Table Of ContentGlobale Gesellschaft und internationale Beziehungen
Ademola Adediji
The Politicization of
Ethnicity as Source
of Conflict
The Nigerian Situation
Globale Gesellschaft
und internationale Beziehungen
Herausgegeben von
Th . Jäger, Köln, Deutschland
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Ademola Adediji
The Politicization of
Ethnicity as Source
of Conflict
The Nigerian Situation
Ademola Adediji
Köln, Deutschland
Dissertation Universität zu Köln, 2015
Globale Gesellschaft und internationale Beziehungen
ISBN 978-3-658-13482- 2 ISBN 978-3-658-13483-9 ( eBook )
D OI 10.1007/978-3-658-13483-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016939259
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Acknowledgements
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my research project supervi-
sors, Professor Dr. Thomas Jäger and Professor Dr. Wolfgang Leidhold. My
special thanks go to Professor Jäger for his constructive advice and useful cri-
tiques during the planning and designing of this research study as well as his re-
markable contribution towards the successful completion of this PhD disserta-
tion. His willingness to always give me audience in spite of his tight time sched-
ule has been very much appreciated. My gratitude also extends to Professor Dr.
Andreas Kaiser, Professor Dr. Norbert Finzsch and Professor Dr. Wolfgang
Wessels for the assistance rendered while applying for scholarships and funding
for the PhD thesis.
I will also like to extend my thanks to the following foundations for their
help in offering me the resources in running the program: Kölner Gymnasial-
und Stiftungsfonds, Fazit-Stiftung, Anna Ruths-Stiftung and Paul + Maria Krä-
mer Stiftung. I extend my utmost gratitude to Bernhard Esser from the Catholic
University Community in Cologne (KHG) for his encouragement, support and
advice through the years. I wish to acknowledge the assistance given me by Mr.
Castrol Wesamba during my internship at the United Nations in New York. His
advice and expertise on various conflicts as well as the task assigned and en-
trusted to me got me acquainted with the workings of the UN system. Indeed,
the teamwork of all the professionals and my experiences at the Office of the
Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention and Mass Atrocities enriched and con-
tributed to my research project.
I cannot forget the people in my life who make this success possible. I wish
to thank my mother, Chief Mrs. Rachiel Adediji, Pastor Agboola Oni-Orisan,
Ufondo and Rowland Ogbuene for their contributions towards this project. Spe-
cial thanks to my friends: Abdoul Layesy, Ike Dike, Maryam Sorie, Miriam
Kretzschmar, Thomas Furlong, Julia Schwerk, Christian Gast, Dennis Werner,
Jill Ahrens, Bidemi Omoyeni, Jan Vollmann, Marcel Fiedler, Gerardo Rivera,
Nicole Fus and a host of others. I know I have not given many of them enough
attention due to the challenges of the research work. I hope I can make up for it
in the nearest future. How can I forget my longtime friend, Peter Ibhaze, with
6 Acknowledgements
whom I did go on long rides just for me to take some time off. The time we
spent together had been fun and really helped a lot.
Finally, I extend my gratitude to my family and friends from different parts
of the world for their support and encouragement throughout my research proj-
ect.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 13
A. Assumption and Problem: Ethnicity as the Cause of Conflicts in Africa . 15
B. An Overview of the Nigerian Situation .................................................... 17
C. Significance of the Research Study .......................................................... 20
D. The Structure of the Dissertation .............................................................. 21
E. Methodology ............................................................................................. 23
2. The Politicization of Ethnicity: Clarification and Analysis of Key
Concepts .................................................................................................. 43
2.1 General Explanation and Etymological Analysis of the Term ‘Ethnicity’ . 43
2.2 The Emergence and Analysis of the Scientific Definition of Ethnicity ..... 48
2.3 Concept Analyses: Distinction of Specific Terminologies about Ethnicity 56
2.3.1 Ethnic Groups ................................................................................ 57
2.3.2 Ethnocentrism ................................................................................ 64
2.3.3 Race ............................................................................................... 66
2.3.4 Nation ............................................................................................ 70
2.3.5 Identity .......................................................................................... 74
2.3.6 Tribalism ....................................................................................... 75
2.3.7 Assessment of Ethnicity and Other Relevant Concepts ................. 78
2.4 Politicization: Conceptualization and Clarification of Concept ................ 81
2.4.1 The Study and Definition of Politics ............................................. 82
2.4.2 The Essence of Power in Politics .................................................. 87
2.4.3 Politicization: Definition and Explanation of the Concept ............ 92
2.4.3.1 The Concepts of Politicization and Democracy .............. 96
2.4.3.2 The Effects of Politicization in Pluralistic Societies ....... 97
2.4.4 Synthesis of Terminologies: The Politicization of Ethnicity ....... 100
2.4.4.1 The Politicization of Ethnicity: Explanation of
its Emergence and Use .................................................. 101
2.4.4.2 The Politicization of Ethnicity: Definition and
Description .................................................................... 106
2.4.4.3 Functions of the Politicization of Ethnicity ................... 111
8 Table of Contents
