The political economy of securitization: The case of Boko Haram, Nigeria

Authors

  • Michael Okwuchi Nwankpa University of Roehampton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15355/epsj.10.1.32

Keywords:

Boko Haram, political economy, securitized development, Nigeria, counter-terrorism

Abstract

Since the abduction in 2014 of 276 high school girls in a remote village, Chibok, in Borno state, Nigeria, the activities of the proscribed group Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, has received elevated domestic and international attention, as has the Nigerian government’s strategy to deal with the group. Criticisms of the government’s ineffective handling of the situation have been made by a number of foreign governments, and several of them have offered military, intelligence, diplomatic, and law enforcement assistance to Nigeria. From a political economy perspective, this article presents a critical reading and analysis of the local and  international response to Boko Haram. It finds that an interest in the “securitization” of development prevails over a genuine peace and security agenda. [JEL codes: D74, O55]

Author Biography

Michael Okwuchi Nwankpa, University of Roehampton

I am a doctoral candidate (sociology) at the University of Roehampton working on the dilemmas of security, human rights and development in Nigeria. My research focuses on the two most intractable conflicts in Nigeria- Boko Haram and the Niger Delta conflicts. I am the author of the article: “The Politics of Amnesty in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of the Boko Haram and Niger Delta Insurgencies” and co-author of “Assessing Boko Haram: A Conversation” both published in the Journal of Terrorism Research. I hold a Master’s in International Relations and Human Rights with a track record of independent research and participation in grassroots organisation and NGOs. I am presently the Founder and Chairperson of Nigerian Youth for Development (NYFD)- a registered youth charity in England in Wales. I provide independent expert opinion to BBC and guest speaker in several research forums.

References

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Published

2015-04-01

How to Cite

Nwankpa, M. O. (2015). The political economy of securitization: The case of Boko Haram, Nigeria. The Economics of Peace and Security Journal, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.15355/epsj.10.1.32

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2015)

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Articles

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