Federalism and Ethnic Politics: A Comparative Study of Nigeria and India

abdulrahman abubakar

doi:10.32350/gsr.51.01

Authors

abdulrahman abubakar University of Ilorin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350/gsr.51.01%20

Keywords:

comparative politics, consociational theory, democratic governance, ethnic politics, federalism, India, Nigeria, power-sharing

Abstract

This study comparatively analyses federalism and ethnic politics in Nigeria and India. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate how federalism affects ethnic diversity, political stability, and democratic government in two of the most ethnically diverse states in the world. The study is qualitative in nature and uses secondary information in the form of scholarly articles, books, and official reports. The historical-institutional approach is used to follow the developments of federal structures in response to ethnic pressures in both states since gaining independence. The paper is steeped in Consociational Theory, as proposed by Lijphart (1977), which stresses on power-sharing, group autonomy, proportionality, and minority vetoes as the instruments of handling ethnic differences in a diverse society. The results show that the federal system in India is more flexible and has been more successful to accommodate ethnic and language identities in the form of reorganizing states on their basis and devolving authority. Whereas, federalism in Nigeria has frequently flourished ethnic pitting largely because of centralized resource allocation, politicization of ethnicity, and uneven state formation. Both nations also show that federalism can either soothe ethnic conflicts or escalate them in view of the strength of institutions and inclusion in governance, as well as adherence to the principles of democracy. The paper finds that federalism is a two-sided sword in India where it has been used mainly as a tool of national integration. However, in Nigeria, weak institutions and ethnicized politics have prevented the opportunities to integrate. The research suggests that power-sharing institutional structures in Nigeria need to be reinforced and a balance in resource distribution must be achieved through learning lessons on flexible and accommodative federalism as practiced in India in order to defuse ethnic tensions and enhance democratic stability.

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