Violence in a Religiously Divided City: Kaduna, Nigeria—From the Shari'a Riots of 2000 to the Post-election Clashes of 2011

Harris, Colette

Abstract

This paper examines why frictions developed in Kaduna between Muslims and Christians, how they turned violent, and the outcomes. The frictions were caused by a combination of the effects of colonial policies that established the north/south, Muslim/Christian divide, added to unequal treatment of ethnic groups within Nigerian state structures, and Nigeria's position as a rentier oil-producing state, making it a valuable property for elite capture, and structural adjustment that increased unemployment. Hostilities between Reform Islam and Pentecostal Christianity helped fuel conflict and the configuration of masculinities among unemployed youths facilitated participation in violence. The outcomes included death, destruction and mutual suspicion.

Citation

Harris, C. (2013). Violence in a Religiously Divided City: Kaduna, Nigeria—From the Shari'a Riots of 2000 to the Post-election Clashes of 2011. Space and Polity, 17(3), 284-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562576.2013.861175

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Dec 3, 2013
• Publication Date: Dec 3, 2013
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2016
• Journal: Space and Polity
• Print ISSN: 1356-2576
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-1235
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 284-299
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562576.2013.861175
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13562576.2013.861175