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The Psychological Effects Of Inter Ethnic Conflicts On Social Health Workers In Nigeria
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Nigeria is a
multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multicultural society with enormous
potential for economic, social, and democratic development. However,
intense conflicts and violence that manifested within it even from its
earliest time under the colonial rule have made development and progress
elude the country. Nigeria is usually characterized as a deeply divided
state in which major political issues are vigorously contested along
the lines of complex ethnic, religious, and regional divisions. The
causes of these conflicts may not be unconnected with the way and manner
religion is portrayed to its adherents and mistrust between the
followers of the various religious and ethnic groups. The issues that
generate the fiercest contestation include those that are considered
fundamental to the existence and legitimacy of the state, over which
competing groups tend to adopt exclusionary, winner takes all
strategies, which include the control of state power, resource
allocation, and citizenship.
Ethnic conflict has been rightly defined
as one of the greatest obstacles to meaningful development in Africa
(The Courier 1993). In Nigeria, this sort of competition and rivalry
among various ethnic groups is seen as a product of colonial contact.
The ethnic factor, however, did not diminish with the advent of
independence; rather, it became a yardstick for measuring contribution
to the national development effort and especially for allocating and
distributing power and national resources. As Nigeria is currently
engaged in another exercise aimed at establishing a sustainable form of
democracy, there is urgent need to address perceived factors that may
militate against the success of this endeavour. In certain quarters, the
annulment of the democratic transition programme by the military in
1993 at the conclusion of the presidential polls is believed to have
been motivated by ethnic sentiments. On a similar note, the 30-month
senseless slaughter occasioned by the Nigerian civil war from 1967 to
1970 was anchored on ethnic rivalry.
In view of this, as well as the
implications of pronounced conflict over power sharing and resource
allocation, the ethnic question demands continuous examination if
efforts to achieve a beer Nigeria arc to succeed. In addition, this type
of analysis may go a long way in preventing ethnic conflict, since it
proffers suggestions on how to lessen ethnic tensions and resolve
contentious issues. Feasible solutions to ethnic problems can only
emanate from well-grounded examinations of the phenomenon itself. Ethnic
conflict obviously affect the development of a society, since this can
only take place within a peaceful and democratic context that is devoid
of rancour.
Inter conflict violence has reached unprecedented levels
and hundreds have been killed with much more wounded or displaced from
their homes on account of their ethnic or religious identification.
Schooling for children has been disrupted and interrupted; businesses
have lost billions of naira and property worth much more destroyed." The
character of the Nigerian State is responsible for the country's
deepening ethno-religious contradictions. This plural nature fuels a
constant feeling of distrust between the component units, and the fear
of one ethnic or religious group dominating the other is rife. Even
though, the Federal Government of Nigeria has put in a lot of effort in
order to solve or reduce the menace of religious conflict in the
country, in most cases these efforts have yielded little or no success.
Therefore, the government needs to be hyper-active in its approach to
its policies on religious-based conflict prevention and resolution.
The
term violence has attracted a wide range of definitions in literature.
The Princeton Cognitive Science Laboratory defines it as "an act of
aggression (as one against a person who resists); a turbulent state
resulting in injuries and destruction; ferocity: the property of being
wild or turbulent." Violence is an integral part of man's existence and a
common occurrence in human societies.
It could be due to differences
in political ideologies, as was evident during the Cold War period, and
terrorism, bad governance, ethnic nationalism, economic and religious
reasons, and in some cases a combination of two or more of these
factors.
Ethnic groups are defined as a community of people who share
cultural and linguistic characteristics including history, tradition,
myth, and origin. Scholars have been trying to develop a theoretical
approach to ethnicity and ethnic conflict for a long time. Conflicts can
be adaptive or maladaptive, functional/constructive or dysfunctional.
Indeed human and societal progress over the ages, for example, has been
driven by conflict. But the liquidation of entire peoples and cultures
has also been driven by conflict. The outcome of a given conflict,
therefore, depends on how it is managed by contending forces. Lack of
social reciprocity and/or tolerance for differences of opinion increases
the risk of violence and war.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research work was conducted to examine the psychological effects of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria. The survey research design was used in carrying out the study since it required the collection of data from a large number of respondents within the limited time scheduled for the completion of the project. Relevant research questions and hypotheses were answered and tested respectively to show the findings of the study. A questionnaire was designed by the research ... Continue reading---
