Ethno-Sectarian Division and the Predicaments of National Integration in Plural Societies
A Study of Nigeria and Iraq
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to examine the problem of sectarianism in Nigeria and Iraq, as both countries provide typical examples of ethno-sectarian divided societies characterized by huge contrasts in social norms and religious values among the citizens.
Methodology: Adopting content analysis, the current paper argues that ethno-sectarianism negatively affects political process in both countries which invariably undermines their effort toward national integration. The paper seeks to answer the following question: will restructuring the Nigerian and Iraqi federal relations contribute to resolving sectarian tensions? First, the paper examines the sources of sectarianism in both countries. The paper therefore examines how ethno-sectarianism shaped and molds the polity of both countries, where ethnic and religious values play major role in determining citizen's reaction to political phenomenon
Results: Coordination mechanisms such as framework legislation and dispute resolution committees are also necessary to ensure that the transition to viable federalism occurs with minimal encumbrance. To respect the complex and diverse identities of nations, safeguards need to be established to protect the rights of sub-federal nations. For example, the political future of Iraq and Nigeria is not a return to failed approaches of division, but rather the construction of a viable modern federal state that promotes unity, political compromise, and consensus building.
Implication: This paper therefore posits that there is a need for deep mental changes and social adjustment among the citizens of both countries where attributes such as tolerance, dignity of human persons and above all patriotism must be re-defined and this requires collaboration between political leaders, community leaders and religious bodies as the problem is societal bound.
Downloads
Article Analytics Summary
References
Abdullahi, S. A. (2015). Ethnicity and Ethnic Relations in Nigeria: The Case of Religious Conflict in Kano. Regional and Ethnic Conflicts: Perspectives from the Front Lines, 292.
Adams, D., & Ogbonnaya, U. M. (2014). Ethnic and Regional Violence in Nigeria: Implications for National Security. J. Pol. & L., 7, 20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jpl.v7n3p20
Ali, M., Nisar, M., & Ullah, S. (2015). The Role of Power, Authority and Political Interests on Peace in Sectarian Conflict Areas of District Hangu Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Al-Oraibi, M. (2013). Iraq: A Decade of Lost Opportunities. The Washington Quarterly, 36(2), 77-89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2013.791083
Angerbrandt, H. (2015). Religion, ethnicity and citizenship: demands for territorial self-determination in southern Kaduna, Nigeria. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 33(2), 232-250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2015.1066081
Bello, M. L. (2012). Federal Character as a Recipe for National Integration: The Nigerian Paradox. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 3(3), 1-17.
Cordesman, A. H., & Khazai, S. (2014). Iraq in Crisis. Rowman & Littlefield.
Drysdale, A. (2014). National Identity. Nationalism, Self-Determination and Political Geography (Routledge Library Editions: Political Geography), 6, 87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315749761-6
Hagan, J., & Kaiser, J. (2013). A Separate Peace: Explaining War, Crime, Violence, and Security During and After the Surge in Iraq. Crime, Violence, and Security During and After the Surge in Iraq (May 16, 2013). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2350677
Hanieh, A. (2015). Development through Unity. Assessing ESCWA's Arab Integration: A 21st Century Development Imperative. Development and Change, 46(4), 979-992. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12172
Hassan, M. B., & Umar, M. B. (2014). Ethno-religious intolerance as an impediment to nation building: the Nigerian experience. International Journal in Management & Social Science, 2(1), 130-150.
Ismael, T. Y., & Ismael, J. S. (2015). Iraq in the Twenty-First Century: Regime Change and the Making of a Failed State (Vol. 34). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315736631
Katzman, K. (2013). Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights*. Current Politics and Economics of the Middle East, 4(3), 505.
Khan, S., & Kirmanj, S. (2015). Engineering confederalism for Iraq. National Identities, 17(4), 371-385. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14608944.2015.1066322
Kendhammer, B. (2015). Getting Our Piece of the National Cake: Consociational Power Sharing and Neopatrimonialism in Nigeria. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 21(2), 143-165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13537113.2015.1032023
Kessler, R. C., McGonagle, K. A., Swartz, M., Blazer, D. G., & Nelson, C. B. (1993). Sex and depression in the National Comorbidity Survey I: Lifetime prevalence, chronicity and recurrence. Journal of affective disorders, 29(2-3), 85-96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(93)90026-G
Kirmanj, S. (2013). Identity and nation in Iraq. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Ladan, M. T. (2013). Conflict and Its Impact on National Development: With Particular Reference to Northern Nigeria. Available at SSRN 2336163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2336163
Lukitz, L. (2014). Identity and Nation in Iraq: Sherko Kirmanj, Boulder, CO, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2013. Pp XVIII+ 319, bibliography, index.£ 46.12/$58.50 (hardback) ISBN-10: 1-5882-6885-3, ISBN-13: 978-1-5882-6885-3. Middle Eastern Studies, 50(4), 687-691. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00263206.2014.887909
Lukitz, L. (2005). Iraq: the search for national identity. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203016732
Marcus, B. A. (2015). Ethnic Politics and Religion In Nigeria: Implications For National Integration. Global Journal of Political Science e and Administration, 3(3), 1-11.
Mikail, B. (2014). Sectarianism after the Arab spring: an exaggerated spectre. Air & Space Power Journal-Africa and Francophonie, 5(1), 89-96.
Milligan, M. (2013). Fighting for the right to exist: institutions, identity, and conflict in Jos, Nigeria. Comparative Politics, 45(3), 313-334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5129/001041512X13815255434933
Miller, E. (2010). Solidarity economy: Key concepts and issues. Solidarity economy I: building alternatives for people and planet, 93-100.
Osman, K. (2014). Sectarianism in Iraq: the making of state and nation since 1920. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315771267
Pamir, P. (1997). Nationalism, Ethnicity and Democracy: Contemporary Manifestations. The International Journal of Peace Studies, 2(2), 1-12.
Rashid, M., & Alobaydi, D. (2015). Territory, politics of power, and physical spatial networks: The case of Baghdad, Iraq. Habitat International, 50, 180-194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.08.031
Shehata, D. (2014). The Arab Uprisings and the Prospects for Building Shared Societies. Development, 57(1), 84-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/dev.2014.29
Sisk, T. D. (2013). Power-Sharing in Civil War: Puzzles of Peacemaking and Peacebuilding. Civil Wars, 15(sup1), 7-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13698249.2013.850873
Taras, R., & Ganguly, R. (2015). Understanding ethnic conflict. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315662343
Terrill, W. A. (2012). Lessons of the Iraqi De-Ba'athification program for Iraq's future and the Arab revolutions. Lulu. com. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA560673
Wehrey, F. M. (2013). Sectarian politics in the Gulf: from the Iraq war to the Arab uprisings. Columbia University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7312/columbia/9780231165129.001.0001
Williams, P. R., & Simpson, M. (2008). Rethinking the political future: An alternative to the ethno-sectarian division of Iraq. American University International Law Review, 24(2)
CSRC Publishing and JBSEE adhere to Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. The authors submitting and publishing in JBSEE agree to the copyright policy under creative common license 4.0 (Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International). Under this license, the authors published in JBSEE retain the copyright including publishing rights of their scholarly work and agree to let others remix, tweak, and build upon their work non-commercially. All other authors using the content of SBSEE are required to cite author(s) and publisher in their work. CSRC Publishing and JBSEE follow an Open Access Policy for copyright and licensing.
