In June 2004, top leaders from Guangdong and the surrounding eight provinces of Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian, together with those of the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, met in Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangzhou and gave birth to Pan-PRD regional grouping (hence the shorthand of "9+2"). This book studies the establishment, amid much fanfare, of this new regional grouping, and its roots in the interaction between globalization and regionalization.

The Niger Delta Region has in the past two decades experienced protracted violent conflicts. At the roots of these violent conflicts are the genuine quests of the people for sustainable development that is based on social justice, equity, fairness and environmental protection. Although richly endowed, the region is hopelessly poor. This paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty has been attributed to a myriad of factors ranging from Nigeria’s centralized federalism, to ethno-regional domination, corruption, poor governance, and oil-related environmental degradation. Development in the Niger Delta is vital not only to the stability and prosperity of Nigeria, but also to global energy security. This book provides unique insights into the challenges of development and peace building in the Niger Delta, and insights into other resource-rich but poverty-stricken, conflict-prone regions of the world.