The conflict between Nigeria and the Boko Haram insurgency has caused a lot of suffering in North-East Nigeria. Additionally, food, water, and refugee crises are created in the region as a result...Show moreThe conflict between Nigeria and the Boko Haram insurgency has caused a lot of suffering in North-East Nigeria. Additionally, food, water, and refugee crises are created in the region as a result of the conflict. Scholars have written about the dynamics of the Boko Haram insurgency and the counterinsurgency operations of the Nigerian forces. From the counterinsurgency point of view much has been written related to the different actors or human rights. The geographical perspective on counterinsurgency has not been touched upon much and this is what will be done in this study. In this study the research question: How can we explain the geostrategy of Nigeria in its conflict with Boko Haram? This will be attempted via a case study analysis on the Nigerian counterinsurgency operations in combination with a focus on the natural resources oil and water. Findings suggest that the presence of these resources allow for a geostrategic explanation of Nigeria in the conflict. Additionally, the study illustrates the influence water could have when combined with a counterinsurgency framework. These findings are relevant in widening of theShow less
To understand the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping operations in providing the global public goods peace and security, it is important to research the incentives countries have to...Show moreTo understand the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping operations in providing the global public goods peace and security, it is important to research the incentives countries have to participate in these operations. Previous scholars have theorised that politically unstable states contribute troops to peace missions as an effort to decrease domestic coup risk. This thesis investigates the link between coup risk and troop contributions through a qualitative content analysis of coup risk in Nigeria between 1990 and 2020. The theoretical expectation was that governments increase their personnel commitments in peace missions when domestic coup risk is high. It is found that Nigeria experienced high levels of coup risk for the entire analysed timeframe, whereas increased troop contributions were only recognised between 2000 and 2013. The thesis thus challenges the existing theory on troop contributions as a coup-proofing strategy.Show less
Research master thesis | Political Science and Public Administration (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-08-01T00:00:00Z
Since the proliferation of democratizing countries in Africa, ethnic conflict has also increased. One of the explanations for this phenomenon is that ethnicity become politicized when democratic...Show moreSince the proliferation of democratizing countries in Africa, ethnic conflict has also increased. One of the explanations for this phenomenon is that ethnicity become politicized when democratic institutions are installed, and ethnic cleavages are widened, creating more conflict. In order to temper conflict and stabilize the democratization process it is sometimes needed to use undemocratic tools, such as party bans. While sometimes banning an ethnic party leads to less conflict, sometimes it also leads to more. This thesis will explain how a party ban will decrease conflict when it is based on old, existing law or regulation and accompanied by other institutional arrangements giving incentives for inter-ethnic cooperation and promote cross-cutting cleavages. Two cases of party bans in Mauritania and two cases in Nigeria are used to explain the mechanism of the causal effect between party ban and conflict level.Show less
The presence of Shell in Nigeria has been a prominent feature in the international news media, due to Shell's alleged negative influence on the country's environment, society and political leaders....Show moreThe presence of Shell in Nigeria has been a prominent feature in the international news media, due to Shell's alleged negative influence on the country's environment, society and political leaders. This thesis aims to investigate how the presence and activities of Shell influence the behaviour of Nigeria's political elite by focussing on the bad norms of corruption and authoritarianism. Based on a number of middle range theories, it can be concluded that there is a negative relationship between Shell and Nigeria's leaders when it comes to corruption, but that the company is not responsible for the persistence of authoritarianism in the country.Show less
Federale begrippen die ontwikkeld zijn in een westerse context zijn moeilijk te gebruiken in de decentraliserende landen in Afrika, in casu Ethiopië en Nigeria, omdat de centrale overheid...Show moreFederale begrippen die ontwikkeld zijn in een westerse context zijn moeilijk te gebruiken in de decentraliserende landen in Afrika, in casu Ethiopië en Nigeria, omdat de centrale overheid noodgedwongen te veel macht heeft.Show less
