Civil society and democratic governance in nigeria s fourth republic. Civicus civil society index analytical country report for zambia executive summary the civil society index csi is a global, comparative and actionoriented research project organised by civicus. State, civil society and democratization in nigeria. Department of international studies and diplomacy benson idahosa university, benin city, edo state, nigeria email. Thus, even if the specific design for democracy may fail, the democratic project in these west african states may nevertheless be progressing.
As a consequence, civil society is a sphere of free public debate. For jai sen civil society is a neocolonial project driven by global elites in their own interests. Civil society and democratic governance in nigeria 96 imobighe 2003. Third, voluntary associative relations dominate civil society. Many government institutions do not adequately engage with citizens or the private sector and lack the. The paper contends that the marxian perspective more generally reflects the approach and interpretation of civil society in nigeria s history of democratization. Nigeriaafricas most populous nationhas long enjoyed one of the continents most vibrant civil society spheres, which has been instrumental in political change.
Modern liberal democracy and its values are constructed on the basis of the plural nature of society. The role of civil society organizations csos in democratic consolidation in nigeria is an indisputable fact, if the nations quest for sustained democracy, good governance and development must be actualized. Civil society, conflict resolution, and democracy in nigeria. Pluralism and democratic society in a democracy, government is only one thread in the social fabric of many and varied public and private institutions, legal forums, political parties, organizations, characteristics of democracy an educated citizenry is the best guarantee for a thriving democracy. Pdf the general research project from where this paper descends, serves among other intentions, to explain the effects of liberal virus infection of. Civil society could be harnessed for the overall objective. Initially viewed as contributing to democracys development, however, civil society groups have come under increased scrutiny by scholars and policymakers. He is the author of democracy, conflict resolution, and civil society in nigeria. Pdf civil society, democracy and good governance in.
He breaks new ground by delving into the internal dynamics, governance cultures, and structures of civil society organizations csos. While it remains true that nigeria is governed by democratically elected leaders at the federal and state levels, nigeria is yet to institutionalise democracy after a century of existence as a political entity. This therefore makes social capital an important determinant of the functioning of institutions and the economic development of countries. Initially viewed as contributing to democracy s development, however, civil society groups have come under increased scrutiny by. Finally, other scholars have argued that, since the concept of civil society is closely related to democracy and representation, it should in turn be linked with ideas of nationality and nationalism. Kwaja is senior lecturer and researcher in the centre for peace and security studies at modibbo adama university of technology, yola, adamawa state. It investigates whether it is possible to distinguish the kinds, dimensions, and functions of civil society that are likely to deepen democracy from those that are not and analyzes what can be done to develop less abstract conceptions of both democracy and civil society. Pdf civil society and democratic actuality in nigeria. The role of civil society in promoting and sustaining democracy in nigeria makmis mark dakyyen samuel mahanan dang abstract. Research suggests that merging the civil society discourse in democracy theory, with the.
Civil society and democratic consolidation in nigeria citeseerx. Soueze 2005 avers that civil rule is not necessarily the same with democracy. The paper discusses some of the impediments to the institutionalisation of democracy in nigeria after more. This paper examines the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings on democracy, civil societies and democratic consolidation, discuss the retrospective genesis of civil society groups towards democratic struggle in nigeria since colonial and post colonial era. Civil society and democratic consolidation in nigeria. Feminist civil society organizations and democratization in.
Civil society is thus more than associations, because any association might be influenced by the market or the state. Background the first dpmf conference on democracy, civil society and governance in africa was held in addis ababa in december 1997. Civil society and democratic governance in nigerias fourth republic. In the western world especially in america, there are agitations for a republic as an ideal form of government rather than democracy. The second consist of students movement, labour unions and various professional associations. The significance of this research is to analyze or discussed the sustenance of democracy in nigeria. Pdf civil society and democratic governance in nigerias. They can serve as a mechanism for political participation and mobilization, disseminating democratic principles and norms.
Shortly thereafter, he fled the country, ostensibly seeking. The roles of civil society in the electoral process for the enthronement of democratic governance in nigeria is so crucial for the election of competent leaders capable of formulating and implementing sound policies for societal development, and hence improvement in the living standard of the people. Furthermore, interruptions in the political process due to prolonged military rule and the politics of doordie of the political class among others had debilitating implications on political institutions. Civil society then is a sphere of citizenship, democratic.
This society is a nongovernmental organization that checks the activity of the nation. Civil society and democratization civil society for the purpose of this paper is hereby divided into two broad groups. This paper compares the different settings, reasons, strategies, procedures. This article investigates how democracy is related to civil society. Journal of the society for peace studies and practice 2011 pp. So, what are the problems of civil society in nigeria. Summary findings with the proliferation of conflicts in the 1990s and. A crosssectional survey highlights the scope and targets of civil society advocacy and civil society s relationships with government.
