Partners - West Africa
CRISE Policy Conference: Policies to Support Peaceful Development in West Africa, February 2007
CRISE West Africa workshop, March 2006
West Africa contains numerous social tensions that tend to crystallise in violent conflicts between ethnic groups. CRISE analyses these tensions in three countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.
Despite similar socioeconomic features, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana have followed very different political trajectories. Côte d'Ivoire remained politically stable for almost 30 years following its independence, while Ghana was experiencing a series of coups d'etat. The situation was reversed in the 1990s. The Ivorian political equilibrium collapsed as Ghana found its way towards democratic transition. These diametrically opposing country situations offer fertile opportunity for comparative analysis.
Due to its geographical and demographic dimensions and its tremendous ethnic diversity, Nigeria raises its own issues. Since independence, it has experienced major civil war and multiple military coups with long periods under military rule, as well as constitutional innovation designed to help promote ethnic peace. In general, while leaders from the north tend to maintain a strong hold on statal institutions such as the military, the northern population faces much poorer living conditions than southerners. Because of its multifaceted characteristics, the nature of conflicts varies across regions within Nigeria requiring specific analysis according to the regions being studied.
Since its inception, CRISE has gradually established a large network of research partners in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. In 2006, a number of research themes relevant to CRISE have been identified and partnerships have been established on the basis of these themes. They include:
- Religion and Conflict
The implementation of Sharia Law in northern Nigeria has triggered an intense political debate with significant international repercussions. There has been no similar focus on the role the many and extremely popular Christian Churches might play politically. Do these huge organisations fulfil only spiritual needs? Do they also substitute for the failing welfare state by providing insurance? Do they potentially disseminate political messages? Do they contribute to the ethnicisation of politics?
- Processes of Violent Mobilisation
This set of projects looks into the ways group mobilisation is made possible. The focus is microsocial: what leads individuals to join violent groups (such as militias)? What makes them accept the instructions of their chiefs to carry out violent operations? Various hypotheses are investigated: feelings of grievance, material interest, ideological influences, etc.
- Culture and Conflict
Official recognition and tolerance of cultural diversity may take many forms: promotion and teaching of vernacular languages, authorisation and support of festivals and other traditional manifestations, public holidays etc. Absence of these forms of recognition can nurture feelings of marginalisation and frustration. Under the topic Culture and Conflict, particular attention is given to the media and the way it contributes to the fabrication of intergroup perceptions, either derogatory or positive.
- Gender and Conflict
Do women play a specific role in conflictual or peaceful settings? The fact that they are the primary victims of violence is well documented. But can their participation in informal civil society groupings or their role in local economies affect the social stability an area may enjoy? The research projects in this topic are backed up by in-depth case studies.
- The Military and Political Stability
In each country, the military and the civilian political elite have had specific relationships. In Nigeria, the military have dominated the country for decades and are still very influential on the political scene. The military have used repression and violence to varying degrees. The contrasting importance of the political role of the military over time is studied through historical analysis of the military institution after independence, its changing internal organisation (notably in terms of ethnic composition) and its relationships with the civilian ruling elites
- Institutional Design and Conflict
This theme comprises projects looking at government policies and bodies that influence the occurrence of conflicts in a positive or negative way: decentralisation policies, revenue distribution policies etc.
All the projects listed below are being carried out by highly experienced and qualified academics from the three countries. They come from a variety of disciplines - including political science, sociology, anthropology and economics - and use a wide array of research methods, either quantitative (socioeconomic surveys, perceptions surveys) or qualitative (focus group discussions and speech content analysis, participatory observation). Current works in progress listed below will be completed in late 2007.
