Surviving in a conflict Environment: Market Women and Changing socioeconomic Relations in Jos Nigeria—2001 – 2010 A Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Dr Phil) in Political Science awarded by BIGSAS at Bayreuth University By Lohna Bonkat Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Alexander Stroh December 2015 Dedication To my parents Rev and Mrs Amos Zwalnan Bonkat of blessed memory. For your dreams you never lived to see. ii Acknowledgement My profound gratitude goes to GOD ALMIGHTY for his mercies and loving kindness, and the great things he has done to make it possible for me to complete this dissertation. I am grateful for funding from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), BIGSAS and all the staff for your patience, support (morally and financially) and encouragement throughout my studies. I extend my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Prof. Dr. Alexander Stroh, for his guidance, support and advise throughout the research process. Particularly, I would like to appreciate my mentors Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schultz and Prof. Sati Fwatshak for reading through all the drafts and giving me useful comments to the final production of the thesis. I also owe my appreciation to Dr. Kocra Assoua for his guidance during the initial process of the thesis. Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Martin Doevenspeck, and Dr. Eric Anchimbe of the University of Bayreuth for their support. I want to thank Prof. V. A. O. Adetula and Prof. Bonaventure Haruna for believing in me. I particularly thank my graduate school, the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) for their support throughout my stay in Bayreuth and for giving me the opportunity to acquire skills through workshops, seminars, summer school and conferences. I am equally grateful to Dr. Jimam Lar and Serawit Bekele for their friendship and for reading through my drafts and making useful comments. God bless. I am particularly grateful to all my BIGSAS and non-BIGSAS friends for your friendship and support. You made my stay in Bayreuth memorable. Special thanks to Azza Mustapha, Diana Manuel, Rose Nyakio. Vanessa Wijngaarten, Pamela Omanga, Dr. and Mrs Robert Owino, Tarry and Daniel Reim, Leo Igwe, Chimezie Ocha, Dapo Ajayi, Seun Tanimomo, Abiola, Tope Ejoiye, Uche Oyali, Genevieve Nrenzah, Fulera Issiaka, Kolade Igbasan, Antonia Dugga, Mary Zakaria, Alphonso Teca, iii Temitope Ejioye, Matthew Sabbi. A special thanks to all my Ph.D. colleagues. I also thank my friends, Dr. Chikas Danfulani, Dr. Plangsat Dayil, Mary Musa, Alheri Mutashi, Sarah Dawam, Nanfe Chumle, Talatu Bello, Nanma Dashe, Emma Collins, Florence Dashe, I thank the Freie Christen Gemeinde (FCG) Bayreuth “a home away from home” and the African fellowship for your spiritual guidance throughout my stay in Bayreuth. God bless you all. Many Thanks to Dr. Bola for proofreading. My deepest gratitude goes to my Dad and Mum Rev and Mrs. Amos Bonkat of blessed memory who believed in me and got me educated. To, my sibling Ponman and Nantip of blessed memory, GP Nanjul and Chalya Kumzhi, Mr. Simon & Chancit Bunshak, Burchang Bonkat, Mr. Timloh & Makcit Dauda and Mandam Bonkat, my nephews and nieces. Thanks for your telephone calls, love, prayers, support and encouragement throughout during the Ph.D. process. I also thank my in-laws for their love, prayers and support. To Lt. Jonathan Polit I specially appreciate you for your support, prayers and encouragement. I love you. My heartfelt gratitude and many thanks to all the respondents; Markets leaders and traders who welcomed me, gave me their time and cooperation. I would also like to thank my research assistants Talatu Bello and Daniel Audu, who supported me during the research process. I also thank Elabo Ahmid for producing some maps for the thesis. iv Table of contents Surviving in a conflict Environment: Market Women and Changing socioeconomic Relations in Jos Nigeria—2001 – 2010 .............................................................................................................................. i Dedication ............................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgement .................................................................................................................................. iii Table of contents ..................................................................................................................................... v List of figures ....................................................................................................................................... viii List of Maps ......................................................................................................................................... viii List of tables ......................................................................................................................................... viii List of Photographs .............................................................................................................................. viii List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. ix Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... x Summary ................................................................................................................................................ xi Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1 Introduction to the study ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research problem and question ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Scope and Limitation of Study .......................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Organisation of chapters .................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 11 2.1 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................ 12 2.1.1 Social Capital Theory ...........................................................................................................12 2.1.2 Social Identity Theory ..........................................................................................................18 2.2 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................ 23 2.2.1 The Market: an Empirical Space ..........................................................................................23 2.2.2 Insecurity ..............................................................................................................................26 2.2.3 Uncertainty ...........................................................................................................................27 2.2.4 Agency ..................................................................................................................................29 2.2.5 Power relations .....................................................................................................................31 2.3 Review of related literature on conflict in Jos and Women in Conflict: The current studies and the gap this study fills .............................................................................................................. 32 2.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 39 Chapter 3 .............................................................................................................................................. 40 3.1 Methodological Approach ........................................................................................................ 40 3.2 The Case Study .......................................................................................................................... 42 3.2.1 Selection of Research Site and Informants ...........................................................................43 3.2.1.2 Selection of Informants .....................................................................................................47 v 3.3 Data Collection Methods ........................................................................................................... 49 3.3.1 Semi-Structured Interviews ..................................................................................................51 3.3.2 Focus Group Discussions .....................................................................................................53 3.3.3 Observation (Participant)......................................................................................................56 3.3.4 Challenges encountered