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Betting on Displacement: Oil, Violence, and the Switch to Civilian Rule in Nigeria

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  • Azam, Jean-Paul

Abstract

This paper presents an analytic narrative of three decades of oil and violence in Nigeria, assuming rational choice by all the actors. It argues that, in the 1980s and 1990s, the government had to choose between spending money on preventing pollution and terrorizing the population away from the Niger Delta states, where oil extraction is concentrated. Because of the uncertain outcome of out-migration, the latter solution seemed more efficient and was implemented by the military governments. However, xenophobic responses by the population in destination cities, where a lot of ethnic violence took place, proved out-migration to be much less attractive than expected. Niger Delta states’ populations ended up being trapped in their polluted environment where “oil bunkering” and racketeering oil firms turned out to be the only viable sources of income for many people. The implied dynamics of violence sheds some light on the switch to civilian rule that occurred in 1999.

Suggested Citation

  • Azam, Jean-Paul, 2009. "Betting on Displacement: Oil, Violence, and the Switch to Civilian Rule in Nigeria," TSE Working Papers 09-034, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
  • Handle: RePEc:tse:wpaper:21931
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    1. Jean-Paul Azam, 2006. "The Paradox of Power Reconsidered: A Theory of Political Regimes in Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 15(1), pages 26-58, March.
    2. Paul Collier, 2000. "Rebellion as a Quasi-Criminal Activity," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 44(6), pages 839-853, December.
    3. Acemoglu,Daron & Robinson,James A., 2009. "Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521671422.
    4. Aderoju Oyefusi, 2008. "Oil and the Probability of Rebel Participation Among Youths in the Niger Delta of Nigeria," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 45(4), pages 539-555, July.
    5. Robert H. Bates & Avner Greif & Margaret Levi & Jean-Laurent, 1998. "Analytic Narratives," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 6355.
    6. James D. Fearon, 2005. "Primary Commodity Exports and Civil War," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 49(4), pages 483-507, August.
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    1. Azam, Jean-Paul, 2009. "Reflections on Africa's Wars," TSE Working Papers 09-096, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).

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