As with most societies around the world, violence has been a common feature of many African socie... more As with most societies around the world, violence has been a common feature of many African societies. While political violence, especially those targeted at the state and involving armed groups, has gained popularity in public discourses, social violence is one form of violence that is not necessarily against the state. Often driven by few (if any) political objectives, social violence is increasingly becoming a regular occurrence in many states across Africa and other parts of the world. Unfortunately, because of the complex nature of its causal antecedents, social violence attracts less attention from scholars and policy makers. Based on the long-standing arguments that poverty and violence have a significant relationship, this paper focuses on, and demonstrates, the connection between the increasingly high poverty rates and armed social violence in Africa including urban violence and organized crimes such as kidnapping and drug trafficking. The paper presents a set of recommenda...
Nigeria1 The available body of literature addressing the roles of young people in armed conflict ... more Nigeria1 The available body of literature addressing the roles of young people in armed conflict provides evidence of extensive child and youth involvement in warfare. For instance, Ukiwo (2003) draws attention to the role of young people as key actors in the escalation of violent conflicts in Nigeria's Plateau State city of Jos, while other scholars emphasise the notorious use of violence by youths during Europe's political crises and conflicts of the 1930s. Contrary to the dominant perception of youths as inherently violent, this paper posits that young people are not intrinsically inclined to violent behaviour; rather, they are products of their societies. It is argued, therefore, that the incorporation of young people in peacebuilding processes is bound to facilitate the realisation of sustainable peace in society, by redirecting the energies of young people to the implementation of constructive peace projects. This paper takes the position that the incorporation and uti...
Since the creation of the United Nations Organisation in 1945, the membership and structure of th... more Since the creation of the United Nations Organisation in 1945, the membership and structure of the UN Security Council has been one of the most contentious and recurring questions debated by UN member-states. Following the recommendations of the UN High Level Panel on “Threats, Challenges and Change” (A/59/565) that countries who have contributed the most to the UN accessed budget, military, and diplomacy should be considered for a permanent place in the Council, Nigeria has expressed her intention to occupy one of the proposed permanent seats. However, the significance of this position and the power that goes with it remains a stumbling block for most of its citizens who feel alienated and distant from the government’s policies and programmes. This study seeks to underscore the value of this position through the lens of realpolitik. The realist approach enunciated by Henry Kissinger, which is hinged on the following premise: States use their national power to protect national values and ensure their national interest; empowering the citizens in the international system so as to enhance the nation’s image and legitimacy should serve as a guide to rationalising Nigeria’s bid to occupy one of the proposed permanent positions. Essentially, this quest is predicated on the realist theory, which correlates the bid to the welfare of Nigerian citizens. The link between foreign policy and the citizens’ welfare is very significant as the country shifts from the Afro-centric foreign policy to a more “Citizen-centred Diplomacy”.
So often, one is tempted to speak about Africa and its developmental challenges in very general t... more So often, one is tempted to speak about Africa and its developmental challenges in very general terms. This has been the bane of too many scholarly assessments and media reports about the region. Clearly, while generalizations about such a vast region are sometimes useful in providing a global picture, they can also obfuscate or mask important national or subregional differences.
The Republic of South Sudan is a multi-ethnic sovereign entity, consisting of 10 states and compr... more The Republic of South Sudan is a multi-ethnic sovereign entity, consisting of 10 states and comprising a culturally diverse population. While this ethnic diversity speaks to the country's rich national heritage, it has also always been a source of internal ethnic discord in South Sudan. Since South Sudan gained independence on 9 July 2011, the country has witnessed localised inter-ethnic conflicts, most notably arising from disputes rooted in grazing land, cattle raiding and access to natural resources - predominately in Jonglei State of Greater Upper Nile Province. Despite multiple, concerted and ongoing national and local efforts to address the security challenges arising from ethnotribal disagreements, this phenomenon still persists and renders the overall situation rather fragile. This article seeks to examine the impact of ethnic conflicts on peace efforts in South Sudan. It argues that the seething inter-ethnic clashes are serious constraints and a source of threat that stands to obfuscate South Sudan's successful transition to sustainable and effective post-conflict recovery and long-term peacebuilding.
