Article: Middle class political activism in Nigeria Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Society (IJSSOC) 2024 Vol.16 No.2 pp.177 - 191 Abstract: Studies on the Nigerian middle class are barely adequate. The central objective of this study is to explain the distinct defining elements of the Nigerian middle class, particularly as they relate to political activism and interface with government. To achieve this central objective, three research questions are formulated. How has the Nigerian middle class evolved particularly in relation to social protest? What are the middle class instruments of social engagement and how have they been deployed in contemporary Nigeria? How effective are these instruments in terms of eliciting the anticipated or appropriate response from government? Following the discussions around these questions, a number of core issues defining middle class political activism in Nigeria have emerged. First, although middle class groups in Nigeria have a high mobilising capacity as demonstrated by their constant interface with government, the deliverables have been little. Second, discordant opinions sometimes frustrate internal cohesion. Third, the mobilising platforms and instruments have been transformed as a result of the opportunities offered by the new digital technologies. These key findings will enable future studies to formulate more specific research questions and hypotheses about the political activism of the Nigerian middle class. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Middle class political activism in Nigeria

Authors: Segun Oshewolo; Rotimi Ajayi; Kareem Jimba

Addresses: Department of Political Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria ' Department of Political Science, Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria ' Department of Accounting and Finance, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract: Studies on the Nigerian middle class are barely adequate. The central objective of this study is to explain the distinct defining elements of the Nigerian middle class, particularly as they relate to political activism and interface with government. To achieve this central objective, three research questions are formulated. How has the Nigerian middle class evolved particularly in relation to social protest? What are the middle class instruments of social engagement and how have they been deployed in contemporary Nigeria? How effective are these instruments in terms of eliciting the anticipated or appropriate response from government? Following the discussions around these questions, a number of core issues defining middle class political activism in Nigeria have emerged. First, although middle class groups in Nigeria have a high mobilising capacity as demonstrated by their constant interface with government, the deliverables have been little. Second, discordant opinions sometimes frustrate internal cohesion. Third, the mobilising platforms and instruments have been transformed as a result of the opportunities offered by the new digital technologies. These key findings will enable future studies to formulate more specific research questions and hypotheses about the political activism of the Nigerian middle class.

Keywords: Nigeria; middle class; engagement; governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2024.139497

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2024 Vol.16 No.2, pp.177 - 191

Received: 21 Nov 2021
Received in revised form: 02 Apr 2022
Accepted: 27 Oct 2022
Published online: 03 Jul 2024 *

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Title: Middle class political activism in Nigeria

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