Thesis Abstract

Abstract
This research project delves into the complex relationship between the national question and democratic consolidation in Nigeria and India from the years 2000 to 2013. Both countries have diverse populations with multiple ethnic groups, languages, and cultures, which have posed significant challenges to national unity and democratic governance. The study examines how the management of ethno-national diversity influences the process of democratic consolidation in these two countries during the specified time period. Using a comparative approach, the research analyzes the historical background of the national question in Nigeria and India, focusing on the colonial legacies that shaped their current political landscapes. It also explores the constitutional frameworks and institutional mechanisms put in place to address the national question and promote inclusive governance. By examining key events, policies, and political dynamics, the study assesses the effectiveness of these mechanisms in managing ethno-national tensions and fostering democratic stability. Furthermore, the project investigates the role of political elites, civil society actors, and external factors in shaping the trajectory of democratic consolidation in Nigeria and India. It examines how political leadership, social movements, and international influences have impacted the management of diversity and the prospects for building a cohesive national identity. The research also considers the role of economic development, social inequality, and security challenges in shaping the relationship between the national question and democratic governance. Through a detailed analysis of case studies and empirical data, the study offers insights into the successes and failures of democratic consolidation in Nigeria and India within the context of ethno-national diversity. It highlights the importance of inclusive political institutions, participatory decision-making processes, and social cohesion in addressing the national question and advancing democratic values. The research findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex interplay between identity politics, state-building, and democratic governance in diverse societies. Overall, this research project aims to deepen scholarly understanding of the national question and its implications for democratic consolidation in Nigeria and India. By examining the historical, institutional, and socio-political dimensions of this issue, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers, academics, and practitioners seeking to promote inclusive governance and national unity in diverse democracies.

Thesis Overview

The major political challenge in Africa and many other developing countries today is how to deal with the national question and democratic consolidation. There is a general feeling that the developing nations’ past had been squandered, and the present mortgaged by the elites, thereby making the future so uncertain. Consequently, the disadvantaged group demands a renegotiation of relations between the power elites and the people to enable them to be fully involved in the process of governance. This study therefore undertakes a comparative analysis of the national question and democratic consolidation in Nigeria and India from 2000 to 2013. In the study, we raised the following questions: Is India relatively more politically stable than Nigeria; is heterogeneity and multiculturalism a hindrance to the resolution of the national question and democratic consolidation in developing countries using Nigeria and India as reference points; and, is there any relationship between the resolution of the national question and democratic consolidation in multi-ethnic states? The objectives of the study were to investigate whether is India relatively more politically stable than Nigeria; to determine whether heterogeneity and multiculturalism was a hindrance to the resolution of the national question and democratic consolidation in developing countries, using Nigeria and India as reference points; and to establish if there was any relationship between the resolution of the national question and democratic consolidation in multi-ethnic states. The study adopted the qualitative method of data collection, and the ex-post-facto research design; while the analysis was qualitative descriptive in nature. The study revealed that that without consideration for equality and the acknowledgement of the inclusion of every individual and ethnic group in governance, ethnic conflict cannot be abated. The study also revealed that heterogeneity and multiculturalism is not a hindrance to the resolution of the national question and enthronement of democratic consolidation in multi-ethnic country. The study equally revealed that a relationship exists between the resolution of the national question and democratic consolidation. We recommended that effort be made to sustain the ‘politics of bargaining’ where issues are viewed beyond primordial enclaves. Further, that programmes and policies that is sufficient to deal with distributive tensions and regional conflicts be encouraged so as to de-emphasize ethnic chauvinism in the conduct of public affairs. More deliberate efforts must be made by the leaders of the country to develop a feeling of oneness among Nigerians.