The Nigerian military and democratic transitions
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Authors
Famakin, Akinyemi F.
Subjects
Nigeria
Civil-Military Relations
Democratic Transitions
Nigerian Military
Civil-Military Relations
Democratic Transitions
Nigerian Military
Advisors
Lawson, Letitia
Date of Issue
2003-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis seeks to demonstrate that such structural explanations as economic underdevelopment, ethnic fragmentation, and political corruption for the collapse of democracy in Nigeria in 1966, are insufficient. This study further demonstrates that the immediate cause of the collapse was the failure of the young democratic government to respond to the challenge posed by military opportunism through adequate civilian control strategies. The thesis argues that democratization is attainable in Nigeria if elected governments devise appropriate control strategies to check military opportunism while strengthening and legitimizing their own rule. It acknowledged that the first government of Nigeria's Fourth Republic, installed on May 29 1999, appears to have learned this lesson. The thesis concludes that constant vigilance on the part of successive governments will be essential as the Fourth Republic passes through the long process of democratic transition and consolidation.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
viii, 65 p. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.