+1 862 207 3288 • Introduction:
The following research paper will focus on the contemporary Niger-Delta conflict in Nigeria; however this conflict will be described and explained through Mr. Edward Azar theory, Protracted Social Conflict. The Protracted Social conflict theory by Mr. Edward Azar, he defined it as “prolonged/violent struggle by communal groups for such basic needs as security. Recognition, and acceptance, fair access to political institutions and economic participations”. Briefly these conflicts occur when communities within a state are deprived from their basic needs, such as equality, health care, development, political rights..etc., depends on the needs of each community. The result of the deprivation of needs is due to complex events involve the role of the state or the government and the international linkage. The Niger-Delta conflict relies on several factors or roots that initiated this violent conflict, such as “the inequitable power relations embedded in the production of oil and the highly skewed distribution of its benefits and pernicious liabilities” (Akpan & Umejesi, 2013), as well as the exclusion of the masses of the people of Niger-Delta from the distribution of the oil revenues, and the violence that the people experienced, who they are forcibly dispossess of their owned land, and suffered from the bad effects of oil pollution in the region without adequate compensation or social protection. The conflict shed light on the three parties that are components of the conflicts, the Multinational oil companies, the Nigerian federal government and the host Nigerian communities.
Thesis: Azar theory is applicable in certain facts of Niger Delta but it lacks the basics(this critical point)….
How Azar’s theory could explain and analyze Niger-Delta conflicts?
• Main Idea 1: explaining the genesis or the sets of conditions that managed to transform the situation in Niger-delta into conflict situation,
1. Communal content of Nigeria or Niger-Delta: multi-ethnicity, or communal groups within Nigeria. “until the 1990s Nigerian state control over the population of the Niger-Delta region, or the oil minorities, was largely achieved through political marginalization”(Zalik, 2004).
2. Human needs, how the people of Niger-Delta deprived from the developmental human needs. Such as: “lack of basic infrastructure connecting popular classes of the region to Lagos, including inadequate roads, and insufficient phone lines”.
3. Government and the state’s role, “the inherent asymmetrical imbalance in Nigeria’s practice of fiscal federalism has fostered the economic exploitation and political marginalization of ethno-minorities in this resource-rich region provides the historical and sociological framework for a more robust understanding of the battle for oil in Nigeria’s post-colonial political development” (Akpan & Umejesi, 2013).
4. International linkage, describes the economic dependency of Nigeria on the international oil companies, since Nigeria lacks the experts as well as the technology specifies for oil drilling.
• Main idea 2: explain the second component of Azar theory, which is the Process dynamics, which are factors that responsible for the overt conflict.
1. Communal actions & Strategies: this represent the actions of the Niger-Delta community, by protesting and expressing their grievances, ”
2. State actions and strategies: the militant and harsh responses of the government toward the people of Niger-Delta.
3. Built in Mechanism of conflict: this point will address the perceptions as well as the motivations of the people of Niger-Delta toward the government and the international oil companies. Also the perceptions of the government toward its people of Niger-Delta.
• Main Idea 3: analyze the outcomes of the Protracted Social Conflicts, which obviously are negative impacts, such as: pollution, absence of security, continuous violence, physcological effects, government corruption…etc.
• Conclusion: did Azar theory cover the whole conflict of Niger-Delta? What points did the theory ignored? And could be Azar theory applicable for contemporary conflicts in developing world?
Annotated Bibliography
Nigeria & Oil
Badmus, I. (2010). Oiling the guns and gunning for oil: Oil violence, arms proliferation and the destruction of Nigeria’s Niger-delta. Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 2(1), 323-363. Retrieved from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.mylibrary.qu.edu.qa/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=da9d5cf3-2f4f-44d3-a1f8-0502fe0807f7@sessionmgr4001&vid=2&hid=4214
The following article addresses the main causes of the Niger Delta conflict and violence. The author pointed out that its necessary the Nigerian government address and solve the conflict by meeting and negotiation with the people of the region (Niger Delta), and discuss their concerns such as: Environmental insecurity, poverty, soci-economic-underdevelopment, lack of health care…etc. Which this article could explain the main reason for protracted social conflicts such as deprivations of human need, which this is the case of Nigerian Oil in Niger-Delta.
