Abstract
AbstractThis thesis explores the obstacles to nonviolent resistance faced by civil society actors in Northern Nigeria towards political corruption/abuse of power and in doing so, provides a knowledge base on how these challenges might be overcome. Globally, civil society groups play a significant role in holding governments to account through nonviolent movements. However, despite inadequate socioeconomic development and hardship in most areas of Northern Nigeria such nonviolent resistance by civil society groups is largely absent compared to Southern Nigeria.
Utilising Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony and Gene Sharp’s theory of power, the research explores the limitations to dynamics of nonviolence to Northern Nigeria. These theories examine the means of political elites’ corruption and dominance and further explain the obstacles to nonviolent resistance through civil society actors in Northern Nigeria.
Mixed methods research employing surveys and in-depth interviews with university undergraduates (representing the ‘subalterns’ in Gramscian terminology) and civil society actors (representing Gramscian ‘organic intellectuals’) in Northern Nigeria were used to investigate obstacles to nonviolence in Northern Nigeria. The thesis demonstrates how a myriad of factors including ethnic and religious identity politics, poverty, lack of financial autonomy, threats to life from government security forces, a compromised judiciary, and government interference in civil society activities interplay with one another to create barriers to nonviolent resistance. Despite these challenges, this research finds considerable enthusiasm for nonviolent resistance driven by widespread public frustration and the increasing use of social media. The thesis provides valuable recommendations towards the formation of both new and re-strategizing existing civil society actors for nonviolent resistance to corrupt political elites in Northern Nigeria.
Date of Award | 25 Nov 2024 |
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Original language | English |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisor | Ed Stoddard (Supervisor), Melita Lazell (Supervisor) & Tony Chafer (Supervisor) |