Civil society, conflict resolution, and democracy in nigeria on jstor. Sep 03, 2018 civil society can be said to be made up of the community of citizens linked by common interests and bonded by collective action. The first comprises pro democracy civil associations such as human rights organizations and political reform movements. The role of civil society in promoting and sustaining democracy in.
This tendency has been exacerbated by the history of grassroots interaction with governments, which is. Civil society, democratic governance and development in. Civil society and democratic progression in postcolonial nigeria. This is necessary given the state penetration of the society manifesting in weakened institutional structures and incessant military rule and its unending transition to civil. Over years, nigeria has been wallowing in the coffin of poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, power instability, securities menace, and political hullabaloos, all this has been a problem combating a nation that was once giant of africa, democracy in nigeria. The paper contends that the marxian perspective more generally reflects the approach and interpretation of civil society in nigerias history of democratization.
Civil society, civic engagement, and peacebuilding. Research suggests that merging the civil society discourse in democracy theory, with the development and civil society peacebuilding. The paper discovers that the csgs made use of the conceptual mechanism in the democratisation process of nigeria. This paper, therefore, attempts to carry out a thorough exposition of civil society organization vis a vis its transformatory role as an arbiter to redeem the nigeria society from imminent total collapse as. This paper, therefore, attempts to carry out a thorough exposition of civil society organization vis a vis its transformatory role as an arbiter to redeem the nigeria society from imminent total collapse as the country is yet to arrive at the ultimate. This however, is not true in many african countries and nigeria in particular. Democracy promotion and civil society lse research online.
This issue of crossroads focuses on civil society, democracy, and elections. The concepts of civil society and democracy as well as some problems militating against the performance of csos were discussed. Pdf civil society and democratic governance in nigeria dr. Protests serve as a testing ground for any democracy thus the right to peaceful assembly is essential and plays an integral part in facilitating the use of free speech. Civil society organizations can help consolidate democracy in a number of ways.
Society and how these have affected democratization and good governance in nigeria. There are roadblocks to a strong democracy in nigeria at all levels of government. Nigerian government resolves these challenges, in imades view 2010 will determine whether nigerias fledgling democracy is transient. Aug 03, 2012 in nigeria, because of our languid road to democracy and most civil society organizations are distrustful of their governments and their policies. Initially viewed as contributing to democracy s development, however, civil society groups have come under increased scrutiny by scholars and policymakers. I want to speak to you briefly today about the role that civil society plays in building and strengthening democracy. This is a very positive step, as an informed citizenry, to associate with likeminded citizens remain important bulwarks of democracy. Civic groups and civil society representatives in government need to actively consider and debate issues concerning the new role for civil society outlined in the accra agreement, and develop a strategic plan to ensure effective participation in the transition process. Civil society democracy in nigeria has advanced through engagement of civil society in constitutional and electoral processes, progress on an anticorruption agenda, and improvement of the rights of women and other marginalized groups.
Civil society can be understood as the third sector of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere. Carl levan school of international service, american university washington, d. As agents of social change germane for mass reorientation and mobilization, they have helped in the sustenance and deepening of democratic governance by providing the critical socioeconomic and political services to nigerians in both urban and rural. The role of civil society in national reconciliation and peacebuilding in liberia civil society and external funding internally, civil society s dependence on foreign aid largely provided by institutions in the us and the netherlands has threatened its own existence and survival and, in some cases, limited its capacity. Many government institutions do not adequately engage with citizens or the private sector and lack the capacity to. In his thoughtful new book on nigeria, darren kew advances the study of democratization by keeping the focus on civil society, as in these other works.
However, the media, like other civil society actors in nigeria and other nascent democracies, have had a tumultuous path to securing political rights and civil. Democracy and governance in africa democratization in. The results of the findings revealed that the civil society had played an important role in the sustenance, liberation and emancipation of the democracy in nigeria. The role of civil society in promoting and sustaining. It is important to underscore the point that parliaments relationship with civil society is. Civil society, civic engagement, and peacebuilding thania paffenholz christoph spurk. A relationship between civil society and democracy. Civil society, democracy and good governance in nigeria. Civil society organisations and transition politics in nigeria paper presented at the national conference on 2007 general elections in nigeria, organized by the department of political science, university of lagos, at excellence hotel, ikeja, lagos, nigeria, september 2627, 2007.