Ikelegbe, A. (2001). Civil Society, Oil and Conflict in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Ramifications of Civil Society for a Regional Resource Struggle . The Journal of Modern African Studies , 39(3), 437-469. Retrieved from http://0-www.jstor.org.mylibrary.qu.edu.qa/stable/pdfplus/3557319.pdf?acceptTC=true
The author Augustine Ikelegbe through his article tackled the importance of civil society formation in Niger-delta region to address the problems and misery that the people of that region face. Throughout the article, the author presented the civil society struggle to take out the problem and direct it to the Nigerian government to respond to their needs and deprivation. This could present a good example of how asymmetric conflict, between the minority and the government, and the struggle for the Niger-delta ethnic groups asking for their rights and security.
Human Rights Watch (2005, February 5). Nigeria: Fight for oil wealth fuels violence in delta. Retrieved from http://www.hrw.org/news/2005/02/04/nigeria-fight-oil-wealth-fuels-violence-delta
The following Report by the Human Right Watch, mentioning the Rival armed groups within the Niger Delta, how’s the the Oil turned to ethnic conflict over the revenues. Also it presented the corruption of the Nigerian government. The Human Rights Watch called on the Nigerian government to follow more a comprehensive strategy to tackle robbery of oil and stop the movement of small arms into the Niger Delta. The government should also provide vital assistance to the tens of thousands of people who have been displaced, and deploy sufficient numbers of police to protect the local people from any possible violence. This present the failure of the state’s role toward its people, which should provide safety and security to its population regardless of their ethnicity.
Afinotan, L., & Ojakorotu, V. (2009). The Niger Delta crisis: Issues, challenges and prospects.African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 3(5), 191-198. Retrieved April 1, 2015, from https://www.eisf.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/0070-Afinotan-Ojakorotu-2009-Niger-Delta.pdf
The following academic journal by Afinotan and Ojakorotu discussed the Niger-Delta Crisis, in which the research focused on the challenges that posed on the Nigerian State. The two authors looked at the crisis from different angle, which its effect to the Nigerian State and its responds. As well as, the authors recommended some strategies and solutions that are vital to be taken. This paper could help my research to look at the Sate strategy and assess these if they were efficient. Also it could give me a glance to effectiveness of the Nigerian State.
Francis, P., LaPin, D., & Rossiasco, P. (2011). Securing Development and Peace in the Niger Delta: A Social and Conflict Analysis for Change. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
The following study “Securing Development and Peace in the Niger Delta: A Social and Conflict Analysis of Change”, deeply analyzed the conflict of the Niger Delta, and come up with a conflict resolution and peace building through different strategies. The authors pointed out to the importance of conflict resolution in that area, this is because is affects many aspects, such as social, economy, human rights, environmental..ets. This research could be beneficial to understand or find the best solutions for conflict resolution regarding the Niger Delta conflict.
Asuni, J. B. (2009). Blood Oil in the Niger Delta. Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace.
“Blood Oil in the Niger Delta”, is a report written by Asuni, which excessively analyzed the /Nigerian oil crisis, by highly studying the Nigerian government, as well as interviewing the oil companies. however, this report main aim is to prevent and resolve violent conflicts and foster post-conflict peacebuilding. This could provide a platform for my study, in which it provides the main concepts of peacebuilding and how this applied to my case study ‘Nigeria’.
Nwokeji, G. U. (2007). The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation & the Development of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry: History, Strategies, & Current Directions. . Huston : James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University
This study examines the role of the oil companies of Nigeria, in which it assigned to manage the interest of the Federal Republic state of Nigeria. It looks at the history of the oil company as well as its future strategies and operations that shape its actions in the country. The study has different angel of analysis that it look from the national oil company, instead from the civil society or the state perspective. This could define the interest and goals of the national oil company.
Chen, M. E. (2007). National Oil Companies and Corporate Citizenship: A Survey of Transnational Policy and Practice . Huston : James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University .
Mr. Chen held a study that would answer this question: “How best may transnational energy companies excersice corporate citizenship?” (Chen, 2007). This reflect on how the oil company define its social responsibilty and its connection to the civil society. This study would be a foundationm of the relationship between trantional oil comapines and civil society of the host country.
Place this order with us and get 18% discount now! to earn your discount enter this code: special18 If you need assistance chat with us now by clicking the live chat button.
