Instructions for PC Users CONFLICT, CULTURE, AND POVERTY IN NIGERIA: A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION AND EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS by Chukwuma Godwin Onyia A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Conflict Analysis and Resolution Committee: ___________________________________________ Chair of Committee ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Graduate Program Director ___________________________________________ Dean, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution Date: _____________________________________ Fall Semester 2016 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Conflict, CULTURE, and poverty in Nigeria: A Theoretical Discussion and Empirical Analysis A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at George Mason University by Chukwuma Godwin Onyia Master of Science The University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2005 Bachelor of Science The University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2002 Director: Richard Rubenstein, Professor Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution Fall Semester 2016 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Copyright 2016 Chukwuma Godwin Onyia All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION This is dedicated to my twin brother Chijioke, his wife Ngozi and children; Akachukwu, Kelechi, and Chibuike Onyia. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to my family and friends whose goodwill and support I relied upon during this program. Chijioke and Ngozi were very benevolent and provided endless emotional and financial support. Mummy, Chi-chi, Ess-Tee, T.O, Oby, Chris, Eugene, Emeka, Chukwuka and Ebuka, thank you for your love. My friends Vigny Numubra, Dr. Douglas Irviner, Moley Tamper, Earnest Ogbozor, Rev. Fr. Innocent, Naris, and Rifat, you all are wonderful people. I love you. Drs. Rich Rubenstein, Ho-Won Geong, and Karyna Korostelina, your help is invaluable. Thank you. Finally, big thanks go to Merry Oberies and the team of Arlington library for their support during this work; and to Sally Evans for putting this thesis in the right format. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables ................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... ix List of Equations ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. List of Abbreviations and/or Symbols ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Abstract ............................................................................................................................... x Chapter One ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Statement of the problem .................................................................................. 6 1.2. Objectives and research questions......................................................................... 9 1.2.1 Objectives ........................................................................................................ 9 1.2.2. Purpose Statement ......................................................................................... 9 1.3. Theoretical discourse........................................................................................... 10 1.4. Methodology ....................................................................................................... 11 1.4.1. Access to the field........................................................................................ 12 1.4.2. Qualitative design: A theme analysis approach and the usage of case study ................................................................................................................................... 13 1.4.3. Sampling strategy ........................................................................................ 14 1.4.4. The interview process ................................................................................... 16 1.4.5. Observation ................................................................................................... 17 1.4.6. Challenges in the field .................................................................................. 18 1.3.7. Ethics ............................................................................................................ 18 1.4.8. Data Analysis ............................................................................................... 20 1.4.9 The Core Objective ........................................................................................ 21 Chapter Two Literature Review ........................................................................................ 22 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 22 2.1. Conceptual discourse .......................................................................................... 22 v 2.1.1 Inequality ....................................................................................................... 22 2.1.2 Poverty: .......................................................................................................... 24 2.1.3. Violent Extremism: ...................................................................................... 26 2.1.4. Culture of Poverty ........................................................................................ 27 2.2. Review of literature ............................................................................................. 28 2.2.1 Conflict .......................................................................................................... 28 • Poverty-conflict nexus ......................................................................................... 29 2.2.2 Inequality ....................................................................................................... 35 • Horizontal Inequality ........................................................................................... 38 • Origin, persistence, and change ........................................................................... 40 2.2.3 Poverty ........................................................................................................... 43 • Causal analysis of poverty ................................................................................... 43 2.3. Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 66 Chapter Three THE CULTURE OF POVERTY: A THEORETICAL EXPLORATION ........................................................................................................................................... 68 3.0. Introduction .................................................................................................... 68 3.1. Relevant empirical studies discrediting the poverty of culture thesis ............ 68 3.2. Relevant empirical studies supporting the culture of poverty thesis .............. 79 3.3. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 90 Chapter Four ..................................................................................................................... 92 4.0. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 92 4.1. Northern Nigeria: A Brief History ...................................................................... 92 4. 2. The Data: Theme Analysis ............................................................................... 101 Theme 1: Northern conservatism. ........................................................................... 101 Theme 2: Culture of dependence/economy of affection/Beggarliness .................... 105 Theme 3: Lack/Limited parenting and large population ......................................... 108 Theme 4: Male dominance/ exclusion of women in economic activities ................ 110 Theme 5: Limited priority to education ................................................................... 112 Theme 6: Religion—A belief in Islam that nurtures fatalism and irrationality ....... 116 Theme 7: Low-risk taking/lack of need-for-achievement motivation ..................... 118 Theme 8: Leadership/Governance .......................................................................... 119 4.3. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 121 Chapter Five .................................................................................................................... 123 vi 5.0 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................ 123 Research objective: .................................................................................................. 123 5.1 Research question one ........................................................................................ 124 5.2 Research question two ........................................................................................ 129 5.3. Conclusion and recommendations