The role of civil society organizations csos in democratic consolidation in nigeria is an indisputable. The second conference, scheduled for 711th december 1998 is a follow up to this first conference and its objectives have been outlined as. Usaid supports more than 200 civil society organizations to. World alliance for citizen participation and conducted by, and for, civil society. Civil society organisations have strengthened and supported democracy in south africa in numerous ways. Democracy and governance in africa africas continuing reliance on foreign aid has increased the opportunities for bilateral and multilateral aid agencies to influence policy making in the region. Democracy in nigeria problems and prospects information. This tendency has been exacerbated by the history of grassroots interaction with governments, which is filled with broken promises, indifference, corruption, and clientelism. The role of civil society organizations in promoting good. Usaid supports more than 200 civil society organizations to strengthen their.
By other authors, civil society is used in the sense of 1 the aggregate of nongovernmental organizations and institutions that manifest interests and will of citizens or 2 individuals and organizations in a society which are independent of. The major donors have been meeting frequently in order to discuss development and debt problems and to devise aid strategies for african governments. It was suggested that for the csos to consolidate democracy in nigeria, they must among others suggestions, expand their structure to accommodate the rural areas. Civil society, conflict resolution, and democracy in. Civil society groups csgs and the democratisation process. The liberal perspective has been employed to explain civil society and democratic consolidation in ghana while the radical perspective is invoked to deconstruct civil society in nigeria and their influence on the countrys democratic consolidation process. Thus, this paper examines civil society and democratic governance in nigerias fourth republic from the caboose of history. Ghana and nigeria are in the midst of governmentinitiated democratization programs. You are all civil society leaders, who are engaged in this effort in various ways, so i am very pleased to be. Such notion of civil society undermines the contributions of traditional organizations to the deepening of democracy and good governance in the continent. The politically based conceptions recognize the political roles of civil society particularly in a democracy. Democracy and civil society in nigeria by matthew hassan kukah a pioneering and challenging book, which has been highly acclaimed since first publication in africa. This paper analyses the significant role the civil society groups csgs played in the democratisation process in nigeria between 1960 and 2007.
It interrogates and illuminates the changes and continuities in the activities of civil society groups as it impinge on the pursuit of, and delivery of the dividends of democracy to nigerians. The conceptual mechanism allowed the csgs to inject such important concepts as accountability, rule of law, democracy. Indepth interviews are used to understand the role of networks, organizations with a specific advocacy focus, and donor and government influence on the civil society response to hiv in nigeria. This article adopts an expanded notion of civil society that allows for the analysis of the role of both traditional and modern organizations in africa. But we are at a crossroads, and if we continue with this charade, a nigerlike scenario of democratic disillusionment may be in the horizon. Conflicttriggered by political competition and communal, ethnic, religious or resource allocation rivalriesposes a major threat to democracy. Data were gathered from the activities of the civil society in the past and recent time journal and text and in some political department. Political parties, social movements, civil society organizations, interest groups, and other social organizations can play an important role in strengthening and deepening democracy. The role of civil society organisations csos in democratic. As diamond points out, civil society can play a role in checking, monitoring and restraining the exercise of power by the state and holding it accountable. The relationship between civil society and democracy the more complex when civil society functioning as a giver of influence on institutions and governance at the country level, where.
Pdf civil society, democracy and good governance in nigeria. Pdf civil society and democratic consolidation in nigeria. The csi project in zambia was carried out between 2008 and 2010 by the. The first comprises prodemocracy civil associations such as human rights organizations and political reform movements. In nigeria, civil society was in the vanguard of the democratic struggle, but recent events are pointing to the negative roles played by some civil groups in the construction of platforms for ethnic militancy and violent confrontation with other groups and the state. A civil society allows for spirited debate among those in disagreement over the issues. Pdf civil society, democracy and good governance in africa. What civil society can do to develop democracy presentation to ngo leaders, february 10, 2004, convention center, baghdad good afternoon. Civil society, democracy and good governance in africa article pdf available in ceu political science journal 41. The role of civil society in national reconciliation and. The aim of this study is to examine civil society as quintessential agents for change, stability, nation building, popular participation, democratic stability and consolidation, and for the birth of a new order the latent energies of civil societies and trade unions in nigeria. In nigeria, because of our languid road to democracy and most civil society organizations are distrustful of their governments and their policies. Nigeria s democratic setbacks may not yet entitle us to reject democracy altogether or to be receptive to military rule.
Without active civil society organisations in south africa, writes prof william gumede in a recent policy brief for democracy works, the rollback of democratic rights in the past few years, the decline in the public service delivery and rising corruption would have been ultimately worse. It is therefore finalized or concluded that the civil society cannot be over emphasized in the democracy, development. Civil society groups in nigeria have been indispensible actors in the democratization process especially since the return to civil rule in i999. Trend and pattern of cattle grazing and rural violence in nigeria between 20062014.