nationalists are doing to her dreams of building a country united by civil values, equality and rule of law. Do ethnic parties promote minority ethnic conflict. Nigerian nationalism is a territorial nationalism, emphasizing a cultural connection of the people to the land in particular the niger and benue rivers. Although the nym represented a departure from the conservative nationalism of the past, it did not have the mobilizing power of macaulays nndp. The convergence of yoruba nationals and the intensification of nationalism in southwestern nigeria for selfassertion, political brokerage, and power relations in colonial and postcolonial eras were reinforced by the projection of yoruba cultural heritage and patrimony expressed both in. Oladipo salami obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria 1. The paper notes that, while all the ethnic nationalities in nigeria united against colonial rule and. Nationbuilding, migration, and multiculturalism week 12 nov 15. No state, for example, is devoid of ethnic influences. This research note takes a cursory look at the mass media and ethnicity in nigerian politics, and infers that in the interest of the polity, media practitioners need to imbibe the ethics of their profession. As otite, 1990 observed and quite rightly too, the ethnic virus has been one of the most important causes of social crisis and political instability in nigeria. Mazrui university of michigan africa is caught between the birth of her modern nationalism and the quest for nationhood.
This article explores the linkages between ethnic nationalism and conflicts in nigeria. Ethnic nationalism, also known as ethnonationalism, is a form of nationalism wherein the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity. State and majority nationalism in plurinational states. Ethnic political mobilization has become more pervasive in nigeria since the 1990s. Yet, it also agitated for dominion sta tus within the british conunonwealth of nations so that nigeria would have the same status as canada and australia. This is a class on nationalism, ethnic conflict, and nationbuilding. Nationalism, sub nationalism, patriotism, citizenship 1. Literacy, nationalism, and resistance to occupation week 9 oct 25. Ethnic nationalism, also known as ethnonationalism, is a form of nationalism wherein the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity the central theme of ethnic nationalists is that nations are defined by a shared heritage, which usually includes a common language, a common faith, and a common ethnic ancestry. Dec 17, 20 the snag however in nigeria is that the mass media both publicly and privately owned are more or less ethnic jingoist. It was not unusual that the nationalism that became a political factor in nigeria during the interwar period derived both from an older political particularism and broad panafricanism rather than from any sense of a common nigerian nationality. Cultural patrimony, political identity, and nationalism in. Nigeria suffered from violence and military rule from 1966 until 1999, when a democratic government was established. Ethnic politics, political elite, and regime change in nigeria.
It also includes ideas of a culture shared between members of the group and with their ancestors, and usually a shared language. Explaining the changing patterns of ethnic politics in. Many scholars have argued that the mere appearance of ethnic parties inevitably leads to a spiral of ethnic conflict and the collapse of incipient democracies. Before the british intruded nigeria, it consisted of various ethnic groups. Against the backdrop of a conceptual framework that locates ethnicity as historically cumulative and ethnic interests as essentially contested, and with a focus on the recent form and character of ethnicity, this article analyses the changing patterns of ethnic politics in the country in terms of the arenas or. What are the factors that led to nationalism in nigeria. Ethnic nationalism and the quest for integration in nigeria. Like nationalism, ethnonationalist movements and ethnic politics continue in southwestern nigeria without resulting to actual independent yoruba nation as at 2009. The theory of instrumentalism which views ethnic identity as manipulated to achieve a defined political or economic gain for the elites is the appropriate explanatory tool for the manifestation of ethno nationalism in nigerian democracy.
Ijeoma 0 1 0 department of political science, faculty of the social sciences, ekiti state university, p. Ethnic factors in politics among others are closely examined, while at the same time avoiding overstating their significance. As ethnic consciousness motivated the majority ethnic groups to develop regional political parties which stimulated interethnic tensions, ethnic politics inevitably became the main deterrent to nigerian nationalism. Using the nigerian case as analytical compass, this paper interrogates the concepts. This regional division in the development and significance of nigerian nationalism also had political implications for ethnic divide southern nigeria faced strong ethnic divisions between the igbo and the yoruba while northern nigeria did not have strong internal divisions, this meant northern nigeria that is demographically dominated by the. National integration is the term used when the citizens of a country are conscious of the fact that they have a common identity, regard themselves as one and work together to ensure the development of their country irrespective of differences in class, ethnicity, religion, political affiliations or. The state derives political legitimacy from its status as homeland of the. Others included non political associations like the nigerian union of teachers, the nigerian law association and the nigerian produce traders association led by obafemi awolowo. There are many ethnic groups in nigeria, and members of a particular ethnic group tend to be loyal to their own people in government or other exalted positions.
Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country today known as the federal republic of nigeria. Nigeria party politic has been polluted by ethnic chauvinism. The youth and student groups, consisting of intellectuals and professionals, were more politically conscious and stood in the vanguard of nationalism. Investment under neocolonialism increases rather than decreases the gap between the rich and the poor countries of. Its significance is partly due to two political realities of our time. In preindependence era, party politics in nigeria was based on ethnic factor thus one can say that it was during this period in question that the seed of ethnic politics was sown, germinated in the first republic and the products started spreading during the 3rd and 4th republics. Federalism, political restructuring, and the lingering.
This period marked the emergence of nationalism or nationalist movements in africa. While this right varies, it is usually expressed in two forms olayode 2010. We are going to focus specially on those days between 1900 and 1960. Nationalism is primarily a political principle, which holds that the political and the national unit should be congruent gellner 1983, 1. The rise of nationalism and religious politics in nigeria. Korean ethnic nationalism, or racial nationalism, is a political ideology and a form of ethnic or racial identity that is widely prevalent in modern north and south korea. The agonies of africa in the second half of the twentieth. The paper employs historical and descriptive approaches and relies solely on secondary sources of data. British colonialism created nigeria, joining diverse peoples and regions in an artificial political entity. Drawing on a prior idea of statehood, the advent of massob marks a shift in the tenor of ethnic nationalism by virtue of the fact that the movement entirely rejects a stateled process and demands the creation of an independent state.
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