CAS PO 151 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Totalitarianism, Pahlavi Dynasty, Reza Shah
10 Aug 2018
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Nigeria: Background
British colony starting in the 1800’s
o Borders separate British, French, and German colonies
There’s huge ethnic diversity.
o 250 different languages
o There are different pre-colonial societies and different forms of government.
o Major groups include the Hausa (Muslims in the North), Yoruba (Southwest), and Igbo
(Christian converts in the South).
Nigeria: Democracy, 1960-66
1960 independence: British negotiate federal system with the three separate regions
The first government that comes to power is dominated by the Hausa from the North. They’re the
majority party, and then there’s a coalition partnership with the Igbos in the South, and there’s
opposition with the Yorubas.
o 1960-65
In the 1965 election: the North wins again, but now they’re in alliance with Yorubas.
o There are allegations of fraud
o There was post-election violence in the Western region of the country between the Igbo and the
Yoruba.
1966: Coup and Counter-Coup
1966 coup led by Igbo officers
o It eliminates parties, federalism, and creates a unitary state.
o They overthrow the democracy and establish a military regime. There was a fair amount of
violence in this coup. There were military officers from other regions of the country killed in
the coup.
The new leaders come in 1966 radically changed the political system and create a new regime where the
Igbos dominate.
o They had a power grab.
BUT 6 months later, there’s another coup by the Northern officers. There’s another regime change.
o They re-make the political system and federalism is restored.
o They made 12 states.
The Igbo military leaders react by attempting a succession of their region to form an entirely new
chapter.
o It leads to a three yearlong civil war.
In the 1970’s, there were several more coups, but they were about other types of divisions, not
necessarily based on the same ethnic tensions.
1970’s-1980’s Coups
They reflect divided military, but not ethnic divisions.
1975-1976 coups: based on ideological divisions
o 1975 coup: leftists general takes charge
o 1976 coup: conservative reaction
1983 coup: division by rank (junior officers vs. senior officers)
o Senior officers stage pre-emptive coup
o It overthrows short-lived democracy (1970-1983)
The rest of the world was transitioning to democracy, but it didn’t last in Nigeria.
1990 Coup Attempt
1990: Coup attempt against northern-led government
o “On behalf of the patriotic and well-meaning peoples of the Middle Belt and the southern parts
of this country, I, Major Gideon Orkar, wish to happily inform you of the successful ousting of
the dictatorial, corrupt, drug baronish, evil man, deceitful, homosexually-centered, prodigalistic,
un-patriotic administration of General Ibrahim Badomsi Babangida.”
They finally hold elections in 1993, after years of being promised a transitional economy.
1994 Coup, 1997 coup attempt
Document Summary
Nigeria: background: borders separate british, french, and german colonies, 250 different languages, there are different pre-colonial societies and different forms of government, major groups include the hausa (muslims in the north), yoruba (southwest), and igbo. The first government that comes to power is dominated by the (ausa from the north. They"re the majority party, and then there"s a coalition partnership with the )gbos in the south, and there"s. In the 1965 election: the north wins again, but now they"re in alliance with yorubas. 1966 coup led by igbo officers: it eliminates parties, federalism, and creates a unitary state, they overthrow the democracy and establish a military regime. There was a fair amount of violence in this coup. There were military officers from other regions of the country killed in the coup. The new leaders come in 1966 radically changed the political system and create a new regime where the. Igbos dominate: they had a power grab.