2.4.5 Intermediate Assessment on Politicization and the Politicization
of Ethnicity .................................................................................. 113
3. Conceptual Framework: Theoretical Perspectives ............................ 119
3.1 Examining the Theory of Ethnicity: The Perspective of
Instrumentalism ...................................................................................... 121
3.2 Ethnicity: A Social Construct ................................................................. 127
3.2.1 The Social Boundaries of Ethnicity ............................................. 132
3.2.2 Determinants of Ethnic Groups: Ethnic Boundaries and
Ethnicity ...................................................................................... 134
3.2.2.1 Understanding Ethnic Groups as a Culture Bearing Unit 136
3.2.2.2 Examining Ethnic Groups as an Organizational Type ... 136
3.2.2.3 Analysis of the Boundaries of Ethnic Groups ............... 138
3.2.2.4 The Case of a Poly-Ethnic Social System ..................... 142
3.2.2.5 Re-examining the Associations of Identities and Value
Standards ....................................................................... 146
3.2.2.6 Interdependence of Ethnic Groups ................................ 148
3.2.3 The Theoretical Aspect of Identity and Difference in Ethnicity .. 152
3.2.3.1 Objections to and Illustrations of Ethnicity as the Source
of Conflicts .................................................................... 153
3.2.3.2 Theoretical Basis: The Theory of Identity and Difference
in Ethnicity .................................................................... 166
3.2.3.3 Further Theory of Ethnicity: Decision Theory of Identity
and Differences .............................................................. 171
3.2.3.4 Relevance of Two Approaches: Instrumentalist and
Decision Theories .......................................................... 176
3.2.3.5 Intermediate Assessment: Two Theoretical Models ...... 178
4. Empirical Analysis: The Politicization of Ethnicity as the Cause of
Conflicts ................................................................................................. 183
4.1 Description and Definition of Conflicts .................................................. 183
4.1.1 Potential and Actual Conflicts: Further Analysis of Conflict
Definition ..................................................................................... 188
4.1.2 Deep-Rooted Conflict: Understanding and Explanation of the
Phenomenon ................................................................................ 193
4.2 Types of Conflicts as an Essential Field of Study .................................. 197
4.2.1 Political Conflict .......................................................................... 198
Table of Contents 9
4.2.2 Social Conflict ............................................................................. 201
4.2.3 Ethnic Conflict ............................................................................ 203
4.2.4 Environmental Conflicts .............................................................. 206
4.2.5 Intermediate Assessment: The Definition, Description and
Types of Conflicts ....................................................................... 208
4.3 Literature Review: Current Research on the Causes of Conflicts in
Nigeria .................................................................................................... 210
4.3.1 The Experience of Colonialism as the Cause of Conflicts .......... 214
4.3.2 Colonialism: Neocolonialism and Economic Conditions ............ 227
4.4 Multinational Corporations: The Act of Exploitation in Africa .............. 231
4.4.1 Multinational Corporations: Advent and Roles in the 20th and
21st Century ................................................................................ 235
4.4.2 Multinational Firms and Conflict: Failure of Social Corporate
Responsibility .............................................................................. 240
4.5 Resource Curse: The Source of Conflicts ............................................... 248
4.5.1 The Cause of Conflicts: Examining the Resource Curse/Rentier
State Theory ................................................................................ 249
4.5.2 Oil Curse as the Cause of Conflicts: The Example of Nigeria .... 253
4.6 Outbreaks of Conflicts: The Instigation of the Elites .............................. 262
4.6.1 The Position of the Elites in Nigeria ............................................ 263
4.6.2 The Position of Elites in other African Countries ........................ 267
4.7 The Genesis of Conflicts: Religious Antagonism as an Important
Factor ...................................................................................................... 274
4.7.1 Religions and Religious Interactions in Conflicts ....................... 278
4.7.2 Significance of Religion and Religious Conflicts on the African
Continent ..................................................................................... 286
4.7.3 Religious Crises: Shedding of Blood, Killings and Terrorism in
God’s Name ................................................................................. 290
4.7.4 Proxy Religious Conflicts in Africa ............................................ 300
4.8 Conclusion of the Current Research on the Causes of Conflicts in
Nigeria .................................................................................................... 306
5. Introduction: The Dynamics of the Politicization of Ethnicity in
Nigeria .................................................................................................... 309
5.1 Instances of the Current Instabilities in Nigeria ...................................... 312
5.2 The Historical Background of Nigeria .................................................... 315
5.3 Historical Overview of the Three Largest Ethnic Groups ...................... 327
5.3.1 The Hausa-Fulani Ethnic Group .................................................. 328
