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Abstract

For over fifty years, the Niger Delta region in Nigeria has been a locus of conflict. Resistance groups of both a violent and non-violent nature have emerged to combat perceived inequalities perpetuated by the Nigerian state and oil multinational companies. Both the state and these companies actively participate in extracting resources and destroying oil-producing communities in the process. This exploratory dissertation was designed to examine the varied forms of political resistance which have emerged from the Niger Delta since the late 1950s- till the present. This thesis sought to identify the elements of change and continuity embedded in Niger Delta resistance movements by periodising the conflict into three phases. It will be discussing the nature and dynamics of the conflict by exploring the structural causes of the conflict within the time of each resistance movement. Additionally, it looked at the role of leadership in framing political resistance movements.
The resource curse theory is predominantly used to explain the outburst of conflict in resource-rich areas such as the Niger Delta. This thesis chose to diverge from this train of thought because it does not provide a multi-layered analysis that befits the complexity of the Niger Delta conflict. The conflict is due to a myriad of factors, with oil being one of them. This paper presented a theoretical model based on Idemudia and Ite's (2006) flow chart of the Niger Delta conflict as a framework for this exploratory dissertation. The model proposes that four conflict-generating factors namely political, social, environmental, and economic interact to fuel marginalisation and deprivation, which lead to political resistance that pours out conflict. By using this model to analyse the chosen resistance movements, this thesis showed how marginalisation and deprivation have manifested across generations and the varied responses from aggrieved communities in addressing these issues. Additionally, this thesis showed that although the responses to marginalisation have changed across the years, the grievances remain the same. The systemic causes of marginalisation fuel the various forms of political resistance we see in the area. Until the government and oil multinational companies address these systemic causes, the conflict will remain unresolved.

Course: International Relations and Languages - BA (Hons) - C1727

Date Deposited: 2022-02-18

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13835.html