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Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, and Democracy in Nigeria (Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution)
Darren Kew
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Description for Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, and Democracy in Nigeria (Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution)
Paperback. Offers a comprehensive account of Nigerian civil society groups in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Kew blends democratic theory with conflict resolution methodologies to argue that the manner in which groups - and states - manage internal conflicts provides an important gauge as to how democratic their political cultures are. Series: Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution. Num Pages: 456 pages, 3 black & white illustrations. BIC Classification: 1HFDN; GTJ; HBJH; JPFF; JPHV. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 229 x 152 x 24. Weight in Grams: 594.
African nations have watched the recent civic dramas of the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street asking if they too will see similar civil society actions in their own countries. Nigeria—Africa’s most populous nation—has long enjoyed one of the continent’s most vibrant civil society spheres, which has been instrumental in political change. Initially viewed as contributing to democracy’s development, however, civil society groups have come under increased scrutiny by scholars and policymakers. Do some civil society groups promote democracy more effectively than others? And if so, which ones, and why?
By examining the structure, organizational cultures, and methods of more than one hundred Nigerian civil society groups, Kew finds that the groups that best promote democratic development externally are themselves internally democratic. Specifically, the internally democratic civil society groups build more sustainable coalitions to resist authoritarian rule; support and influence political parties more effectively; articulate and promote public interests in a more negotiable fashion; and, most importantly, inculcate democratic norms in their members, which in turn has important democratizing impacts on national political cultures and institutions. Further, internally democratic groups are better able to resolve ethnic differences and ethnic-based tensions than their undemocratically structured peers.
This book is a deeply comprehensive account of Nigerian civil society groups in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Kew blends democratic theory with conflict resolution methodologies to argue that the manner in which groups—and states—manage internal conflicts provides an important gauge as to how democratic their political cultures are. The conclusions will allow donors and policymakers to make strategic decisions in their efforts to build a democratic society in Nigeria and other regions.
By examining the structure, organizational cultures, and methods of more than one hundred Nigerian civil society groups, Kew finds that the groups that best promote democratic development externally are themselves internally democratic. Specifically, the internally democratic civil society groups build more sustainable coalitions to resist authoritarian rule; support and influence political parties more effectively; articulate and promote public interests in a more negotiable fashion; and, most importantly, inculcate democratic norms in their members, which in turn has important democratizing impacts on national political cultures and institutions. Further, internally democratic groups are better able to resolve ethnic differences and ethnic-based tensions than their undemocratically structured peers.
This book is a deeply comprehensive account of Nigerian civil society groups in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Kew blends democratic theory with conflict resolution methodologies to argue that the manner in which groups—and states—manage internal conflicts provides an important gauge as to how democratic their political cultures are. The conclusions will allow donors and policymakers to make strategic decisions in their efforts to build a democratic society in Nigeria and other regions.
Product Details
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2016
Publisher
Syracuse University Press
Condition
New
Series
Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution
Number of Pages
448
Place of Publication
New York, United States
ISBN
9780815634447
SKU
V9780815634447
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 15 to 20 working days
Ref
99-99
About Darren Kew
Darren Kew is associate professor and chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and executive director of the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA.
Reviews for Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, and Democracy in Nigeria (Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution)
This is a well-written, carefully researched study of civil society, democratization, and conflict in Africa’s most populous state. Kew examines a significant case and offers an original addition to our conception of democratic development.""—Peter M. Lewis, associate professor and director of the African Studies Program, Johns Hopkins University