Kant helps us understand the conditions for peace by reminding us that lasting peace requires both cosmopolitan legal reform and individual moral improvement, including resistance to egoism and the cultivation of cosmopolitan attitudes. The duty to pursue peace includes the duty to promote the rule of domestic and international law and work against its unilateral subversion. The juridical cosmopolitanism of a worldwide league of free peoples enables resistance to the dangers posed by authoritarian regimes and their dangerous willingness to manipulate their subjects and ignore international law. Constraining egoism enables people to overcome the tyranny of their desires and cultivates a sense of affiliation with the larger community of humanity in general, providing the moral foundation needed to support a cosmopolitan legal order. Moral development to a great extent is fostered through the arts and humanities, and a robust cultural life therefore ought to play a central role in the pursuit of global peace. Kant foreshadowed the theory in his essay “Perpetual Peace” written in 1795, although he thought that constitutional republics was only one of several necessary conditions for a perpetual peace. Kant's theory was that a majority of the people would never vote to go to war, unless in self defense. Therefore, if all nations were republics, it would end war, because there would be no aggressors. He portrays ‘perpetual peace’ between states as an attainable, if distant, ideal; in another, it is seen to be a principle towards which we are morally compelled to strive, regardless of whether or not its realisation in practice is feasible. In true Kantian fashion, it transpires in the end that the moral and practical aspects find in each other a happy concord, so that this is a problem which gradually works out its own solution.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Democratic Peace Theory
Economic Peace Theory
Conflict initiation
Internal violence and genocide
Case of Ogoni Land
Ijaw-Itsekiri conflicts (1997)
Challenges of Sustainable Peace
Toward lasting peace
The emergence of armed groups in the Delta region
Consequences of Our Mistakes
Understanding of the root cause of the crisis
The creation of Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC)
Conclusion/Summary
Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the dynamics of conflict and the quest for lasting peace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, analyzing how political, economic, and social grievances contribute to instability while situating these challenges within broader theoretical frameworks of democracy and international peace.
- Theoretical foundations of democratic and economic peace.
- Root causes of protracted social conflicts in the Niger Delta.
- The impact of state repression and environmental degradation on local communities.
- The role of governance and development initiatives, such as the NDDC, in conflict mitigation.
- The transition from militant insurgency to the pursuit of sustainable peace.
Excerpt from the Book
Case of Ogoni Land (1992-1995)
Ogoniland is a 404-square-mile (1,050 km2) region in the southeast of the Niger Delta basin. Economically viable oil was discovered in Ogoniland in 1957, just one year after the discovery of Nigeria's first commercial petroleum deposit, with Shell and Chevron setting up shop throughout the next two decades. The Ogonis, a minority ethnic group of about half a million people who call Ogoniland home, and other ethnic groups in the region attest that during this time, the government began forcing them to abandon their land to oil companies without consultation, and offering negligible compensation. This is further supported by a 1979 constitutional addition which afforded the federal government full ownership and rights to all Nigerian territory and also decided that all compensation for land would "be based on the value of the crops on the land at the time of its acquisition, not on the value of the land itself." The Nigerian government could now distribute the land to oil companies as it deemed fit. The 1970s and 1980s saw the government's empty promises of benefits for the Niger Delta peoples fall through, with the Ogoni growing increasing dissatisfied and their environmental, social, and economic apparatus rapidly deteriorating the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) was formed in 1992.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the Kantian perspective on global peace, emphasizing the necessity of legal reform and moral development.
Democratic Peace Theory: Explores the liberal proposition that democratic nations rarely wage war against one another, citing various academic definitions.
Economic Peace Theory: Analyzes the link between trade, prosperity, and the reduction of conflict through economic interdependence.
Conflict initiation: Reviews academic debates regarding the primary aggressors in international and internal conflicts.
Internal violence and genocide: Discusses the correlation between regime types and the prevalence of civil wars and human rights abuses.
Case of Ogoni Land: Details the struggle of the Ogoni people against state-backed exploitation and environmental degradation in the 1990s.
Ijaw-Itsekiri conflicts (1997): Examines the inter-ethnic tensions and historical grievances exacerbated by the arrival of oil wealth.
Challenges of Sustainable Peace: Argues that genuine stability requires addressing basic human needs and inclusive development.
Toward lasting peace: Traces the escalation of militant activities and the cycle of violence in the Delta region.
The emergence of armed groups in the Delta region: Lists and categorizes various militant organizations that formed between 2003 and 2009.
Consequences of Our Mistakes: Reflects on missed opportunities and the high human and economic costs of the ongoing crisis.
Understanding of the root cause of the crisis: Identifies poverty, lack of basic amenities, and political exclusion as drivers of regional instability.
The creation of Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC): Critiques the effectiveness of state development interventions in the face of political crises.
Conclusion/Summary: Synthesizes the argument that sustainable peace requires holistic governance and the participation of all stakeholders.
Keywords
Niger Delta, Perpetual Peace, Democratic Peace Theory, Human Security, Sustainable Development, Conflict Resolution, Militancy, Oil Exploitation, MOSOP, Governance, Ogoni, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Human Rights, Peacebuilding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work explores the underlying causes of protracted conflict in the Niger Delta region and evaluates the possibilities for achieving lasting peace through sustainable development and improved governance.
What are the key themes addressed?
Central themes include the democratic peace theory, the economic impact of the oil industry, inter-ethnic violence, and the critical role of human rights in regional stability.
What is the central research question or goal?
The goal is to determine how the cycles of conflict in the Niger Delta can be broken to foster enduring peace, specifically through addressing institutional failures and community marginalization.
What scientific methods are utilized?
The author utilizes a descriptive and qualitative research approach, synthesizing existing literature on international relations, political theory, and historical case studies of the Niger Delta.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover political theory, conflict analysis, specific historical case studies (such as the Ogoni and Ijaw-Itsekiri conflicts), and the socio-economic impacts of the Nigerian oil sector.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include Niger Delta, Perpetual Peace, Democratic Peace Theory, Human Security, Sustainable Development, Conflict Resolution, and Oil Exploitation.
How does the Ogoni struggle reflect the broader issues in the Niger Delta?
The Ogoni case highlights the interplay between corporate exploitation, government neglect, and the loss of environmental and social rights, which serves as a blueprint for the grievances seen across the Delta.
What role does the NDDC play in the author's analysis?
The author examines the NDDC as a governmental intervention tool, while noting that its effectiveness is often undermined by political distractions and a lack of genuine commitment to the region's development.
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- Dr Osemeka Anthony (Autor:in), 2009, Toward Lasting Peace, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/159175
