Governing ‘Ethnicised’ Public Sphere

Insights from Nigeria

Bibliographic Data

ID12124863
AuthorsNkwachukwu Orji (0000-0002-4561-7800, Ebonyi State University, corresponding author)
Year2011
Volume35
Issue4
Publication date2011-11-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAfrica Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0850-3907 • E-ISSN: 2521-9863
PublisherCouncil for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (PUBLISHER • SN)
DOI10.4314/ad.v35i4.70221
OpenAlexW2121576061
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited25

This article explores the way in which ethnically diverse societies govern their public sphere. It shows that the public sphere in multiethnic societies is an arena of conflict where cultural and ideological contest or negotiation among a variety of groups takes place. Drawing from Nigeria’s experience, the article examines the conflict management arrangement devised to regulate hostile inter-group relations in the public sphere. It identifies power-sharing as the most fundamental conflict management strategy adopted to govern Nigeria’s public sphere. The article argues that although power-sharing features as the most acceptable modality for moderating inter-group conflicts in Nigeria, its usefulness is limited by the fact that it widens the asymmetrical and oligarchic power of the dominant groups and hampers the growth of democracy

CONTEST · Democracy · Ideology · Negotiation · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Public sphere · Social science · Sociology · Variety (cybernetics · African history and culture analysis · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Religion, Society, and Development

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