Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 02170028
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED249300 AUTHOR: Jinadu, L. Adele
TITLE: Federalism, Ethnicity, and Affirmative Action in
Nigeria.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1984
NOTE: 44 p.; For conference proceedings, see UD 023 748.
ABSTRACT: Within a framework of consociational theory, this
paper discusses affirmative action policies used in Nigeria
to cope with its heterogeneous ethnic composition. An
introduction articulates the paper's basic assumptions and
themes; the view is taken that political systems are forms
of political technology, designed to achieve specific
purposes. The paper begins by clarifying such concepts as
federalism, ethnicity, and affirmative action. Then, ethnic
heterogeneity is discussed as an inherent design problem for
the Nigerian polity. Elements of consociational pluralism,
defined as an arrangement of structures and institutions for
dealing with ethnic pluralism, are outlined. Basically,
these structures and institutions are said to require the
proportional representation of all groups within government,
with each group nonetheless retaining a high degree of
autonomy to run its own affairs. This model of consociation
is then related to ethical questions about the moral rights
of groups and fairness and justice in selection criteria for
affirmative action policies. The next section, examining
Nigerian political history since 1960, focuses on
institutional strategies used to promote power sharing and
social integration. Nigeria is held to be a society of
ethnic groups rather than individuals. The particulars of
affirmative action in Nigeria are described in the following
section, with special attention given to the issue of access
to university education. In conclusion, affirmative action
in Nigeria is compared to that in the United States. (KH)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Educational-Opportunities; Ethnic
Discrimination; Foreign-Countries; Justice-; Political
Attitudes; Postsecondary-Education; Social-Discrimination
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Access-to-Education; *Affirmative-Action;
*Ethnic-Groups; *Government-Role; *Social-Integration
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