Political Ideology and Culture in Nigeria

• Shari'a - moral code and religious law of Islam set forth my the precepts set forth my the Quran and the examples established by Muhammad the prophet.
• Hausa-Fulani - largest ethnic group of Nigeria, comprised of the Hausa and Fula people. Occupy the north of Nigeria and are predominantly Muslim
• Ibo (igbo) - another ethnic group of Nigeria that is predominantly Christian and occupy the southeastern portion of the country
• Yoruba - another ethnic group with a variety of different religions, mainly various different Christian denominations, Islam, and traditional Yoruba. Located mainly in southwest Nigeria
• Prebendalism - the belief that government officials have the right to enjoy from the country's revenues

Freedom Vs Security

Political Community

Political System Legitimacy

• Nigerian people do not think of themselves as "Nigerian"
• They identify themselves by religion or the tribe/ethnic group they belong in
• No strong national identity because of all the social and ethnic cleavages

Terms to know

• Given Nigeria's past experience with democracy, public opinion is less inclined to believe that freedom brings prosperity or that it coexists with stability
• Unstable politics and economic hardship has reinforced values in order and security
• Unrest following independence has impeded their ability to develop economically and politically

• Most look to religion and religious leaders as a form of legitimacy
• Acceptance of the use of Shari'a law in the north creates a sense of legitimacy for the government and/or the legal system for some citizens, mostly the Hausa and Nigerians following the Muslim religion
• HOWEVER, many do not follow the Muslim religion
• In their religiously heterogeneous society, the presence of leaders that adhere to a particular religion legitimizes the system of government for other adherents of that religion.
• In terms of democracy, the elite has been able to circumvent rules and laws

Group VS Individual

Collectivistic society but with loyalty and emphasis on the ethnic group or tribe rather than the nation itself.

Collectivism manifests in the commitment to one member "group"

• F vs E?

Socialization

• Most important form of socialization comes from family and community but varies
• EX: Igbo children are more likely to be encouraged to be more individualistic and independent
• Education and Social/Political Organization are second most important forms
• Socialization in the form of bribery

History Lesson: Nigerian Civil War

Post-independence

New Republics

The End

After gaining their independence in 1960 from Great Britain, several coups and counter-coups took place until General Ironsi, head of the Nigerian Army took control and established himself as the military head

Nigerian forces eventually capture the capital of Owern and Ojukwu flees to Coite d' Ivoire. Four days later, The Republic surrenders.

Colonel Odemegwu Ojukwu, along with other non-Igbo representatives, establish the Republic of Biafra, doubting that Nigeria's oppressive military government would allow them to develop, or even survive

July 1967

1996

1970

May 1967

1960

War Commences

Aftermath?

Muslim Housas begin massacring Christian Igbos in northern Nigeria, making tens of thousands flee their homes to the Southeast.

• Cost Igbos a great deal in lives, money, and infrastructure.
• High tensions remained between ethnic groups
• Government policies such as appropriation and reselling of homes left behind by the fleeing and changing its currency have been seen as forms of economical disabling the Igbos and holding back its middle class

After some failed peace accords, war broke out between Biafra and Nigeria in July 1967

While Ojukwu's forces made some advances, Nigeria's superior military strength gradually reduced the territory, losing all of their oil fields and funds to import food, with was in shortage because of the blockade set up by Nigeria.

Estimated one million people died from severe malnutrition alone during this period

Repeated Experiences and Defining Events

Background

Otherwise known as the Biafran War, was an ethnic, political conlict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces

During the Scramble for Africa in the late 1800s, Great Britain carved out an area of Western Africa containing around 100 different ethnic groups, calling it Nigeria. These ethnic groups, mainly the Hausa-Fulani, Yourba, and the Igbo, all had different systems of government which had produced divergent customs and values.

• Hausa-Fulani - highly authoritarian, religious and political systems under sultans, where people where political submissive and economic and social innovation was subversive or sacrilegious
• Igbo - lived in autonomous , democratically organized communities with major emphasis on social achievement and political participation
• Yoruba - like the Hausa, they consisted of monarchs but less autocratic and had greater chance of upward mobilitiy

It was a result of underlying ethnic, cultural, and rleigious tensions between the Hausas of the North and the Igbos of the Southeast

Since independence and Civil War, Nigeria has been shifting between military rule and attempts at democracy that just ended up in more military rule

When GB had them, they left them weak and divided, unable to unify economically or politically because of unresolved ethnic cleavages

Ideology

• Politics are personalized
• Religion, tribe, etc
• During authoritarian periods, leaders do not focus much on ideology and discourage citizen involvement
• In all, there is not much citizen involvement due to lack of knowledge, separation, and regional difference
• However, more involvement in urban areas

Beliefs about authority

The masses through socialization (political

culture) have come to internalize the norms of respect for authority.

They find it very difficult to challenge or criticize authority.

• On average, Nigerians respect it, and accept vertical social relations because of previous colonization,
• In rural areas, social position is more important and horizontal relations with the idea of upward mobility is lacking (however this varies)
• Hausa - value social and traditional hierarchy with little social mobility
• Igbo - belief in political participation
• Yoruba - urban and industrial, and because of this they are more open to the idea of mobility

Nigeria scores an 80 on PDI, meaning people accept hierarchical order in which everyone has a place

However... There is widespread corruption that undermines authority

Vandalism and looting are seen as crimes against society, which was degenerated into disregard for public property and lack of public trust

• Ranked 139th out of 176 countries on the Corruption Index, tied with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal, and Pakistan
• Rise of public administrations and discovery of oil and natural gas have seem to have led to corrupt practices
• CAUSES: Tribalism, Greed, Wealthy elites looking to gain power and protect interests

Corruption is EVERYWHERE

• Property rights, contracts, and commercial disputes can be different to enforce and settle due to corruption, under staffing, and inefficiency.
• Tax administration ignores tax evasion and accepts bribes
• Police are regarded as the most corrupt institution, followed by political parties

Political Ideology and Culture of Nigeria