As with most societies around the world, violence has been a common feature of many African socie... more As with most societies around the world, violence has been a common feature of many African societies. While political violence, especially those targeted at the state and involving armed groups, has gained popularity in public discourses, social violence is one form of violence that is not necessarily against the state. Often driven by few (if any) political objectives, social violence is increasingly becoming a regular occurrence in many states across Africa and other parts of the world. Unfortunately, because of the complex nature of its causal antecedents, social violence attracts less attention from scholars and policy makers. Based on the long-standing arguments that poverty and violence have a significant relationship, this paper focuses on, and demonstrates, the connection between the increasingly high poverty rates and armed social violence in Africa including urban violence and organized crimes such as kidnapping and drug trafficking. The paper presents a set of recommenda...
Nigeria1 The available body of literature addressing the roles of young people in armed conflict ... more Nigeria1 The available body of literature addressing the roles of young people in armed conflict provides evidence of extensive child and youth involvement in warfare. For instance, Ukiwo (2003) draws attention to the role of young people as key actors in the escalation of violent conflicts in Nigeria's Plateau State city of Jos, while other scholars emphasise the notorious use of violence by youths during Europe's political crises and conflicts of the 1930s. Contrary to the dominant perception of youths as inherently violent, this paper posits that young people are not intrinsically inclined to violent behaviour; rather, they are products of their societies. It is argued, therefore, that the incorporation of young people in peacebuilding processes is bound to facilitate the realisation of sustainable peace in society, by redirecting the energies of young people to the implementation of constructive peace projects. This paper takes the position that the incorporation and uti...
Since the creation of the United Nations Organisation in 1945, the membership and structure of th... more Since the creation of the United Nations Organisation in 1945, the membership and structure of the UN Security Council has been one of the most contentious and recurring questions debated by UN member-states. Following the recommendations of the UN High Level Panel on “Threats, Challenges and Change” (A/59/565) that countries who have contributed the most to the UN accessed budget, military, and diplomacy should be considered for a permanent place in the Council, Nigeria has expressed her intention to occupy one of the proposed permanent seats. However, the significance of this position and the power that goes with it remains a stumbling block for most of its citizens who feel alienated and distant from the government’s policies and programmes. This study seeks to underscore the value of this position through the lens of realpolitik. The realist approach enunciated by Henry Kissinger, which is hinged on the following premise: States use their national power to protect national values and ensure their national interest; empowering the citizens in the international system so as to enhance the nation’s image and legitimacy should serve as a guide to rationalising Nigeria’s bid to occupy one of the proposed permanent positions. Essentially, this quest is predicated on the realist theory, which correlates the bid to the welfare of Nigerian citizens. The link between foreign policy and the citizens’ welfare is very significant as the country shifts from the Afro-centric foreign policy to a more “Citizen-centred Diplomacy”.
So often, one is tempted to speak about Africa and its developmental challenges in very general t... more So often, one is tempted to speak about Africa and its developmental challenges in very general terms. This has been the bane of too many scholarly assessments and media reports about the region. Clearly, while generalizations about such a vast region are sometimes useful in providing a global picture, they can also obfuscate or mask important national or subregional differences.
The Republic of South Sudan is a multi-ethnic sovereign entity, consisting of 10 states and compr... more The Republic of South Sudan is a multi-ethnic sovereign entity, consisting of 10 states and comprising a culturally diverse population. While this ethnic diversity speaks to the country's rich national heritage, it has also always been a source of internal ethnic discord in South Sudan. Since South Sudan gained independence on 9 July 2011, the country has witnessed localised inter-ethnic conflicts, most notably arising from disputes rooted in grazing land, cattle raiding and access to natural resources - predominately in Jonglei State of Greater Upper Nile Province. Despite multiple, concerted and ongoing national and local efforts to address the security challenges arising from ethnotribal disagreements, this phenomenon still persists and renders the overall situation rather fragile. This article seeks to examine the impact of ethnic conflicts on peace efforts in South Sudan. It argues that the seething inter-ethnic clashes are serious constraints and a source of threat that stands to obfuscate South Sudan's successful transition to sustainable and effective post-conflict recovery and long-term peacebuilding.
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