The Nation as Corporation: British Colonialism and the Pitfalls of Postcolonial Nationhood in Nigeria

This article re-examines the British colonial policy of indirect rule in Nigeria. Moving away from extant scholarly attention on this colonial policy that focuses on governance through local or native authorities, we focus rather on British colonial rule through imperial companies. We argue that the British colonist did not conceive of or organize “Nigeria” as a “nation”, rather it was administered as a business enterprise in which the Crown depended on companies to “govern” its Nigerian colonies. Accordingly, the idea of the nation as a business enterprise defined its subjects and resources in ways that produced problematic notions of nationhood imagined in corporate terms. The net effect of this dimension of indirect rule through imperial companies is that “Nigeria” has remained imagined and governed not as a nation-state but as a corporation. We suggest that the challenges of postcolonial nationhood in Nigeria derive impetus largely from this conception and management of colonial Nigeria as a corporation. Our aim is to conceptualize the colonial corporatization of Nigeria, and describe the ensuing patterns of violent relations in its postcolony

Humanizing sociotechnical transitions through energy justice: an ethical framework for global transformative change

Poverty, climate change and energy security demand awareness about the interlinkages between energy systems and social justice. Amidst these challenges, energy justice has emerged to conceptualize a world where all individuals, across all areas, have safe, affordable and sustainable energy that is, essentially, socially just. Simultaneously, new social and technological solutions to energy problems continually evolve, and interest in the concept of sociotechnical transitions has grown. However, an element often missing from such transitions frameworks is explicit engagement with energy justice frameworks. Despite the development of an embryonic set of literature around these themes, an obvious research gap has emerged: can energy justice and transitions frameworks be combined? This paper argues that they can. It does so through an exploration of the multi-level perspective on sociotechnical systems and an integration of energy justice at the model’s niche, regime and landscape level. It presents the argument that it is within the overarching process of sociotechnical change that issues of energy justice emerge. Here, inattention to social justice issues can cause injustices, whereas attention to them can provide a means to examine and potential resolve them

‘Soldiers of God or Allah’: Religious Politicization and the Boko Haram Crisis in Nigeria

Special Edition issue - Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Sub-Saharan AfricaSeveral works on Boko Haram have underscored the issues of state weakness and bad governance in Nigeria as the major problematic fuelling the group’s violent activities. While the state fragility argument is indispensable, this paper argues that the religious dimension is also critical to any attempt to understand the Boko Haram crisis. To this end, the paper will examine how the historical and contemporary processes of religious politicization in Nigeria have contributed to the rise and radicalization of Boko Haram.Publisher PD

State fragility and the reign of terror in Nigeria : a case of Boko Haram terrorism.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.No abstract available

Peacebuilding and Reconciliation through Storytelling in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland

This article explores the use of storytelling in healing past hurts and its potential in bringing about cross-community contact and reconciliation in post–peace accord Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland. Based on ten interviews with recipients of aid from the European Union Peace and Reconciliation III Fund and the International Fund for Ireland, the article explores the contributions of storytelling projects such as Towards Understanding and Healing (TUH) in terms of providing safe spaces for the telling of and listening to past hurts, rehumanization, and forging of a sense of shared identity and emotional justice. The article examines respondents’ perceptions of how TUH forums address certain complexities regarding the notions of “truth” and justice. The findings of the study demonstrate that, if properly conducted, a storytelling method- ology such as TUH could be an important tool for the restoration of trust, agency, and hope in a diverse community in a post–peace accord setting. The practical implication for policy makers in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties is to find ways of harnessing the potential of a storytelling methodology alongside other peacebuilding and reconciliation projects

Multinationale Ölgesellschaften, ökologische Verantwortungslosigkeit und instabiler Frieden im Niger-Delta

