|
 Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria, 2nd edition, (New York, Lincoln, Shanghai: iUniverse, Inc., November 2006);
Paperback-ISBN: 0-595-40266-6; 433 pages; Price: $26.95
By Victor E. Dike
vdike@cwnet.com
Why is the political life of Nigeria colored by unlimited corruption scandals? Why is the nation choking on its democratization process? Victor Dike discusses these questions and more in the second edition of Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria.
Thoroughly grounded in Nigerian history and based on extensive research, this edition is considerably expanded and updated with comprehensive analysis of the major sociopolitical and economic problems confronting Nigeria today. Simple in style, direct and unpretentious, this book illustrates how bad leadership and corruption has combined to create and social instability, a weak economy, high unemployment, poverty and rising crime rate in the society.
Armed with lessons from stable democracies, the author explains practical ways to reduce social tension and to build necessary institutional structures for growing the economy and sustaining a political democracy anchored on true federalism. Corruption and self-interests often lead to the myriad irrational and unreasoned domestic policies- those that are hastily put together and poorly implemented. The predatory autocratic political leaders do them and we hear and see them every day! And that has suffocated the economy and pauperized the people. How long can the people endure?
The “reform-mongers” have failed to recognize that Nigeria lacks the necessary institutions and suitable political climate to make domestic policies work. Nigeria’s politics has been, and will, if care is not taken, remain dominated by “soulless leaders” who only prescribe solution to issues facing the nation without strengthening the institutions that could tackle them.
Nigeria’s problems have a long history and any attempt to adopt ad hoc measures to tackle them will only exacerbate the situation. To move from the present chaos to peace and democratic consolidation there must be a paradigm shift and adopt a-develop or die mentality by being truly democratic, transparent, accountable and fiscally responsible in governance. Thus Nigeria needs permanent institutional structures to tackle its sociopolitical and economic problems and Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria offers a solution.
Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria, which has 18 Chapters with end-of-chapter review questions, is expected to be valuable to policymakers, students and teachers of Political Science/ Government/ Political Process/Public Policy/ Social Policy/Law and Politics and general readers interested in Nigerian (African) politics.
To order, please contact iUniverse Inc: book.orders@iuniverse.com
Toll-free: 1-800-288-4677, Fax: 402-323-7824. International Call: 00-1-402-323-7800
|
RSS Feeds | Podcasts
Posted by Robot| 07.11.2006 23:41