Frédéric Aka Adié
Département de sociologie, Université de Bouaké, LESOR
La mobilisation des associations féminines dans la résolution de la crise ivoirienne
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Prof. Francis Akindès
Université de Bouaké
Sociohistoire de la violence politique et inégalités horizontales en Côte d’Ivoire
Theme: Culture and Conflict
Moussa Fofana
Département de sociologie, Université de Bouaké
L’engagement des jeunes dans la rebellion du nord du Côte d’Ivoire
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Bony Guibelhon
Département d’anthropologie et de sociologie, Université de Bouaké
Politique, ethnie et religions en Côte d’Ivoire
Theme: Religion and Conflict
Gnangadjomon Koné
Département de sociologie, Université de Bouaké
La phénoménologie sociale des Jeunes Patriotes
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Richard Asante
Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
Culture, Political Stability and the Sustenance of Democracy in Ghana
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Dr. Daniel Inkoom and Prof. Kwasi Adarkwa
Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Christian churches and political stability in Ghana
Theme: Religion and Conflict
Prof. Wayo Seini and Dr. Dzodzi Tsikata
Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana-Legon
Decentralisation, inequalities and conflict in Ghana
Theme: Institutional design and Conflict
Fatima Adamu
Department of Sociology, Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto
The role of women in ethnic politics and conflict prevention resolutions in Kebbi State
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Wale Adebanwi
Centre for Social Science Research & Documentation (CSSRD), Lagos
The clergy, culture and political conflicts in Nigeria
Theme: Religion and Conflict
Dr. Said Adejumobi
Lagos State University
The military, ethnicity and the future of Nigerian Federalism
Theme: The Military and Political Stability
Dr. Isaac Olawale Albert
Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan
Indegenes/settlers in south-western Nigeria: a case study in Saki
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Prof. Ogoh Alubo
Research Department, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
Gender and ethnic conflicts in central Nigeria
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Dr. Raimi Abidemi Asiyanbola
Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye
Gender and urban ethno-communal conflicts: a study of women’s perceptions, aspirations and role in the case of Ife-Modakeke, Nigeria
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Dr. Umar Danfulani
Department of Religious Studies, University of Jos
Christians’ responses to Sharia in Northern Nigeria
Theme: Religion and Conflict
Muhammad Tasiu Dansabo
Department of Sociology, Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto
Indigene-Settler relations in Sokoto Metropolis
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Dr. Samuel Egwu
Department of Political Science, Kogi State University, Anyigba/Department of Political Science, University of Jos
Democratisation, Sharia and ethno-religious violence in the Middle Belt
Theme: Religion and Conflict
sgegwu@yahoo.com
Stephen Faleti
University of Ibadan
MNCs and perceptions of inequalities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta communities
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Akachi Odoemene
Unit of African History, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan
The role of women’s associations in traditional conflict resolution and peace building: the case of Ụmụada and August-Meeting Groups among the Igbo
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Dr. Ayobami Ojebode
Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan
Mass media and cultural inequalities in Nigeria
Theme: Culture and Conflict
Dr. Antonia Okoosi-Simbine
Political Development Unit, Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan
Women’s participation in conflict management in Nigeria: a case study of Kaduna
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Omobolaji Olarinmoye
Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan
Women as ethnic militants: gender and conflict in the Oodua People’s Congress
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Dr. Oluwatoyin Oluwaniyi
Department of Policy and Strategic Studies, College of Business and Social Sciences, Covenant University, Ota
Deconstructing gender in peace and conflict: ethnicity, women and rights movements in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Ifeanyichukwu Onwuzuruigbo
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ibadan
Women and intra-ethnic conflicts in Southeastern Nigeria: a study of Aguleri/Umuleri Conflicts
Theme: Gender and Conflict
Dr. Ifeanyi Onyeonoru
Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan
Horizontal Inequalities and Ethno-national Movements: A Study of Ohaneze and Afenifere
Theme: Processes of Violent Mobilisation
Abiodun Salawu
Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos
The impact of state policy on the existence of newspapers published in minority languages of Nigeria
Theme: Culture and Conflict
Prof. Rotimi Suberu
Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan
Federalism, horizontal inequalities and the politics of constitutional reform in Nigeria
Theme: Institutional Design and Conflict
Dr. Joses G. Yoroms
Dept of Defence and Security Studies, African Centre for Strategic Research and Training, National War College, Abuja
Cultural identity, inequalities and ethno-religious militancy in Nigeria
Theme: Culture and Conflict
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