In this post we will be looking at what Political Marginalization is, types Political Marginalization, causes and effects (Implications) in nation development. And we will use Nigeria as a case study on the causes and effects Political Marginalization in a nation and ways to address marginalization.
INTRODUCTION
In any system/ nation where a unit feels the sense of marginalization and the leadership of the system fails to acknowledge or address it can be likened to someone driving a punctured tire car and wondering why the car is not meeting up with other cars speed.
Nigeria from its formative years, which has a colonial referent, has been a restive state. There is a connection between this challenge and the diversities associated with the state as recorded by scholars and statesmen. Chief amongst this is the relationship between the central authority and the component units. what we have is more of a center and subordinate unit rather than, a center and coordinate component which is a basis for federalism hence the problem of power-sharing and marginalization.
These problems have persisted over the years with many attempts made by stakeholders within and external contributions to address the various contradictions, conflicts, around the state. In the course of these antagonisms, the power struggle has led to open confrontations by taking the forms of a civil war, terrorism, banditry, insurgency, inter-tribal and communal conflict and at various times the call for secession by some components of the federating states. Despite all of these Nigeria remains a United country but with shaking foundations. Of interest here are the various methods, principles and policies that have been used or suggested to contain the fragile peace and the prospect of what the future holds, given current situations.
It is worrisome to note that recent events have heightened fears of many including the United States of America (CIA Fact file) that Nigeria will soon become a stateless society given the unfolding conflicts and increasing violence persisting in the state. One of the major causes of concern is the increasing wave of political marginalization of certain sections of the country and the rising political consciousness of the youths, ethnic groups and religious organizations.
This brings to question the viability of the Nigerian project as most of the present state actors rather attempt to cushion the escalating dominance are rather boldly increasing their hegemony and daring whoever would complain about the amount of force through state agencies. It is the objective of this paper to examine the assured or real causes of political marginalization, analyze its effects for the dominated and dominant groups and find it outs likely consequences for the state and make a recommendation.
What is Political Marginalization?
Political marginalization is a process in which a group or class of people in a given society are relegated to secondary or inferior positions. It is a deliberate attempt to sideline or ignore members of such society from political debates, economic bargaining and social negotiates also Marginalization is the process of pushing a particular group or groups of people to the edge of society by not allowing them an active voice, identity, or place in it. Through both direct and indirect processes, marginalized groups may be relegated to a secondary position or made to feel as if they are less important than those who hold more power or privilege in society.
It takes the form of denying a certain person access to opportunities based on one’s identity in society. In some cases, it leads to disposing of people of their land, livelihoods, or adequate political representation. In a broader sense, it refers to disempowerment, alienation and political exclusion based on race, religious persuasion, ethnic or geographical location, or numerical position (minority) in such a society. It involves the suppression of ideas and denial of involvement in mainstream economic, political and social activities. Political marginalization has been in Nigeria since the colonial era and found expression in the direct and indirect rule.
While the North was under the direct rule the South won governed through indirect rule till 1914. In the post-independence period, it was played out by creating a strong Northern Nigeria and a balkanized southern Region as occasion demanded. The division of Western State into Western and Mid-western state was seen by political pundits as a deliberate attempt to weaken the stronghold of the opposition parties in western Nigeria in 1964.
Types Political Marginalization
Marginalization puts people in powerless positions based on one or several dimensions of exclusion:
- Economic marginalization: Economic marginalization refers to disparities in amassing wealth or getting a job. For example, many forms of employment marginalize racial minorities due to harmful stereotypes about what types of people make good managers or workers.
- Political marginalization: Politically marginalized communities struggle to participate in parts of the civic process, like voting or gaining access to their political representatives. Jim Crow–era laws that prevented Black Americans from voting were examples of political marginalization.
- Social marginalization: When someone can’t participate in everyday leisure activities, it’s known as social marginalization. Denial of access to clubs and organizations is an example of social marginalization.
Causes of Political Marginalization
Marginalization can result from intentional campaigns that exclude certain people (like ethnic groups) from society. It can also occur unintentionally due to structures that benefit some members of society while making life challenging for others.
- Discrimination and bias: Social forces, like racism, sexism, and religious hatred, can lead policymakers or community members to create structures that keep certain groups from participating fully in society. Apartheid is an example of this, as are institutional boundaries like the prohibition of marriage between people of the same sex.
- Poverty: Poverty is a major contributor to marginalization. Impoverished people often don’t have the time or resources to advocate for their interests, either because they live in marginalized communities and lack access to necessary resources or spend excessive time and energy trying to provide for themselves and their families. The outsized effect money has in the political system exacerbates this situation. For example, many people burdened by homelessness cannot access mental health services or other social benefits that could improve their lives.
- Structural disadvantages: Sometimes, society marginalizes people by denying them the space or accommodations they need to advocate for their needs and make their voices heard. For example, the lack of accessible housing for people with disabilities has increased poverty levels for this group.
Effects (Implications) of Political Marginalization.
Marginalization harms society as a whole, but marginalized people shoulder the main burden of that impact. Here are some of its harmful effects:
- Limited talent pools: Gatekeeping institutions and workplaces create a set of conditions wherein only certain people from specific backgrounds advance and have a voice. As a result, the same kinds of ideas circulate, and decision-makers don’t benefit from new perspectives and fresh ideas. Due to this homogeneity, ideas that might benefit marginalized people may not be broached.
- Criminal activity: Marginalized people may encounter seemingly insurmountable challenges when pursuing legal means of earning a living, motivating them to turn to illegal means.
- Mental health issues: Marginalized people often develop feelings of alienation and depression, compounded as their marginalization continues. The lack of access to necessary mental health resources forces whole swaths of the population to manage these issues independently.
Ways to Address Marginalization
Marginalization is a broad issue affecting many people with many different needs. There’s no singular way to eliminate its effects on society, but here are some measures that can make a difference:
- Take political action. By getting involved in social justice initiatives, people can create powerful interventions in the political process and force representatives to listen to historically silenced groups. Political action requires both organization and allyship to build coalitions of people who can bring attention to a cause-and-effect change.
- Learn about marginalization and its impact. Learning the history of human rights abuses and oppression creates more empathy and a better understanding of marginalized groups. It also dispels misinformation about how and why certain groups get excluded from society.
- Invest in infrastructure and public services. Marginalized groups often lack basic tools and resources that are readily available to non-marginalized groups, such as internet access, working and accessible public transportation, and local medical clinics. By prioritizing these services, society can remove some of these oppressive barriers.