Inter Ethnic And Religious Conflict Resolution In Nigeria

Since 1982, Nigeria has experienced more than ten large scale ethnic or religious riots in its major cities. These violent clashes have wreaked economic, political, and social havoc; caused an enormous number of deaths and injuries; and posed serious obstacles to Nigeria's sociopolitical development as well as retarded efforts at nation-building. The papers collected in this book serve as a critical part of an overall objective to develop and promote mechanisms for the understanding and resolution of ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria. Both academic and community leaders address various aspects of these conflicts, and Uwazie offers several thoughtful options for their successful resolution. Inter-Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution in Nigeria will interest students of African history and current affairs, scholars of anthropology and ethnicity studies, and those involved in international relations and peace studies.

Inspired by ethno-religious conflicts which occur in a frequent, incessant and violent manner in the contemporary Nigerian society, Basil Ugorji examines the very real struggle for cultural justice that often leads to tribal violence and clashes, ethnic and religious wars, and genocides. The author thoroughly investigates the relevance of certain measures, judicial and coercive, used to manage ethno-religious conflicts in Africa. Based on the historical and political contexts (pre-colonialism, colonialism, post-independence), the author explores the premise that a shift is required in the research of peaceful resolution: first, from retributive justice to restorative justice, and second, from coercive methods of reconciliation to ethno-religious mediation, with a focus on the ethnic, tribal and religious groups involved in conflicts; the origins, causes, consequences, and actors involved; and the forms and places of occurrence of ethno-religious conflicts. With scholarship and compassion, the author sees the people within the conflict and exposes their humanity. Beyond the posturing and politics, he returns sanity to the discussion by revealing the often counterintuitive behavior of social systems under stress. More than just empirical observation, From Cultural Justice to Inter-Ethnic Mediation: A Reflection on the Possibility of Ethno-Religious Mediation in Africa provides welcome insights into convoluted dynamics and offers practical strategies through peace education. There is something here for everybody seeking a way forward out of chaos in Africa, from grassroots advocates to senior policymakers.

This book represents a serious attempt to develop new strategies to manage the ethnic conflicts that continue to undermine Nigeria's efforts at democratic consolidation. Case studies discuss the socio- economic and political dynamics that fuel ethnic conflicts; highlight the limitations to their management; and propose civil society approaches. The book is organised into three parts. The first analyses basic concepts at play, such as ethnicity and ethnic conflict, specifically in the Nigerian context, and against the background of the position of civil society and development in the country. The second part comprises six case studies spread across Nigeria's six geo-political regions. The third section concentrates on the critical issue of civil society empowerment, and proposes ways to enhance its creative participation in the country's development.

Welcome to the first edition of the International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation’s Journal of Living Together. We were surprised and delighted to receive so many outstanding submissions, and see the resounding response to our very first call for papers as an appreciable indication of the connection people feel to our mission and our community. Through this journal it is our intention to inform, inspire, reveal and explore the intricate and complex nature of human interaction in the context of ethno-religious identity and the roles it plays in war and peace. By sharing theories, observations and valuable experiences we mean to open a broader, more inclusive dialogue between policymakers, academics, researchers, religious leaders, representatives of ethnic groups and indigenous peoples, and field practitioners around the world. Lasting peace stems from changes in thinking about what it is to be a part of the human family, who we are to one another, and what mutual obligations and responsibilities exist between us. It requires us to accept that we are each a resource, an advantage, an asset to the whole. It hinges on our ultimate acceptance of cultural identity, history, faith and tradition as simply vivid aspects of our overarching human kinship. The belief-based perspectives that influence these patterns of being however are among the most deeply ingrained of all individual and social mechanisms. Any efforts to reshape them are highly ambitious and fraught with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Yet, cultures and their societies are not static, and their adaptive nature requires that even within the most intractable of conflicts, there will be change; how they change will depend upon shifts in the environment, changes in human experience, and the availability of new information with which to make different choices. The theme of this issue: The Role of Religion and Ethnicity in Contemporary Conflict: Related Emerging Tactics, Strategies and Methodologies of Mediation and Resolution looks at ways to influence these changes, improve interethnic and interfaith experiences, and offers information which can enlighten social discourse and reveal the possibility of previously unforeseen choices. We begin with “Words from the Board,” where Dr. David Silvera explains that mediation is at the very heart of democratic thought & lays out the value of mediation as a vital aspect of adult education in his commentary, Education for Democratic Citizenship and Intercultural Conflicts by Mediation. Dr. René Lemarchand’s cautionary discussion regarding the risks involved in mankind’s willingness and even propensity to ignore some of history’s worst atrocities follows in his article, Remembering Forgotten Genocides. Jamie L. Hurst’s paper, Holy Conflict: the Intersection of Religion and Mediation, explores the junction where religion and mediation meet, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities this crossroads brings to bear. In her piece, Identity Reconsidered, Zarrín Caldwell describes the cost of “narrowly-construed identity formations” and puts forward the idea that the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith on nested identities might offer some new ways of approaching peacebuilding. Similarly, in their work Storytelling as a Means for Peace Education: Intercultural Dialogue in Southern Thailand, Erna Anjarwati & Allison Trimble describe their research conducting peace storytelling as a means to encourage social reconciliation between Thai-Buddhists and Malay-Muslims youth. And finally, Lanhe S. Shan presents an in-depth assessment of the long-term outcomes following the implementation of unfortunate conflict mitigation strategies and offers suggestions for improved results in Analysis of Tito’s Policies on Ethnic Conflict: the Case of Kosovo. This journal is not meant to be a bastion of declarative wisdom, rather it is intended to be a conduit, a medium for vibrant exchange, and discussion of its contents is vital to its purpose. We want your input, your ideas, your thoughts and your insights. You will find plenty to discuss every quarter in the articles, book reviews, Living Together Movement updates, social media buzz, and Photos from the Field here, and in the issues ahead.

Violence in major cities of Northern Nigeria has been recurring since the nation's 1960 independence. Although many scholars have analyzed the violence through different perspectives and several solutions applied, violence have continued to prevail within the region. The ability to manage a conflict depends to a larger extend on the indepthness of its analysis. This book is not like any other written about this issue. It is a research study conducted under the guidance of USA Review Board and highly experienced academic scholars of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. It was categorized as the most comprehensive report on the conflict. Extensive literature review, related conflict theories and concepts were applied for proper analysis. The goal for this publication is to shed limelight to this perspective for possible solution to a conflict that has lingered for more than 40 years with genocidal deaths and massive loss of properties.

The resolution of conflicts based on religious and ethnic contradictions is a time-consuming process. Under certain conditions, a religious conflict became a form of expression of class, estate, interethnic contradictions, and the confrontation of states. However, we know that all religions call for peace, tolerance, and understanding. There is a need to realize that social injustice, inequality, and hostility toward any religious and ethnic groups fluctuates depending on the extent to which religious and ethnic differences are linked to economic, political, or national interests. The Handbook of Research on Ethnic, Racial, and Religious Conflicts and Their Impact on State and Social Security forms a civil position and identity and provides knowledge of the development of conflict preconditions. This research explains conflict avoidance and solutions and creates a solid base for ethnic and religious integration while being aware of conflict consequences and avoiding xenophobia. Covering topics such as economic crisis, radicalization, and spiritual security, this book is an indispensable resource for students of higher education, professors, faculty, libraries, researchers, policymakers, community leaders, human rights activists, religious leaders, and academicians.

Analyses the complexities of Christian-Muslim conflict that threatens the fragile democracy of Nigeria, and the implications for global peace and security.