2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
New understanding of regional conflict in Africa
| Project/Area Number |
21401012
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 海外学術 |
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| Research Field |
Area studies
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
SHIMADA Shuhei 京都大学, 大学院・アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科, 教授 (90170943)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2009 – 2011
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| Keywords | ナイジェリア / 地域紛争 / 脆弱性 / 地域問題 / アフリカ |
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| Research Abstract |
Conflicts in Africa these days have its uniqueness which reflects local political culture and historical background ; however they also have coincided with recent global socio-economic change, which reflects rapid socio-economic change since 1970s. Many African countries have adopted quick-acting remedy for getting out of debt problem, the Structural Adjustment Program(SAP) in 1980s. The collapse of Berlin's Wall had effect to refrain the Western Countries' concern from Africa, but it had effect to drive forward African political democratization. And the Anti-Terrorist War after the 9. 11 of 2001 hasaccompanied with more resolute request of democratization and market deregulation to African countries.
I examined historical background of the Niger Delta and studied recent violentconflict in the area. It has become clear that long time neglect or even suppressive actionof the Federal Government has aggravated despairing feeling of the people, particularly of the youth. And the livelihood destruction of fishermen and farmers has increased vulnerability of their societies which intensify the protest against multinational oil companies and the Government. An outlet of accumulated frustration began to turn to the traditional authorities and politicians as well who behaved as mediators to mitigate the agony of people but failed. The abundant arms circulated in the Western Africa after ceasefire in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast facilitated to violate the conflicts.
This shows that the recurrent'new conflicts' in the Niger Delta should be understood as collaboration or catalytic reaction occurred between local factors and globalized impacts. The efficacy of amnesty policy(to ceased fire) started in 2009, therefore, should be examined from both of local and international factors point of view.
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