Comp Gov - 11 Nigeria
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Transcript of Comp Gov - 11 Nigeria
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Nigeria
A microcosm of everything wrongwith the world today
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Most populous
nation in Africa(140 million)
GDP per capita =$2,134
HDI rank #151 The Economists
Democracy Indexranking = #124(few spots higherthan China andIran)
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Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
First country were studying where thenational question is an issue: Should weeven be a country?
Constitutionalism eluding Nigeria so far First constitution in 1914, 8 more since (latest in
1999)
Military and civilian leaders alike have never feltthe need to obey constitutions, and often writenew ones upon taking power
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Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Legitimacy
Newly independent (1960)
Highly fragmented along ethnic, regional,religious lines
The sole stable national institution is the military
Leads to legitimacy of militarys right to rule
Most leaders have been generals
Extremely low legitimacy of government, overall
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Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Legitimacy
Contradicting political traditions
Rule of Law from British colonial days Personalized authority of military leaders since
1960
Massive corruption, distrust of government
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Political History
3 Major Eras
Pre-Colonial (800 - 1860)
Colonial (1860 1960) Since Independence (1960 Present)
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Pre-Colonial Era (8001860)
Trends Trade connections along Niger river with North Africa and
other civilizations
Early influence of Islam elite tended to be educated inArabic and learned the sharia
Kinship-based politics rule was at village level, and werebasically extended families
Complex political identities some centralized kingdoms
mixed in with small village governance Democratic impulses rulers expected to seek counsel
and govern in the interests of the people
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Era Since Independence (1960Present)
Trends Parliamentary replaced by Presidential government in
1979 since majority was difficult to establish
Intensification of ethnic conflict Hausa-Fulani formed amajority coalition with Igbo, angering the Yoruba
Military rule frequent coups
Personalized rule and corruption
Federalism attempt to pacify ethnic tension, though
military leaders did not allow much local power Economic dependence on oil enriches those in power,
who ignore other sectors of the economy
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Era Since Independence (1960-Present)
Elected leadership in 1960, overthrown in military coupin 1966
3 more coups by 1976, Olusegun Obasanjo takes power Willfully steps down for democratically elected president in 1979
2 more coups by 1985, when Ibrahim Babangida takespower Resigned under public pressure in 1993 when he promised to
step down for civilian leadership, then voided the election
Sani Abacha (1993-1998) rules brutally, dies of a heart attack
(maybe poisoned?), replaced by Vice President Abubakar Obasanjo elected for 2 terms (1999-2007) Umaru YarAdua elected in 2007
All elections finished with concerns of fraud, violence, etc.
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Ibrahim Babangida
Military President,1985 1993
Resigned
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Sani Abacha
Military President,1993 1998
Died in office
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Olusegun Obasanjo
Military President,1976 1979 Resigned for democratic
leadership
President, 19992007 Term limited
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Umaru YarAdua
President, 20072010
Currently seriously ill,Vice PresidentGoodluck Jonathan is
the official actingpresident in his place
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Goodluck Jonathan
Acting President, 2010 Present
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Political Culture
Patron-Clientelism (prebendalism) - exchange ofpolitical and economic favors to build support ofthe leadership
State attempts to control rich civil society (andmostly fails) many independent associationalgroups still thriving
Tension between modernity and tradition
Religious conflict centered on role of sharia inlaw and political authority
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Geographic Influence
Northwest Hausa-Fulani,Muslim
Northeast Kanuri,Muslim
Middle-Belt smallergroups, mix of Muslim andChristian
Southwest Yoruba, mixof religions
Southeast Igbo, Catholicand Christian South various minorities
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Citizens, Society, and the State
Necessary condition for democratization:citizens need to have time to pay attentionand participate in the political process
Problem for Nigeria: 60% live in poverty
Large gap between rich and poor (Gini = 50.6)
Health issues AIDS epidemic (1 in 11 AIDScarriers are Nigerian)
Literacy 75.7% for men, 60.6% for women
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Citizens, Society, and the State
Cleavages one of the most fragmented societiesin the world Ethnicity 250 to 400 distinct ethnic groups with different
languages and religions in many cases Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba tribes are largest, but cant
speak each others languages and have no contact
generally
Religion 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% variousnative religions
Disputes rooted in preferential treatment British gave toChristians, role of sharia in Nigerian law
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Citizens, Society, and the State
Cleavages one of the most fragmentedsocieties in the world Region North (predominantly Muslim) vs. South
(predominantly Christian) Urban/rural differences political organizations,
interest groups, media only operate in cities
Social class elite are those with ties to the
state, who often use the treasury to benefitthemselves
