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Contrast in Nigeria EssayThe aim of this piece is to contrast and contrast in Nigeria to that in the United States. The emergence, development, and settlement of ethnical conflict ar related to the cultural, legal, and socioeconomic conditions in which a conflict takes place. These conditions atomic number 18 strikingly different in developed and developing countries. whizz more mediating factor in the cross-national study of ethnic conflict is the attitudes towards conflict in a society. Therefore, this paper will start with analyzing societies in the U. S. and Nigeria as well as their histories. The U. S.is the world largest economy and a realm with a strong tradition of democracy. Its uniqueness is associated with the fact that the U. S. is an immigrant nation. Although ethnic conflicts were (and still remain, to a certain extent) haunt and acute, the American society has found effective ways to resolve such conflicts. The brass of the U. S. tries to pr as yett confli cts mingled with different ethnic groups, ensure equality, and promote tolerance. On the contrary, Nigeria is a poorer country with GDP per capita being however $2,000 (in the U. S. this figure is $45,800).However, it is Africas most populous country. Almost half of the population is under the age of fourteen. mortality from AIDS is high (the percentage of pile living with HIV is 5. 4%), and healthcargon is inadequate. The country is undisturbed of more than 250 ethnic groups, the following groups are the most influential Hausa and Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), Igbo (18%), Ijaw (10%), Kanuri (4%), Ibibio (3. 5%), and Tiv (2. 5%) half a population are Muslim, Christians constitute 40% of the total population, and indigenous believers account for the remaining 10% (CIA, 2008). waters (1996) suggests studying the following questions in order to understand cross-cultural perspectives on ethnic conflict the meanings of ethnic identities (whether they are oppositional identities, immig rant identities, or symbolic identities) the attitude of ethnic groups to the state (whether they trust the institutions of the state to be sporty and honest, whether these institution perpetuate oppression, whether the state is sensed by ethnic groups an instrument of power to be industrious by their own group or another group or as a achromatic arbiter) and the perceptions on hate crimes, violence, and intergroup encounters (whether they are seen as temporary, accidental and individualized, or as permanent, systematic, and institutionalized). In the U. S., many people coming from other countries perceive themselves as immigrants at the initial stages of integration, yet eventually they accept their new, American identity. The overarching nature of American identity prevents the creation of sharply oppositional identities. However, double identities (such as African Americans or Hispanic Americans) remain string and may become a basis for ethnic conflict. However, the state direc ts a portion of effort and resources on preventing ethnic conflict. While the general view on the states manipulation of racial issues is generally positive, racism in entrenched in the social system, and there are even accusations of institutional racism.The unique feature about the American society is that it has an experience of successful resolution of ethnic conflicts, such as the movement for equal rights mingled with Black and White citizens or governmental programmes to reward Mexican immigrants. The risk of ethnic conflict in Nigeria is much higher than in the United States. In 1999, frequent clashes were taking place between Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups. This conflict was the legacy of the British colonial design Nigeria was brought into being under British colonial rule, when in the early 1900s Lord Lugard forged together the Moslem Northern protectorate and the Southern Christian sphere (Mason, 1999, para. 9).Regionalism was encouraged at that time the country wa s split into three self-governing regions based on ethnic allegiance, such as the western region (dominated by Yoruba), the northern region (mainly Hausa and Fulani), and the eastern region (mainly Igbo). The separate governments were designed to strengthen the colonial grip on Nigerian society and weaken the peoples potentials for resistance (Irobi, 2005, Second face Nigeria, para. 2). The attempts of the Nigerian government to create a fully functional federal state have had limited success following the independence. Ethnic clashes morose into a civil war when Igbos attempt to form an independent state called Biafra. Nigeria took over Biafra in 1970 and maintained territorial integrity, but the conflict remained unresolved. There were incidents of sectarian violence in 2004.More recently, the conflict has touch on in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Access to oil revenue and environmental pollution are the main reasons for clashes. The government is perceived as hostile by D elta communities who used to prosper historically from the natural richness of their homeland. The clashes occur between two local ethnic groups, Itsekiris and Ijaw. Cases of vandalism are frequent the conflict has been especially acute in 2004 when Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force threatened to destroy oil facilities and infrastructure in the region. In 2005, employees of Shell were kidnapped by the Iduwini National Movement for Peace and Development.In 2006, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger River Delta continued the attacks on Shell decreasing the oil production by three quarters. All these groups bring international companies and the government to take appropriate care of the regions environmental situation and contribute to the regions development (GlobalSecurity, n/d). As concerns ethnic identities in Niger Delta, they are fluid and dynamic inhabitants of the region are quick to reconstruct their identities influenced by political opportunities and economic in ducements. However, the inhabitants of the region can be regarded as having a common regional oppositional identity.The government is perceived as an inimical body responsible for the ethnic turmoil When citizens perceive that the system has failed to provide essential political or economic goods, they are more belike to gravitate to communal identities and to pursue contentious mobilization (Lewis, 2004, Abstract). Summing up, there are several features which are typical for ethnic conflict in Nigeria, as well as the rest of Africa, namely the demand for ethnic and cultural autonomy, competing demands for land, money and power, and conflicts taking place between rival ethnic groups (Irobi, 2005, Introduction, para. 6). Therefore, there are many differences between the U. S. and Nigeria in terms of interethnic relations.The most significant differences are the role of the government in conflict management and the creation of oppositional identities as contrasted with an overarchin g American identity.ReferencesCIA. (2008). The World Factbook Nigeria. Retrieved stately 26, 2008, from https//www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni. hypertext mark-up language GlobalSecurity. (N/d). Niger Delta. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http//www. globalsecurity. org/military/world/war/nigeria-2. htm Irobi, E. G. (2005). Ethnic Conflict Management in Africa A Comparative Case Study of Nigeria and South Africa. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http//www. beyondintractability. org/case_studies/nigeria_south-africa. jsp? nid=6720 Lewis, P. (2004).Identity and Conflict in Nigerias Niger Delta New Evidence from Attitude Surveys. musical theme presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http//www. allacademic. com/meta/p59519_index. html Mason, B. (1999). Ethnic conflict escalates in Nigeria. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http //www. wsws. org/articles/1999/aug1999/nig-a17. shtml Waters, M. C. (1996). Ethnic and racial groups in the USA Conflict and cooperation. In Ethnicity and power in the contemporary world, ed. Rupesinghe, K, Tishkov, V. A. Retrieved August 26, 2008, from http//www. unu. edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu12ee/uu12ee0o. htm