Nigeria: The Effects of Identity Politics on Societal Security

Nijerya nüfusu, ekonomisi ve enerji kaynaklarıyla Afrika kıtasının öne çıkan ülkesidir. İngiliz sömürgeciliğine maruz kalmış Nijerya’da 1960 yılında ilan edilen bağımsızlıktan bugüne siyasi sorunlar güvenlik gündemini şekillendirmiştir. 1960-1999 yılları arasında iç savaş ortamı ve ilan edilen cumhuriyetler sonrasında askeri darbelerin ortaya çıkmasıyla demokratik süreçlerin sekteye uğraması toplum güvenliği ortamının tesis edilemediğinin göstergesidir. Bu hususta farklı etnik ve dini niteliklere sahip kesimlerin entegrasyonunu sağlanamaması nedendir. Kimlik kavramının siyasi tartışmaların merkezine yerleşmesiyle birlikte köktenci düşüncelere sahip örgütlerin terör faaliyetleriyle karşılaşılmaktadır. Nijerya’da son 10 yıllık dönemde bölgesel çerçevede de etki uyandıran diğer örgütlerle bağlantı halinde uluslararası bir bağlama yerleşen Boko Haram terör örgütü bulunmaktadır. Bu makalede Nijerya’nın yaşadığı terör sorunu tarihsel, siyasi, ekonomik ve sosyal dinamikler üzerinden incelenmektedir. Her ne kadar inşa edilerek oluşturulan kimlik siyaseti yaklaşımının terör sorununda temel faktör olduğu düşünülse de Nijerya’daki bölgelerarası farklar hesaba katıldığında sosyal ve ekonomik gelişimin bu hususun aşılmasındaki önemi vurgulanmaktadır.

Nigeria: The Effects of Identity Politics on Societal Security

Nigeria is prominent country of the African continent with its population, economy and energy resources. Political problems have shaped the security agenda of Nigeria, which was exposed to British colonialism, since the independence declared in 1960. The interruption of democratic processes with the emergence of military coups after the civil war environment and the declared republics between the years 1960-1999 is an indication that a societal security environment could not be established. The reason for this is the failure to ensure the integration of segments with different ethnic and religious characteristics. With the concept of identity being placed at the center of political discussions, terrorist activities of organizations with fundamentalist ideas are encountered. There is the Boko Haram terrorist organization in Nigeria, which has settled in an international context in connection with other organizations that have had an impact on the regional framework in the last 10 years. In this article, the terror problem of Nigeria is examined through historical, political, economic and societal dynamics. Although the identity politics approach that is constructed and formed is thought to be the main factor in the problem of terrorism, the importance of societal and economic development in overcoming this issue is emphasized when the interregional differences in Nigeria are taken into account.

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