Punctuated Peace in Nigeria’s Oil Region: Oil Insurgency and the Challenges of Post-Conflict Peacebuilding (Palgrave Studies in Compromise after Conflict)

"This book examines the extent to which peacebuilding processes such as disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration are possible in the attempt to demilitarize Nigeria's oil region and establish a stable post-conflict environment for nurturing durable peace. The book argues that the failure of the peacebuilders to address the structural tensions at the heart of insurgency, along with competition for access to the material benefits of peacebuilding, have revived violence at repeated intervals that punctuates the progression of peace. The author's analysis shows how the interventions pursued by peacebuilders have been successful in stabilizing the oil region by taking arms from insurgents, paying them monthly allowances, and building their capacity to reintegrate into society through a range of transformational processes. While these interventions are praiseworthy, they have transformed the political realities of peacebuilding into an economic enterprise that makes recourse to violence a lucrative endeavour as identity groups frequently mobilize insurgency targeting oil infrastructure to compel the state to enter into negotiations with them. There was little consideration for the impact corruption might have on the peacebuilding process. As corruption becomes entrenched, it fosters exclusion and anger, leading to further conflict. The book proposes pathways to positive peacebuilding in Nigeria's oil region." Series Editor’s Preface Acknowledgments About This Book Prologue Contents About the Author Abbreviations List of Figures 1 Introduction: The Peacebuilding Universe in Nigeria’s Oil Region The Context of Post-conflict Peacebuilding Why This Investigation Matters The Argument The Approach and Scope of the Book Organization of the Book References Part I The Transition from Conflict to Peace 2 Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding Amnesty and Transitional Justice The Context of Amnesty Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Disarmament Demobilization Reintegration Conclusion References 3 Measuring Success in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding Processes Measuring Interpersonal Change Trust Matters Measuring Change at the Intrapersonal Level Measuring Change at the Structural Level The Rise of Entrepreneurs in the Oil Region Measuring Peacebuilding Success Through Cultural Change The Rise of a New Social Class A Model of Transformative Peacebuilding Conclusion References 4 Empowerment and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding The Context of Empowerment Technocratic Empowerment Empowerment in the Context of Entrepreneurship Development Human Capacity Development Why Women’s Representation Matter The Unintended Consequences of Technocratic Peacebuilding The Ecological Approach to Empowerment Power and Empowerment Conclusion References Part II The Collapse and Revival of the Niger Delta Peace Process 5 The Changing Landscape of Oil Insurgency Understanding the Dynamics of Conflict Escalation The Revival of Insurgency Why Exclusion Matter Political Retribution Determinants of Future Insurgency Devaluation-Alienation Conclusion References 6 The Emergence of a Peace Economy Understanding the Dynamics of the Peace Economy Conflict Entrepreneurs in the Peace Economy A Dangerous Trajectory Corruption and Peacebuilding Diversion of Peacebuilding Benefits A Corrupt DDR System How Vendors Exploit Peacebuilding for Personal Gain Conclusion References Part III Conceptualizing and Theorizing Peace 7 Conceptions of Peace in the Niger Delta Peace as Freedom Peace as Development The Nature of Development Peace as Nonviolence Peace as Stability The Conceptual Challenge Conclusion References 8 Towards a Theory of Punctuated Peace The Premise of Punctuated Peace Theory A Theory of Punctuated Peace Exclusion The Role of Conflict Entrepreneurs Impact of Corruption Problems with Peacebuilding Design A Model of Punctuated Peace Evidence of Punctuated Peace in Other Post-conflict Societies Across Africa Evidence of Punctuated Peace in Sri Lanka, Columbia, and Northern Ireland Conclusion References 9 Pathways to Positive Peacebuilding Scholarly Implications An Agenda for the Policy-Making Community Restructuring the Peacebuilding Architecture Promoting Peacebuilding Through Social Development Supporting Effective Public Health Interventions in the Oil Region Conclusion References Index