Globalization and conflicts in Africa: the Nigeria experience

Abstract

This paper examines the nexus between globalization and conflicts in Africa with Nigeria as a case study. Globalization through neoliberal economic policy is contradictory to the sustenance of social cohesion in developing countries. It is argued that the phenomenal growth of conflicts in Nigeria was attributed to the decay in state institutions and economic crisis of late 1980s and 1990s. With the adoption of neo-liberal economic policy, the Nigerian state was weak and incapable of providing social Services to majority of its citizens. Margmalized groups with unrealized expectations became particularly hostile to the elements of economic liberalization within the state System which they perceived to be responsible for thè demolition of state welfare programmes. Alienation from the state made them ripe for participation in violent conflicts. It is observed that the contemporary conflicts in Nigeria are associated with worsening income distribution as a result of market economic reform in developing countries like Nigeria. Also; citizens who were deprived of social means of existence as a result of forces of economic globalization resulted to violent activities such as terrorism, kidnappings, armed banditry and armed robberies. Thus, there was a resentment of different social groups in Nigeria who did not benefit from social Services. The study concludes that Nigeria should re-evaluate all externally induced programmes by weighing their effects on economic development and pursue redistribution of economic and social benefits among various groups with the implementation of a social welfare programmes