For many oil-bearing communities in petro-states around the world, the net effects of oil exploration have not only been devastating, but have also highlighted the double standards that are often applied by oil multinational corporations (MNCs). These organisations are far more likely to demand environmental and social mitigation efforts in the developed world than they are in a developing country. This paper seeks to demonstrate how the continued irresponsible activities of oil MNCs – specifically Shell – have fuelled restive conditions of ethnic militancy, brazen human rights abuses, environmental degradation and unsustainable peace in the Niger Delta. The paper particularly assesses the impact of the 2009 amnesty programme that was initiated to halt the downward spiral into violence in the Niger Delta and resolve the region’s socio-economic challenges. The conclusion of this paper canvasses for greater social-ecological justice as a way forwards in addressing the Niger Delta conflict.Die Erdölexploration hatte weltweit nicht nur verheerende Auswirkungen in den Ölförderregionen, sondern es wurde auch deutlich, dass Multinationale Unternehmen (MNU) im Ölsektor vielfach mit zweierlei Maß messen: Sie sind viel eher geneigt, in den Industrieländern Anstrengungen zur Milderung von Umwelt- und sozialen Schäden einzufordern als in Entwicklungsländern. Dieser Beitrag versucht aufzuzeigen, auf welche Weise die nach wie vor verantwortungslosen Praktiken von Öl-MNU – insbesondere von Shell – zum Aufbrechen latenter ethnischer Spannungen und zu schamlosen Menschenrechtsverletzungen, zur Umweltzerstörung und zur Gefährdung des Friedens im Niger-Delta beitragen. Die Autoren untersuchen insbesondere die Wirkungen des Amnestieprogramms von 2009, das initiiert worden war, um die Gewaltspirale im Niger-Delta zu durchbrechen und die sozioökonomischen Probleme der Region zu lösen. Im Ergebnis plädieren sie für größere soziale und ökologische Gerechtigkeit, um einer Lösung des Konflikts im Niger-Delta näher zu kommen

Oil multinational corporations, environmental irresponsibility and turbulent peace in the Niger Delta [Multinationale lgesellschaften, kologische Verantwortungslosigkeit und instabiler Frieden im Niger-Delta]

For many oil-bearing communities in petro-states around the world, the net effects of oil exploration have not only been devastating, but have also highlighted the double standards that are often applied by oil multinational corporations (MNCs). These or

Oil multinational corporations, environmental irresponsibility and turbulent peace in the Niger Delta

"Die Erdölexploration hatte weltweit nicht nur verheerende Auswirkungen in den Ölförderregionen, sondern es wurde auch deutlich, dass Multinationale Unternehmen (MNU) im Ölsektor vielfach mit zweierlei Maß messen: Sie sind viel eher geneigt, in den Industrieländern Anstrengungen zur Milderung von Umwelt- und sozialen Schäden einzufordern als in Entwicklungsländern. Dieser Beitrag versucht aufzuzeigen, auf welche Weise die nach wie vor verantwortungslosen Praktiken von Öl-MNU - insbesondere von Shell - zum Aufbrechen latenter ethnischer Spannungen und zu schamlosen Menschenrechtsverletzungen, zur Umweltzerstörung und zur Gefährdung des Friedens im Niger-Delta beitragen. Die Autoren untersuchen insbesondere die Wirkungen des Amnestieprogramms von 2009, das initiiert worden war, um die Gewaltspirale im Niger-Delta zu durchbrechen und die sozioökonomischen Probleme der Region zu lösen. Im Ergebnis plädieren sie für größere soziale und ökologische Gerechtigkeit, um einer Lösung des Konflikts im Niger-Delta näher zu kommen." (Autorenreferat)"For many oil-bearing communities in petro-states around the world, the net effects of oil exploration have not only been devastating, but have also highlighted the double standards that are often applied by oil multinational corporations (MNCs). These organizations are far more likely to demand environmental and social mitigation efforts in the developed world than they are in a developing country. This paper seeks to demonstrate how the continued irresponsible activities of oil MNCs - specifically Shell - have fuelled restive conditions of ethnic militancy, brazen human rights abuses, environmental degradation and unsustainable peace in the Niger Delta. The paper particularly assesses the impact of the 2009 amnesty program that was initiated to halt the downward spiral into violence in the Niger Delta and resolve the region's socio-economic challenges. The conclusion of this paper canvasses for greater social-ecological justice as a way forwards in addressing the Niger Delta conflict." (author's abstract

Oil Multinational Corporations, Environmental Irresponsibility and Turbulent Peace in the Niger Delta Multinationale Ölgesellschaften, ökologische Verantwortungslosigkeit und instabiler Frieden im Niger-Delta

