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How Do Ethnic Militias Perpetuate in Nigeria? A Micro-level Perspective on the Oodua People’s Congress

Author

Listed:
  • Yvan Guichaoua

    (Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford)

Abstract

The paper discusses the recently promoted view that organized insurgent violence should either be conducted by activists bonded together by social capital ties or self-interested quasi-mercenaries, depending on the type of financial resources available to the group. We contrast this perspective with the study of an ethnic Nigerian militia, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). It appears that the success of this militia over time was jointly sustained by important preexisting social connections and numerous opportunities for economic gains. The perpetuation of OPC, we argue, is ensured by a ‘moral economy’ whose members enjoy selfinsurance in an environment perceived as unsafe.

Suggested Citation

  • Yvan Guichaoua, 2009. "How Do Ethnic Militias Perpetuate in Nigeria? A Micro-level Perspective on the Oodua People’s Congress," Research Working Papers 19, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict.
    • Handle: RePEc:mcn:rwpapr:19
    as

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    File URL: http://www.microconflict.eu/publications/RWP19_YG.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2009
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Macartan Humphreys, 2005. "Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 49(4), pages 508-537, August.
    2. William Reno, 2002. "The Politics of Insurgency in Collapsing States," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 33(5), pages 837-858, November.
    3. Laurence Iannaccone & Eli Berman, 2006. "Religious extremism: The good, the bad, and the deadly," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 109-129, July.
    4. Yvan Guichaoua, 2009. "Self-determination group or extra-legal governance agency? The multifaceted nature of the Oodua people's congress in Nigeria," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(4), pages 520-533.
    5. Collier, Paul & Hoeffler, Anke, 1998. "On Economic Causes of Civil War," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 563-573, October.
    6. Avinash Dixit, 2003. "On Modes of Economic Governance," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(2), pages 449-481, March.
    7. Mr. Ehtisham Ahmad & Mr. Raju J Singh, 2003. "Political Economy of Oil-Revenue Sharing in a Developing Country: Illustrations from Nigeria," IMF Working Papers 2003/016, International Monetary Fund.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Justino, Patricia, 2016. "Supply and demand restrictions to education in conflict-affected countries: New research and future agendas," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 76-85.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Militias; Violent Mobilization; Extra-legal Governance; Security; Africa; Nigeria;
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