Thinking about security and safety evokes many memories about my family and the past. Growing up was bearable as long as I had my siblings and other family members around, despite having an almost-absent father. My father was always busy and we did not bother to ask why he spent most time away from home. As a child, I had little understanding of the insecurity that reined in the village and across the entire region. However, while growing up, I was exposed to many dangers that any other young person would never want to face in their life.
From my personal perspective, the issue of insecurity has multiple dimensions. Many people would think about massive bloodshed and conflicts when the issue is mentioned. However, this does not reflect the entire story about insecurity. Insecurity could also include lack of appropriate shelter and food, human right abuses during times of violence, and inaccessibility of shelter. I have experienced all those dimensions of insecurity while growing. Safety and insecurity have an intrinsic connection; hence, the absence of safety contributes to insecurity.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Author’s Perspective
1.2 Background of the Study
1.3 Rationale and Motivation of the Study
1.4 Research Problem and Question(s)
1.5 Organization of the Study
1.6 State of the Art
1.7 Method
2. Literature Review
2.1 Theoretical Perspectives of Conflict
2.1.1 Social conflict theory
2.1.2 Frustration-anger-aggression theory
2.1.3 Stakeholders’ theory
3. Contextualizing Conflict in the Niger Delta
3.1 The Phases of the Niger Delta Conflict
3.2 The Era of Need (1950s – 1980s)
3.3 Era of Creed: 1990s – 2000s
3.4 The Era of Grievance and Greed
3.5 Actors in the Conflict
3.6 Analysis of the Peace-building Process
3.7 Summary
4. Methodology
5. Results of the Critical Discourse Analysis
6. Discussion
6.1 Oil Companies
6.2 The Government
6.3 Militants
6.4 Non-government Organizations
6.4.1 Non-government Organizations from the First Group
6.4.2 Non-government Organizations from the Second Group
6.4.3 Non-government Organizations from the Third Group
6.4.4 Summary of Non-government Organizations’ Position on the Discourse Arena
6.5 Prospects of Peace Negotiations in Light of the Existing Discourse Arena
7. Conclusions and Recommendations
7.1 Conclusions
7.2 Recommendations
Objectives & Core Topics
This master's thesis investigates the protracted conflict in Nigeria's Niger Delta through a critical discourse analysis (CDA) lens, aiming to understand how different stakeholder groups construct and shape the conflict through language. The primary research question explores how discourse shapes conflict in resource-abundant regions, specifically looking at the failure of government-led peace and amnesty programs to achieve sustainable stability.
- The influence of discourse on the perpetuation or mitigation of armed conflict.
- Theoretical frameworks including social conflict, frustration-anger-aggression, and stakeholder theory.
- The evolution of the conflict across three landmark periods: the era of need, creed, and grievance/greed.
- A critical evaluation of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) processes and amnesty programs.
- The divergent roles and communication strategies of oil companies, the Nigerian government, militants, and NGOs.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Author’s Perspective
Thinking about security and safety evokes many memories about my family and the past. Growing up was bearable as long as I had my siblings and other family members around, despite having an almost-absent father. My father was always busy and we did not bother to ask why he spent most time away from home. As a child, I had little understanding of the insecurity that reined in the village and across the entire region. However, while growing up, I was exposed to many dangers that any other young person would never want to face in their life.
From my personal perspective, the issue of insecurity has multiple dimensions. Many people would think about massive bloodshed and conflicts when the issue is mentioned. However, this does not reflect the entire story about insecurity. Insecurity could also include lack of appropriate shelter and food, human right abuses during times of violence, and inaccessibility of shelter. I have experienced all those dimensions of insecurity while growing. Safety and insecurity have an intrinsic connection; hence, the absence of safety contributes to insecurity.
As a child, my siblings and I would walk for miles into the woods in the search for firewood because that was the main source of energy for household activities. Additionally, we would also walk several miles to fetch water because the area had a problem with piped water. The long distance without supervision was a scary moment because nobody knew what could befall any one of us. In one instance, I remember encountering a group of men who had guns, although none of them bothered us and they allowed us to have our way into the woods. I remember at the age of ten hearing talks about a war happening in Rwanda, what became one of the worst genocides in Africa. I remember grasping the idea of insecurity when my parents talked about the deteriorating security situation in our country because of the constant marginalization of my people.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the author's personal motivation and background, outlining the research problem, key questions, and the use of critical discourse analysis to understand the Niger Delta conflict.
2. Literature Review: Examines theoretical frameworks, including social conflict theory and frustration-anger-aggression theory, to provide a basis for analyzing the dynamics of the conflict.
3. Contextualizing Conflict in the Niger Delta: Details the historical evolution of the conflict through three eras: need, creed, and grievance/greed, while identifying the main actors and the peace-building processes attempted.
4. Methodology: Justifies the selection of critical discourse analysis within a realist research philosophy to investigate how different stakeholders use language in the conflict.
5. Results of the Critical Discourse Analysis: Presents findings on how the government, oil companies, and militant groups utilize specific discourses and floating signifiers to advance their agendas.
6. Discussion: Synthesizes the analysis of various stakeholders, contrasting the defensive discourse of oil companies with the government's rhetoric and the increasingly radical language of militant groups.
7. Conclusions and Recommendations: Summarizes the study’s findings on the role of discourse in the Niger Delta conflict and offers recommendations for future peace negotiations and research.
Keywords
Niger Delta, Conflict Analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis, Peace-building, Amnesty Program, Oil Industry, Human Security, Militancy, Stakeholder Theory, Frustration-Anger-Aggression Theory, Political Economy, Nigeria, Social Movements, Sustainable Peace, Resource Control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on a critical discourse analysis of the protracted conflict in Nigeria's Niger Delta, specifically analyzing how various stakeholders use language to justify their positions and actions.
Which stakeholder groups are analyzed?
The research analyzes the discourses of the federal government, international oil companies (such as Shell and Chevron), militant groups, and various non-governmental organizations.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how discourse shapes the dynamics of the conflict in a resource-abundant region and why peace-building efforts, such as amnesty programs, have largely failed to achieve sustainable peace.
What methodology does the author use?
The author employs a qualitative research design based on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), relying on primary source texts, online reports, and direct citations from the involved stakeholders.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers historical phases of the conflict, relevant sociological conflict theories, and a detailed examination of the rhetoric used by different parties regarding issues like oil spillages, revenue sharing, and regional autonomy.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Niger Delta, Conflict Analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis, Peace-building, Amnesty Program, and Resource Control.
How does the author explain the evolution of militant behavior?
The author applies the frustration-anger-aggression theory, suggesting that the perceived failure of peaceful protests and government neglect caused activists to transition into increasingly violent militant groups.
What role do oil companies play in the discourse arena?
Oil companies primarily adopt a defensive, formal stance, attempting to distance themselves from the conflict by shifting responsibility to the government and framing their own actions as contributions to development.
Why are NGOs from the first group considered distinct?
They are distinct because they offer deeper, systemic critiques based on the legacies of colonialism and post-colonial development, often proposing global administrative reforms rather than just situational concessions.
What conclusion does the author reach about peace negotiations?
The author concludes that while all parties claim readiness for negotiations, the lack of centralized positions among militants and the inconsistent strategies of the government make sustainable peace elusive.
- Quote paper
- BA, MA Chukwu Ambrose (Author), 2018, Nigeria's Niger Delta Conflict. A Critical Analysis from a Peace Researcher Perspective, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/462311
