Religion, Violence, and Local Power-Sharing in Nigeria

This book explores the significance of religious resurgence and violence in Nigeria, and how informal local government power-sharing reduces communal Muslim-Christian violence.

Laura Thaut Vinson (Author)

9781316631300, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 May 2020

363 pages, 8 b/w illus. 6 maps 21 tables
15 x 23 x 2 cm, 0.56 kg

Why does religion become a fault line of communal violence in some pluralistic countries and not others? Under what conditions will religious identity - as opposed to other salient ethnic cleavages - become the spark that ignites communal violence? Contemporary world politics since 9/11 is increasingly marked by intra-state communal clashes in which religious identity is the main fault line. Yet, violence erupts only in some religiously pluralistic countries, and only in some parts of those countries. This study argues that prominent theories in the study of civil conflict cannot adequately account for the variation in subnational identity-based violence. Examining this variation in the context of Nigeria's pluralistic north-central region, this book finds support for a new theory of power-sharing. It finds that communities are less likely to fall prey to a divisive narrative of religious difference where local leaders informally agreed to abide by an inclusive, local government power-sharing arrangement.

Acknowledgements
Preface
1. Deterring religious violence
Part I. The Importance of Local Government and the Politics of Religious Change: 2. Pattern and politics of religions change in Nigeria
3. Tenuous unity: federalism, local governments, and politics in Nigeria
Part II. Making the Case for Power-Sharing: The Empirical Evidence: 4. Theory of local government power-sharing
5. Power-sharing data and findings
6. Case studies and the power-sharing mechanism
7. Case studies and the origins of power-sharing
8. Considering competing hypotheses
Part III. Conclusions: 9. Conclusion
Appendices
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], International relations [JPS], Politics & government [JP], Aid & relief programmes [JKSR], Society & social sciences [J], Religion & beliefs [HR]