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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Civil-military competition for political control in Nigeria |
Authors: | Owoeye, Jide Amusan, Lere |
Year: | 1999 |
Periodical: | Politeia: Journal for Political Science and Public Administration |
Volume: | 18 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 23-39 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Nigeria |
Subjects: | democratization civil-military relations |
Abstract: | It looks as if lasting civil political succession in Nigeria remains a mirage as military regimes have generally lacked the will to abdicate power. This article attempts to answer the question whether permanent military disengagement is actually possible to the extent that a statutory or orderly transfer of power from military authoritarian rule to a civil democratic alternative can be conceived. The article starts from the hypothesis that the degree of political stability in a post-military State is a consequence of the pattern of disengagement from authoritarian rule to democracy. Within this context civil-military competition for political rule is examined. It can be concluded that the psychological perception of the military institution of itself vis-à-vis the polity provides the dominant variable for military incursions into politics and the military's refusal to disengage from politics. The extent to which civil-military relationships can be managed to promote an apolitical military largely determines the prospects for orderly political transition in Nigeria and in Africa. Bibliogr., sum. |