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Full-Text Articles in Peace and Conflict Studies
Formal Democracy, Structural Violence, And The Possibility Of "Perpetual Peace.", Andrew Pierce
Formal Democracy, Structural Violence, And The Possibility Of "Perpetual Peace.", Andrew Pierce
Andrew J. Pierce
In this paper, I revisit and evaluate Kant’s prerequisites for “perpetual peace,” including the claim, central to contemporary political rhetoric, that formal democracy produces peace. I argue that formal democracy alone is insufficient to address the kinds of deep-rooted structural violence that ultimately manifest in terrorism and other forms of direct violence. I claim that the attempt to eliminate structural violence, and so achieve real “perpetual peace,” requires a more substantive sort of democracy, of which the United States and the West remain poor examples. It requires a political critique that goes deeper than just the critique of state power …
Civil Society And Democratic Governace In Nigeria
Civil Society And Democratic Governace In Nigeria
OBI, Ndifon Neji
The return to civilian rule in 1999 it was thought, had settled Nigeria’s problem of misgovernance and it was hoped that a formal transition from militarism (militarizzare) to democracy would usher in a new era of democratic order which will in turn enhance good governance based on the democratic principles of respect of basic rights, rule of law, provision of basic amenities, political stability and economic development. But after about eleven years of uninterrupted democratic experimentation, this has proved to be a mirage. Nigeria continues to suffer from insincere leadership even as the political situation worsens threatening hopes for democratic …
Garrison’ Democracy In Nigeria: The 2007 General Elections And The Prospects Of Democratic Consolidation, Shola J. Omotola
Garrison’ Democracy In Nigeria: The 2007 General Elections And The Prospects Of Democratic Consolidation, Shola J. Omotola
Shola J. Omotola Mr
This paper undertakes a critical analysis of the 2007 Nigeria’s general elections, with emphasis on the ‘garrison’ process and its implications for the consolidation of democracy. It is argued that garrisoned electoral processes represent a powerful source of democratic instability that can threaten the consolidation of democracy. The paper illustrates these processes and concludes that much will, however, depend on how ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ manage their successes and failures, respectively. The greatest threats to the consolidation of democracy in the aftermath of the garrisoned elections relate to the handling of post-election issues, especially election petitions, tribunals and court processes, by …