The Mitigating Role of Governance in conflict and State fragility: A study of Nigeria and Iraq

Abstract

Drawing from the centrality of the quality of Governance in promoting and sustaining nationhood and by virtue of the fact that most drivers of conflicts in society, such as greed and grievances are discovered to be anchored on the nature of the relationship between the state and society., This paper therefore, adopt the social identity theory to analyses the socio-political factors which pave the way for the emergence of Boko Haram and ISIS in Nigeria and Iraq respectively. The paper adopt a content analysis by extensively reviewing the findings of previous studies which have identified the drivers of conflicts in several context, as well as carrying an in-depth analysis of several researches on Governance reform with the view to strike a balance between the two. The article thus, conclude by arguing that only structural transformation of local Governance by emphasizing and entrenching inclusiveness, integration and effective local democracy can guarantee success in the fight against insurgence and domestic terrorism  in both countries. This is because all the models of radicalization into political violence implicitly acknowledged that crisis of legitimacy is the beginning of civil strife.

Keywords: Governance, Conflict, Fragility, Nigeria, Iraq