SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Overview

Name:

Mr Bala Mohammed Liman

Email address:

221600@soas.ac.uk , bl24@soas.ac.uk

Thesis title:

Conflict and Identity in Nigeria

Year of Study:

3

Internal Supervisors

• Phil Clark
• Tom Young

PhD Research

My research project is a study of the nexus between Conflict and Identity in Nigeria with particular focus on the ongoing conflicts in Kaduna and Jos in the northern part of the country. These conflicts have lasted for over a decade and are becoming intractable. They have had a negative effect on the socio political landscape of the area, the surrounding region and are threatening the nascent democracy of the country as a whole.  The study examines how identities such as ethnicity and religion are being used as mobilization forces in times of conflicts. This involves exploring what is understood by identity conflict and also how social groups increase group cohesiveness during times of conflicts. The study will argue that by examining how different groups use narratives as a basis for mobilization through the selective choice of narratives that justify their actions, we can better understand how they place themselves in the conflicts and what they see as the remote causes. This might provide a new perspective to resolving these types of conflicts.

PhD Affiliations

Development Studies Association
Royal African Society
BISA Africa and International Studies Working Group