Article: Social movements, sustainable development and the problem of ethnicity in Nigeria Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Society (IJSSOC) 2012 Vol.4 No.4 pp.405 - 418 Abstract: From divide and rule policy in Nigeria, ethnicity, a product of misguided diversity result to socio-political exclusion implying subversion of democratic ethos and abuse of due process. Dissentience due to personal cleavage in any group constitutes threat to sustainable development. No sustainable development exists where collective sentiment in social movements as a pressure group to press for change is fractured by ethnicity. For instance, personal interest as against national interest has jeopardised justice disposal, resulting into indiscriminate use of court injunction in Nigeria. This paper explores the theoretical perspective on ethnicity and highlights the nature and importance of social movements in Nigeria's democratisation process. It promotes institutional due process, rule of law among persons and groups. People or group should develop at the pace there prefer. In this way, natural desire to compete and freely unite to advance development initiative and surmount security threat will arise not compelled. This paper argues further that behind sustainable development is institutional capacity building for due process and rule of law to accommodate social movements for social justice in Nigeria. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Social movements, sustainable development and the problem of ethnicity in Nigeria

Authors: Dickson Ogbonnaya Igwe

Addresses: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Lagos Study Centre, National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract: From divide and rule policy in Nigeria, ethnicity, a product of misguided diversity result to socio-political exclusion implying subversion of democratic ethos and abuse of due process. Dissentience due to personal cleavage in any group constitutes threat to sustainable development. No sustainable development exists where collective sentiment in social movements as a pressure group to press for change is fractured by ethnicity. For instance, personal interest as against national interest has jeopardised justice disposal, resulting into indiscriminate use of court injunction in Nigeria. This paper explores the theoretical perspective on ethnicity and highlights the nature and importance of social movements in Nigeria's democratisation process. It promotes institutional due process, rule of law among persons and groups. People or group should develop at the pace there prefer. In this way, natural desire to compete and freely unite to advance development initiative and surmount security threat will arise not compelled. This paper argues further that behind sustainable development is institutional capacity building for due process and rule of law to accommodate social movements for social justice in Nigeria.

Keywords: Nigeria; political elite; ethnicity; social movement; sustainable development; due process; ethnic equality; ethnic autonomy; competitive development; institutional capacity; democratisation process; divided elites; national interest; personal interest; rule of law; social justice; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.049409

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2012 Vol.4 No.4, pp.405 - 418

Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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Title: Social movements, sustainable development and the problem of ethnicity in Nigeria

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