Nigeria’s Development in Comparative Perspective Nigeria was relatively backward in the 19th

Century. Nigeria has not succeeded in “catch-up”

development.

Developmental Outcomes in Nigeria

PoorGDP per cap $1,150Fully 45% of population lives below poverty lineOnly 57% of population 15+ years can read/writeHDI rank 159

Only “partly free” Recent elections marred by violence, fraud;

highly contestedHistorically, frequently alternations between

authoritarianism and democracy

Africa Faced Threat from the “West”

19th Century “Scramble for Africa”

Berlin Conference 1884-85

Nigeria Faced Threat from the “West” British Colonialism Nigeria formally created as colony in 1914

Artificial construct created by British Forced together distinct ethnic/political entities

State ≠ nation

Nigeria Faced Threat from the “West” Motivations for

colonial conquest Riches

Natural resources Including agricultural

commodities, later oil

Outlet for investment New markets

1897 British soldiers loot art

British Colonialism

British in Nigeria Exercise control

Rulers not accountability to Nigerian people

Indirect rule through ties to particular local elites

British Colonialism

British in Nigeria Extract resources

Cocoa, palm oil, rubber

British Colonialism

Dominant role for state in economyColonial state control over export commodities

State marketing boards Monopsony—single buyer Artificially low prices for farmers

~50% of world market price

British Colonialism

British in Nigeria Develop unequally

British penetration in south

Lagos—port city where commodities shipped to Britain

Economic opportunities for southerners

Resentment by northerners (Hausa-Fulani)

Elite boy’s school, King's College Lagos in 1910

Explaining Developmental Outcomes in Nigeria Dependency

Colonialism—under British Neo-colonialism—role of MNCs, like Shell Oil, others

Statism Predatory state institutions

Corruption Massive use of state offices for personal gain

Modernization theory Traditional values

Reliance on ascriptive characteristics Lack of “civic culture” values and attitudes?

Next topics in Nigerian case

Legacies of British Colonialism Politicization of ethnicity Dominant role for state in the economy

Politics and economy in contemporary NigeriaFailed attempts to overcome politicization of

ethnicity through institutional designOverwhelming dependence on oil

Today: Interview with Chinua Achebe (Ibo) Look for themes related to

Dependency Colonialism (How does Achebe portray colonial experience)

Anti-democratic Exploitative

Modernization Values (How does Achebe portray traditional values)

Pluralism, tolerance

Statism Nature of state institutions (How does Achebe portray them)

Corruption of state institutions in post-independence era

Only as a teenager, after reading Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" and realizing her people's own stories were worth telling, did she begin describing the world she knew.

Against the backdrop of a corrupt, crumbling state and society, religious fundamentalism plays out against the animist practices of tribal elders.

Published 2003