For many oil-bearing communities in petro-states around the world, the net effects of oil exploration have not only been devastating, but have also highlighted the double standards that are often applied by oil multinational corporations (MNCs). These organisations are far more likely to demand environmental and social mitigation efforts in the developed world than they are in a developing country. This paper seeks to demonstrate how the continued irresponsible activities of oil MNCs – specifically Shell – have fuelled restive conditions of ethnic militancy, brazen human rights abuses, environmental degradation and unsustainable peace in the Niger Delta. The paper particularly assesses the impact of the 2009 amnesty programme that was initiated to halt the downward spiral into violence in the Niger Delta and resolve the region’s socio-economic challenges. The conclusion of this paper canvasses for greater social-ecological justice as a way forwards in addressing the Niger Delta conflict.Die Erdölexploration hatte weltweit nicht nur verheerende Auswirkungen in den Ölförderregionen, sondern es wurde auch deutlich, dass Multinationale Unternehmen (MNU) im Ölsektor vielfach mit zweierlei Maß messen: Sie sind viel eher geneigt, in den Industrieländern Anstrengungen zur Milderung von Umwelt- und sozialen Schäden einzufordern als in Entwicklungsländern. Dieser Beitrag versucht aufzuzeigen, auf welche Weise die nach wie vor verantwortungslosen Praktiken von Öl-MNU – insbesondere von Shell – zum Aufbrechen latenter ethnischer Spannungen und zu schamlosen Menschenrechtsverletzungen, zur Umweltzerstörung und zur Gefährdung des Friedens im Niger-Delta beitragen. Die Autoren untersuchen insbesondere die Wirkungen des Amnestieprogramms von 2009, das initiiert worden war, um die Gewaltspirale im Niger-Delta zu durchbrechen und die sozioökonomischen Probleme der Region zu lösen. Im Ergebnis plädieren sie für größere soziale und ökologische Gerechtigkeit, um einer Lösung des Konflikts im Niger-Delta näher zu kommen

Multinationale Ölgesellschaften, ökologische Verantwortungslosigkeit und instabiler Frieden im Niger-Delta

For many oil-bearing communities in petro-states around the world, the net effects of oil exploration have not only been devastating, but have also highlighted the double standards that are often applied by oil multinational corporations (MNCs). These organisations are far more likely to demand environmental and social mitigation efforts in the developed world than they are in a developing country. This paper seeks to demonstrate how the continued irresponsible activities of oil MNCs – specifically Shell – have fuelled restive conditions of ethnic militancy, brazen human rights abuses, environmental degradation and unsustainable peace in the Niger Delta. The paper particularly assesses the impact of the 2009 amnesty programme that was initiated to halt the downward spiral into violence in the Niger Delta and resolve the region’s socio-economic challenges. The conclusion of this paper canvasses for greater social-ecological justice as a way forwards in addressing the Niger Delta conflict.Die Erdölexploration hatte weltweit nicht nur verheerende Auswirkungen in den Ölförderregionen, sondern es wurde auch deutlich, dass Multinationale Unternehmen (MNU) im Ölsektor vielfach mit zweierlei Maß messen: Sie sind viel eher geneigt, in den Industrieländern Anstrengungen zur Milderung von Umwelt- und sozialen Schäden einzufordern als in Entwicklungsländern. Dieser Beitrag versucht aufzuzeigen, auf welche Weise die nach wie vor verantwortungslosen Praktiken von Öl-MNU – insbesondere von Shell – zum Aufbrechen latenter ethnischer Spannungen und zu schamlosen Menschenrechtsverletzungen, zur Umweltzerstörung und zur Gefährdung des Friedens im Niger-Delta beitragen. Die Autoren untersuchen insbesondere die Wirkungen des Amnestieprogramms von 2009, das initiiert worden war, um die Gewaltspirale im Niger-Delta zu durchbrechen und die sozioökonomischen Probleme der Region zu lösen. Im Ergebnis plädieren sie für größere soziale und ökologische Gerechtigkeit, um einer Lösung des Konflikts im Niger-Delta näher zu kommen