Find below a call for papers for a book project. Please respond appropriately.
CALL FOR PAPERS
NIGERIA: AMALGAMATION PLUS HUNDRED
In 1914, the nation today known as Nigeria was calibrated into existence by the logic of British colonial imperialism. Though its human and economic geography assures Nigeria a pride of place not only in Africa but in the comity of nations, the country has been faced with multi-dimensional crises of state-building as well as immanent contradictions of underdevelopment. These crises and contradictions which continue to militate against Nigeria's greatness are partly associated with the colonial creation of the country and the inability of Nigerians to develop a bond of nationhood. All these have ensured that Nigeria as described by two of its leading nationalist remained "the mistake of 1914" and "a mere geographical expression."
It is against the above background and in the context of hundred years after the 1914 amalgamation that we invite paper contributions to interrogate and bring new insights on the Nigerian state, its past, present and future directions. Some of the questions that are expected to be answered in the proposed book are: Is Nigeria truly the "mistake of 1914" or "a mere geographical expression? Can Nigeria be transformed from being a mistake of 1914 or a mere geographical expression"? Are there Nigerians as there are Americans? What is special about the Nigerian state creation that set it apart from other states and account for the political and developmental crises of the country? Should ethnicity be a curse or a blessing for Nigeria? What are the challenges of post-colonial state in Nigeria? Is contemporary underdevelopment of Nigeria linked to its historical past with colonial imperialism? How do we understand and explain the developmental problematic of Nigeria? Has the bureaucracy proven its capacity as a techno-rational agent of development in Nigeria? Do we have a truly Nigerian public service that can mobilize for national integration and economic development? To what extent has democracy and electoral politics been conditioned by the cultural imprimatur of the traditional society in Nigeria? Whose democracy? Human rights, rule of law and democracy in Nigeria any connection? What is the place of imperialism in the Nigerian crisis?
Other questions for interrogation include: How has Nigerians underdeveloped Nigeria? Is Nigeria a failed or a failing state? How has neo-liberalism and globalization impacted on Nigeria? Is corruption related to the Nigerian culture or a consequence of decadent capitalism? What are the forces responsible for the underdevelopment of productive forces in Nigeria? How is knowledge produced in Nigeria? Are Nigerian intellectuals and intelligentsias catalyst of development? Of what developmental relevance is education in Nigeria at all levels for citizenship and development? What roles for indigenous knowledge production? What factors inhibit indigenous knowledge production and application in Nigeria? How has oil contributed to Nigeria's development or underdevelopment? Is oil a blessing or a curse in Nigeria? What are the implications of the oil political economy on state and society in Nigeria? What is the nature of class and class relations in Nigeria before, during and after independence? What role has religion played or could play in the development or underdevelopment of Nigeria? How has new religious movements, political Islam, Pentecostalism and fundamentalism engendered identity crisis and ethnically segmented society in Nigeria? Does traditionalism and spiritualism have any role in the resolution of the Nigerian crisis? How has Nigeria fared with federalism and presidentialism? What inter-governmental relations formula is best suited for the promotion of cooperation, unity and harmony of the different levels of governance? How best is conflict to be resolved amongst the federating units? To what extent has the military, police and other security forces contributed to state-building in Nigeria? Does the national conference hold any prospect for the resolution of state crisis in Nigeria? How independent has been the judiciary? Has the judiciary been able to defend citizens' rights? What is the state of human rights in Nigeria? Is gender and minority condition in Nigeria amenable to national integration and development? How has the Nigerian crisis shaped its relations with neighbours, Africans and the global community? What role has the arts played or can play in the resolution of the crisis of state in Nigeria? In what way can the Nigerian political economy be made amenable for development of Nigerians? Are Nigerians poor because they are underdeveloped or underdeveloped because they are poor? Can Nigeria survive? The questions for considerations are in exhaustive.
The papers for the book will be grouped under three sub-themes:
1. State, Politics and Governance
2. Economy, Technology, Development and Underdevelopment
3. Society, Culture, Education and Arts
Scholars, intellectuals, activists, bureaucrats, politicians and professionals from within and outside Nigeria are invited to submit papers for publication around but not limited to the above questions and sub-themes. To be considered for publication in the proposed book papers must be original, comparative in orientation, historically incisive, rigorous and offer fresh perspectives. New interpretations of known facts are welcomed.
Abstracts not more than 250 words which must include paper title, author(s) name, institutions, address, telephone number and email address should be sent in electronic format not later than 5th March, 2014 to:
Adelaja Odutola ODUKOYA, Ph.D Oyedele ASHIRU, Ph.D
'Dele Ashiru.
Department of Political Science,
University of Lagos,
Lagos,Nigeria.
+234-8026274712, +234-8019119573.
http//:www.politicalscienceunilag.org
http//:www.unilag.edu.ng
Department of Political Science,
University of Lagos,
Lagos,Nigeria.
+234-8026274712, +234-8019119573.
http//:www.politicalscienceunilag.org
http//:www.unilag.edu.ng
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