Nigeria Since Independence - by Hill (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This book analyses the political and ethnical tensions that characterize Nigeria, which derive both from colonial and contemporary conflicts. It points out three major factors why Nigeria has not yet collapsed like many other African states: ethnic power sharing amongst the political elite, the military with its national outlook, and oil wealth.

Review Quotes

Winner of the CHOICE Award for Outstanding Academic Titles in 2014

"The timing of the book could not have been better, in the wake of Boko Haram's assaults and atrocities perpetrated on innocent

bystanders in central and northern Nigeria. It is a must read for scholars and policy makers concerned with conflict and state failure in Nigeria."

- CHOICE

"Hill's is a paradoxical book. He points out that Nigeria is a construct that has almost fallen apart several times since Lugard decreed its birth. He contends that its failure and continued unity are the result of three key mechanisms federalism, oil and

the armed forces."

- The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs

"Hill's book thoroughly showcases Nigeria's failure and continued unity as a product of complex and contradictory roles [...] His analysis significantly contributes to the ongoing debates over state failure and Nigeria's threatened existence as one of the largest democracies in Africa."

- CGIS-FMSO Blog

"[...] The binary nature of the core analytical chapters will provide readers including those new to Nigeria with effective information for making up their own minds. Hill's latest work deploys graceful prose, well-placed anecdotes and the necessary sensitivity to Nigeria's complexities." - Journal of Modern African Studies

"This book adds useful insights to our understanding of the challenges of statebuilding in Nigeria and should be of keen interest to those interested in African politics" - International Affairs

About the Author

J.N.C HILL is Senior Lecturer in the Defence Studies Department at King's College London, UK. He has published widely on issues of African security. His main publications are Remembering the War of Liberation: Legitimacy and Conflict in Contemporary Algeria, Sufism in Northern Nigeria: A Force for Counter-Radicalisation?, Identity in Algerian Politics: The Legacy of Colonial Rule, Islamism and Democracy in the Modern Maghreb, and Corruption in the Courts: The Achilles Heel of Nigeria's Regulatory Framework?