The dialectics of agency and structure in transitional democracy

An actor-network analysis of Nigeria's political transition

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Sociology
Cover of the book The dialectics of agency and structure in transitional democracy by Samson Ajagbe, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Samson Ajagbe ISBN: 9783668022072
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: July 27, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Samson Ajagbe
ISBN: 9783668022072
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: July 27, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2015 in the subject Sociology - Political Sociology, Majorities, Minorities, grade: 1,8, University of Freiburg (Institute of Sociology), course: Sociology, language: English, abstract: This thesis argues that we can no longer ignore elite's enrolment of institutions in rendering what they do intelligible as political outcomes in our understanding of African politics. The complex interdependency between elites and institution inheres into politics in ways political practices and actions are fabricated as permissible in the state of affair. This interaction is best understood through Actor-Network Theory (ANT) which essentializes hybridization in its conceptualization of the world. In this network thinking, transitional elites align and advance their interests through translating and enrolling institutions in the process of democratization. The analysis draws from Nigeria's democratization experience to bring together the institutional components of the state and leadership, i.e. elites, which have been mostly analyzed as separate entities in the study of democratization. The actor-network theory is used both as a conceptual frame and as a method for analyzing democratization as an outcome of the content of the two main societal forces- elite and institution. The actor-network theory's, developed by Michel Callon and Bruno Latour, and their collaborators, flat ontology provides a way to bypass agency/structure dichotomy to inscribe network thinking in relations of democratization in Africa. The actor-network was originally theorized by Focault but not nurtured and, therefore, muted in his governmentality study. In this view, this thesis builds on the explanatory potentials of network analysis that enable a socio-technical account of political transition with all those particularities, contradictions and surprising turn of events. The 'old-guard autocrats' in politics in Nigeria is used as the human element of the network. The non-human element is operationalized through the institutionalized power sharing norm and political patronage relationships. The analysis thus recognizes the interaction between the human (elites) and the non-human (institution) as actors that define adaptive and emergent characters of democratization.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2015 in the subject Sociology - Political Sociology, Majorities, Minorities, grade: 1,8, University of Freiburg (Institute of Sociology), course: Sociology, language: English, abstract: This thesis argues that we can no longer ignore elite's enrolment of institutions in rendering what they do intelligible as political outcomes in our understanding of African politics. The complex interdependency between elites and institution inheres into politics in ways political practices and actions are fabricated as permissible in the state of affair. This interaction is best understood through Actor-Network Theory (ANT) which essentializes hybridization in its conceptualization of the world. In this network thinking, transitional elites align and advance their interests through translating and enrolling institutions in the process of democratization. The analysis draws from Nigeria's democratization experience to bring together the institutional components of the state and leadership, i.e. elites, which have been mostly analyzed as separate entities in the study of democratization. The actor-network theory is used both as a conceptual frame and as a method for analyzing democratization as an outcome of the content of the two main societal forces- elite and institution. The actor-network theory's, developed by Michel Callon and Bruno Latour, and their collaborators, flat ontology provides a way to bypass agency/structure dichotomy to inscribe network thinking in relations of democratization in Africa. The actor-network was originally theorized by Focault but not nurtured and, therefore, muted in his governmentality study. In this view, this thesis builds on the explanatory potentials of network analysis that enable a socio-technical account of political transition with all those particularities, contradictions and surprising turn of events. The 'old-guard autocrats' in politics in Nigeria is used as the human element of the network. The non-human element is operationalized through the institutionalized power sharing norm and political patronage relationships. The analysis thus recognizes the interaction between the human (elites) and the non-human (institution) as actors that define adaptive and emergent characters of democratization.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book In wie weit war Chancengleichheit beim Übergang in die Oberschule im Schulsystem der Sowjetischen Besatzungszone (SBZ) und späteren Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (DDR) gegeben? by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Das Modell der deutschen zweiphasigen Lehrerausbildung: Kritik und Reformansätze by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Fusionen im Sparkassensektor by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Das Gelage ist ein zentraler Ort dörflicher Sozialdisziplinierung by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Russland zwischen Februar- und Oktoberrevolution - zum Scheitern des 'demokratischen Experiments' by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Verliert die Lufthansa im weltweiten Luftverkehr an Zukunftsmärkten? by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Frühkindlicher Autismus: Skizze einer Störung by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Erzieherin in einer Kindertagesstätte. Anleitung einer Berufspraktikantin by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Eine kontrastive Analyse von deutschen und italienischen Kollokationen im Wortfeld 'Körperteile' by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book 'Gott mit uns?' - Kulturrevolution als konservative Therapie für eine gespaltene Gesellschaft im Zeitalter der Globalisierung by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Freiarbeit - Lernautonomie und Prinzipien der Freiarbeit by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Gibt es die Persönlichkeit des Amateursportlers? by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Die Neuregelung des Arzneimittel-Versandhandels im Gesundheitsmodernisierungsgesetz (GMG) by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Der Begriff der Freiheit bei Thomas Hobbes by Samson Ajagbe
Cover of the book Unterrichtsstunde: Grundlagen der Erziehbarkeit des Menschen erarbeitet an Arnold Gehlens anthropologischem Ansatz by Samson Ajagbe
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy