This study examined the relationship between military professionalism and
civil-military relations in Nigeria. Focusing on the period between 1960 and
2007, it explored the connection between understandings of professionalism
amongst members of the armed forces and the way they relate to the rest of
Nigerian society.
Prolonged military rule (1966-1999) and the military’s heavy involvement in
domestic security, resulted in increased militarization of Nigerian society and
placed considerable strain on civil-military relations. The conduct of Nigerian
military personnel in their dealings with civilians and their representatives
faced criticism by members of the Nigerian civil society and the international
community for being exploitative, heavy-handed and inconsistent with
expected standards of military professionalism. Yet, during this period the
military also increased its international profile, and came to be regarded,
especially in the area of international peacekeeping, as a significant force
within its region and beyond.
Greater accountability and stricter adherence to professional standards were
part of the democracy dividends expected by Nigerians when successful
elections were held in 1999. Yet, two decades later, the relationship between the military sphere and the civilian sphere has been fractious and
conflictual.
This thesis considers that efforts to promote military professionalism need to
engage with apparent and evidential understandings of military
professionalism held amongst military personnel themselves. On this basis,
the study has sought to introduce military voices into the discourse on
military professionalism.
The study adopted a mixed methods approach incorporating both qualitative
and quantitative methods in gathering perspectives held by members of the
Nigerian military and the civil population about military professionalism. It
found that the military’s self-image, in terms of its professionalism and values,
is markedly at odds with the way it is perceived by the civilian population
many of whom see it as a highly politicised, unethical and coercive institution.
Further, that the military identity is deeply complicated by pluralism, religious
and ethnic diversity in Nigeria with specific consequences for its
professionalism.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/19252 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Openiyi, Adebiyi |
| Contributors | Harris, David, Macaulay, Fiona |
| Publisher | University of Bradford, Division of Peace Studies and International Development |
| Source Sets | Bradford Scholars |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, doctoral, PhD |
| Rights | <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>. |
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