VIOLENCE, IDENTITY POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT: INSIGHT INTO THE FORMS OF OCCURRENCES IN THE FOURTH REPUBLIC.

Abstract

The fourth republic has been marked by a complex interaction Tbetween violence, identity politics and development. The manipulation of ethnic and religious identities, coupled with socio-economic disparities and insurgencies, has led to various forms of violence and hindered developmental progress. Violence and political instability creates a vicious cycle. Conflicts create an unsafe atmosphere for businesses to thrive, as it discourages local and foreign investments, and communities are displaced. These exacerbate grievances and so bring identity politics leading to crime and economic decline. Elections give birth to violence as there is power tussle and this undermines stability in the society, thus stifling development. Consequently, resources that could have been invested in growth and development sectors are rather spent on the aftermath of violence. This study attempted to situate the forms of the occurrences of violence and identity politics in the fourth republic, and thus reduce crime and spur development. The social identity and the deprivation theories are used as theoretical framework. The study argues that identity consciousness has overtaken national consciousness, leaving a sordid plague on our society and has regrettably relegated development to the background. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive strategies that promote inclusive governance and prioritizes sustainable development. This study therefore posits that transitioning from violence into stability to engender development requires careful planning which involves reconciling communities that are displaced, demobilizing combatants and institutional rebuilding to bring an end to identity politics.