Politics in Action: 1. 2009 President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua collapses (3rd time) (doesn't die until May 2010) a. For 3 months nation has no president (NATION IS CALM) b. President's inner circle blocks VP Goodluck Jonathan from stepping in as acting president c. National Assembly in 2010 February appoints Jonathan as acting president d. De ja vu when President Muhammadu Buhari falls ill i. But VP steps Yemi Osinbajo steps up (gov remains paralyzed) 2. Democratization (18 years post-military rule) has yet to produce effective governance 3. - rise of COMPETITIVE OLIGARCHY a. Meanwhile, 85% survive on less than 2 dollars a day b. Poor are disenfranchised 4. African characteristics a. Challenged by managing communal diversity with economic scarcity and weak institutions b. Struggles between authoritarian and democratic governance c. Underdevelopment d. Public corruption e. Pressures for accountability 5. Demographic conflict over esources a. 250 ethnic groups b. Two major religious traditions 6. - > Low popular legitimacy, accountability, and high instability. 7. Unfinished state (state characterized by institutional instability and political uncertainty) Geographic Setting 1. 186 million a. Most populous African nation 2. Center of west African trade 3. British colony 1914-1960 a. Ruled north and south Nigeria as two separate colonies until 1914 (combined) b. Nigeria = arbitrary creation reflecting colonial interests i. Divided local cultures c. FORCED UNION 4. Regional Activity a. Accounts for 60% of West Africa's population b. GDP = half othe regions GDP c. Evenly divided Muslim & Christian 5. 6 zones a. North: (mostly Muslim) i. The Hausa 1. Largest ethnic group 2. Dominate northwest ii. Northeast (made up of minorities)
iii. Middle Belt (north central iv. Includes both Muslim and Christains 1. Largest ethnic there = Kanuri b. South i. Southwest ii. South East iii. South southern minority 1. Dominated by second largest ethnic group Yoruba 2. 40-50-10 (Muslim - Christian - traditional Yoruba) 1. Igbo (3rd largest) homeland 1. Between Yoruba and Igbo regions Critical Junctures 1. Precolonial Period a. North i. = Junkun kingdom -> becomes subject state of Bornu Empire ii. Trade with Northern Africa brings developments 1. Arabic Education, Islam iii. Jihad (religiously inspired war) Fulani establish Sokoto Caliphate (uses Islam and common Hausa language) iv. British takeover in 1900 V. Islamic communities Highly structure 1. Reflected local interpretations of the Quran 2. Women were typically subordinate 3. Isalmic FUlani Empire = emirs rulers owed allegiance to the Sultan a. Sultan duty to observe islamic principles b. Southern savana i. Followed kinship lines 1. Organized among communities ii. Spread out political authority (Acephalous society) - lacking executive rulership (governed by committee) 1. - > escapes colonial upheaval and retained autonomy c. South i. Centralized Yoruba empire and ii. Some had democratic elements 1. Yoruba and Igbo had accountability and representation 2. Colonial Rule & its Impact: a. Exploitation of Nigeria's resources and labor b. North i. British governed through indirect rule ii. Allows traditional structures to persist but are subordinates to the British governor c. Dispersed & South