Bachelor Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Africa, grade: 4.7/5, University of Ibadan, language: English, abstract: The Nigerian State since 2009 has been under the throes of the deadly terrorist operations of the Islamic sect formally known as JamaatuAhlis Sunna Liddaawati Wal-Jihad. This sect famously dubbed Boko Haram, meaning western civilization/education is forbidden, claims to be on a mission to Islamize the Nigerian State. Prima facie, Boko Harams motivations appeared to be religious; however considering factors as dismal socio-economic conditions that prevail in the Northern region, the epicenter of the sect, a religious explanation alone is reductive. More so, relevant and related literature was reviewed using conceptual and theoretical approaches. A threefold theoretical framework constituting of Marxian, Relative deprivation, and Frustration aggression respectively were adopted to explain the phenomenon. Unlike other authors who have hinged the operations of the sect to a kind of political undertone; this study deems fit to establish the poor socio economic conditions especially in the North eastern region which have been serving as a veritable ground for the sect quest to gradually dethrone the legitimacy of the Nigerian State. This study also exposes the extent of the damage further caused by the sect violent operations as well as the suitability of the “carrot and stick” strategies or policies in dealing with the sect negative impact. Hence, this study employs secondary source of data from library materials, newspapers, journals, articles and so on. The findings revealed that the strategies of Nigerian government failed because she failed to address adequately the socio-economic factors that equipped the sect such as unemployment, poverty, corruption/bad leadership, poor economy structure. The research further exposed that the strategy used in curtailing militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria failed to tackle terrorism in the North Eastern part of the country which can be regarded as the nerve of the sect because of the international affiliation and its religious connotation to terrorism.

"For years, a debate has raged in academic circles over the principal causes of civil conflict. Is it ethnicity, grievance, rebel greed, topography or venal leadership? Today, an important element of this debate has been resolved: recent academic research on the causes of conflict demonstrates compellingly that countries with low income per capita are at increased risk of civil conflict. Recent statistical research on poverty and conflict suggests that for a country at the fiftieth percentile for income (like Iran today), the risk of experiencing civil conflict within five years is 7-11 percent; for countries at the tenth percentile (like Ghana or Uganda today), the risk rises to 15-18 percent"--P. 5.

This book investigates the socio-economic determinants of the emergence and persistence of Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. Since 2009, Boko Haram continues to capture mainstream news headlines, as well as the imagination of aspiring young Salafi-jihadists around the world who support the notion of a radical Islamist socio-political system. By providing an essential overview of the literature on Boko Haram and bridging research and current events, the authors cover a broad spectrum of topics and suggest relevant policies for addressing the problem of Boko Haram terrorism. While Boko Haram’s motivations are ostensibly religious, the primary focus is on socio-economic inequality as one of the main factors that predispose the disillusioned, poverty-driven and jobless populace in the northern regions of Nigeria to take up arms against the state. The insights presented in this book will help researchers and policy-makers alike to understand the emergence of locally focused terrorist groups and insurgencies.

This book features essays that untangle, express and discuss issues in and around the intersections of politics, social justice, intolerance, terrorism, minorities, poverty, and education, and as they relate to the two concepts of radicalisms and conservatisms in Africa.

This book provides a comprehensive critique of the prevailing view of ungoverned spaces and the threat they pose to human, national and international security.

The political economy problems of Nigeria, the root cause for ethnic, religious, political and economic strife, can be in part addressed indirectly through focused contributions by the U.S. military, especially if regionally aligned units are more thoroughly employed.

This book is the first attempt to understand Boko Haram in a comprehensive and consistent way. It examines the early history of the sect and its transformation into a radical armed group. It analyses the causes of the uprising against the Nigerian state and evaluates the consequences of the on-going conflict from a religious, social and political point of view. The book gives priority to authors conducting fieldwork in Nigeria and tackles the following issues: the extent to which Boko Haram can be considered the product of deprivation and marginalisation; the relationship of the sect with almajirai, Islamic schools, Sufi brotherhoods, Izala, and Christian churches; the role of security forces and political parties in the radicalisation of the sect; the competing discourses in international and domestic media coverage of the crisis; and the consequences of the militarisation of the conflict for the Nigerian government and the civilian population, Christian and Muslim. About the Editor: Marc-Antoine Perouse de Montclos is a Doctor in Political Science and a Professor at the French Institute of Geopolitics in the University of Paris 8. A specialist on armed conflicts in Africa south of the Sahara, he graduated from the Institut d'etudes politiques de Paris (IEP), where he teaches, and is a researcher at the Institut de recherche pour le developpement (IRD). He lived for several years in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. He has published some eighty articles and books, including Le Nigeria (1994), Violence et securite urbaines (1997), L'aide humanitaire, aide a la guerre? (2001), Villes et violences en Afrique subsaharienne (2002), Diaspora et terrorisme (2003), Guerres d'aujourd'hui (2007), Etats faibles et securite privee en Afrique noire (2008), Les humanitaires dans la guerre (2013), and La tragedie malienne (2013). Reviews For scholars, government officials, journalists, and civic actors, this book expands our understanding of this enigmatic jihadist movement, its genesis, evolution, and political implications. In light of the global significance of militant Islam, the book is indispensable for students of Nigeria, Africa, Muslim societies, and armed conflicts.-Richard Joseph, John Evans Professor of International History and Politics, Northwestern University This collection of essays on Boko Haram is much the best yet-well informed, coolly competent. With the insurgency still evolving, we really need this guide to its early days.-Murray Last, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University College of London This valuable collection assembles notable experts who analyze the messages and behavior of Boko Haram. The collection also provides nuanced treatments of actors involved in the conflict, including the Nigerian state and Nigerian Christians.-Alex Thurston, Visiting Assistant Professor, African Studies Program, Georgetown University