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Citizens, Society, and the State
Public Opinion and Political Participation Patron-Clientelism (prebendalism) local officials treat
public offices as personal fiefdoms
Civil Society many associational interest groups free tooperate, some strengthen Nigerian unity, others work tofragment society on ethnic/religious lines
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)founded by Ken Saro-Wiwa to get oil benefits for Ogoni
living in Niger Delta, hold oil companies to environmentalstandards
Saro-Wiwa was publicly executed in 1995
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Citizens, Society, and the State
Public Opinion and Political Participation
Voting Behavior no one knows how manyNigerians participate because of the irregularities
in their elections (estimates around 66%)
Attitudes Toward Government distrust of mostofficials, cynicism
Nigeria ranks 130 of 180 on the Corruption
Perception Index
Abachas heart attack was celebrated as the
coup from heaven
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Citizens, Society, and the State
Public Opinion and Political Participation
Protests, Participation, and Social Movements
Increasing protest and organization/mobilizationsince 1999
Often focused around international oil companies
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Linkage Institutions
Political Parties
Regionally based
Extreme factionalization resulted in developmentof so many parties, there is no coherent partysystem
Parties appear and disappear based on leaders
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Linkage Institutions
Political Parties Currently:
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Obasanjo andYarAduas party of power, won in most parts of the country
with Southern and Northern candidates All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) General Muhammad
Buharis party Action Congress (AC) merger of many parties, led by Atiku
Abubakar (who was disqualified from running in 2007, thenreinstated by the Supreme Court days before the election)
These parties are becoming less regional, andincreasingly run a ticket with candidates of differentregions, campaigning across all of Nigeria
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Linkage Institutions
Political Parties
Why?
1999 Constitutional requirement Winning presidential candidate must receive 25% of
votes cast in at least 2/3 of all states
Attempt to prevent regional candidates from winning thepresidency and unite Nigeria
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Linkage Institutions
Elections Independent National Election Commission (INEC)
requires parties to qualify for national elections with atleast 5% of votes in 2/3 of states
Legislative 109 Senators elected by popular vote (3 per state, 1 from
Abuja) 360 House of Representatives elected in SMD plurality
elections
Presidential 2 ballot majority system (with the regional requirement)
All elections usually involve fraud and irregularities
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Linkage Institutions
Interest Groups Pretty healthy, though influence is restricted by
corruption and prebendalism Labor Unions Babangida attempted to restrain their
influence through corporatism, but they are still active Business Interests historically collaborated with
military, now push for economic reforms Human Rights Groups protested Babangida and
Abacha, promote democracy Mass Media well developed, independent press in
Nigeria mostly in the South, also reflective of regionaldivisions
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State Institutions Bureaucracy assumed to be bloated, corrupt,
and inefficient Para-Statals privately owned, but headed by
government appointees (part of the patron-client network) Provide public utilities or major industries
Nigerian Electric Power Administration (NEPA)called NeverExpect Power Again by Nigerians
Changed name to Power Holding Company (PHC) calledPlease Hold Candle by Nigerians
State corporatism para-statals serve to give theappearance of public/private cooperation, while really givingthe state control
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State Institutions Legislature parliamentary until 1979, now
bicameral National Assembly Senators and Representatives serve 4 year terms, elected
the week before the president
Senate 109 Senators, 3 per state, 1 from Abuja
Very diverse given the different regions that are equallyrepresented
House of Representatives 360 members elected by SMD plurality
Very little power, but occasionally acts as a check onpresident (like when Obasanjo wanted a 3rd term)
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State Institutions Judiciary
Federal and state courts with an appeals process up tothe Supreme Court
Strong and autonomous after independence, but sinceravaged by military rule
Most judges today are not well versed in law, easilymanipulated by the government
Theoretically in charge of judicial review, not practically
Law is complicated by the sharia which operates in 12northern states, controversially
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State Institutions MilitaryGuess what? Its strong.
Military made distinctions between military in
government and military in barracks after early coups
Military in government presidents (like Babangida) had
to restrain influence of traditional military
Appointed senior military to cabinet positions to make thempart of his patronage network
The best place for young Nigerians to improve their lives,
demonstrate their talents Controversial, but it is the one national institution with the
capability to restore order
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Public Policy Issues in Nigeria
Oil Strength or Weakness? Brings wealth from rents and gives Nigeria international
clout, but makes Nigeria a rentier state
Structural Adjustment Collapse of oil prices in 1980s led to massive public debt
World Bank and IMF worked to restructure Nigerias debt
provided it would implement shock therapy and reduce
its dependence on oil Private economy still hasnt expanded much since,
parastatals still under state control