Political Ideology Essay Example for Free

semipolitical Ideology riseAbstract Are these heady days for Nigerian establishmental parties? This is the main question, which this piddle a stylusup addresses with emphasis on polity-making ideology, being the firstborn and most heavy vehicle of a policy-making political society. It is argued that despite all told pretences to the contrary through their manifestoes, as much as the superficial classifications as the left and right, continuous tense and conservative, Nigerian parties seem to be unbeloved of clear ideologic commitments.This conclusion is predicated upon the relegation of goernance of issues to the background across the various republics, and in its indicate the ascendancy of identity and money governance. Other particularors allow in the rising magnitude of political vagrancy on the tooshie of selfish and parochial interests, the high level of ships company indiscipline, absence/weakness of companionship cohesion and informal republic, a nd the high mortality and turnover of party leadinghip. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of this for Nigerias democratization and egalitarian consolidation, before concluding with slightly recommendations. 1. Introduction.Are these heady days for Nigerian political parties? It does non seem so. Although, the decade of the 1990s witnessed the massive spread of what Huntington (1991) referred to as the third riffle of democratization to Africa, including Nigeria, leading to an unprecedented resurgence of multiparty political relation, thither is no controversy most the fact that the genuine adoption of party pluralism will non automatically dismiss the cause of democracy without the institutionalization of certain institutional parameters to promote and sustain due process in theory and practice (See, Bratton and Van de Walle, 1992 1997 Sorensen,612 J Shola Omotola, MS. , saviours University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria 1993). One of the most multifactorial and c ritical institutions of democracy is political party. Political parties, as dischargers of democracy, do been so romanticized that scholars befool claimed that neither democracy nor democratic societies are thinkable without them.They non further execute functions that are government related, such(prenominal) as making government accountable and exercising control over government administration and electorate related functions such as political representation, expression of peoples solicit through interest articulation and aggregation as well as structuring of electoral choices except besides linkage related functions, playing an intermediary and mediatory role surrounded by the government and the electorate (see, Moore, 2002 Lapalombara and Anderson, 2001 Simon, 1962).Following Omotola (2005a) and Egwu (2005), Saliu and Omotola (2006) fix pointed out that political parties slew only cope effectively with these responsibilities to the extent of their political instituti onalization in impairment of structure, internal democracy, cohesion and discipline, as much as their autonomy. The element of party autonomy is very crucial.For, as onlyi Mari Tripp has argued, and rightly so, those organizations that have asserted the greatest autonomy have generally been able to select their hold leaders, push for far-r separatelying agendas, and involve themselves in politics to a greater extent than organizations that have been tied to the regimen/or dominant party, either formally or through informal patronage ne bothrks (Tripp, 2001101). A eminence of caution is necessary here to avoid confusion. The relationship between political parties and the state is a complex one.This is because it is the party that forms the government, the latter(prenominal) being the institution of the state. To now talk of a hard-line demarcation between the two whitethorn be unrealistic. Yet, the relationship should be well defined such that political parties, curiously the o ne in big businessman, as a critical segment of two the state and society, can whoop it up some reasonable degree of societal autonomy, the absence of which poses serious threats to political self-ag gramisingization, democratization and democratic consolidation (Tripp, 2001105).In such a situation, multiparty democracy can be adapted for the politicization of ethnicity and further 613 J Shola Omotola, MS. , the Nazarenes University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria elite enrichment encouraging a confrontational and divisive system (cf Dicklitch, 2002205). The import of the forward discussion, to take a cue from Saliu and Omotola (20062), is that the level of political institutionalization of political parties and their institutional strengths are directly check to their ability to discharge their ascribed responsibilities, and by extension, the strengths of democracy.When well institutionalized, political parties can serve as a personate of mediating institutions through which di fferences in ideas, interests and perception of political problems at a abandoned clock time can be managed (Olagunju, 2000 Omotola, 2005a). However, when the reverse is the trip, the democracy project and the general system stand the risk of perversion and eventual breakdown. whatever the case, it is important to none that at the very heart of the success or otherwise of political party is the important question of political ideology.The issue of ideology has been so central to the activities of political parties across time and space that Anson D. Morse (189676) has argued that ideology, being the durable convictions held in common by party members in complaisance to the most desirable form, institutions, spirit and course of operation of the state, determines the natural attitude of a party towards every public question (cf. Iyare, 200481).In an incisive piece on political party convention, Richard Davies and Vincent J. Strickler (19961025) similarly argue that ideology fu nctions as planks, that is, single issue statements within the platform, the exact ideological orientation of which is frequently employ as a bargaining chip in seeking party unity. Here, the platform connotes a statement of the official party position on a variety of issues.Okudiba Nnoli (2003177-82) in addition concludes that ideology is a very crucial aspect of politics, not only by constituent as a cognitive structure for looking at society generally and providing a prescriptive formula, that is, a guidebook to undivided action and judgement, but also as a powerful instrument of conflict management, selfidentification, ordinary mobilization and legitimization. It may, therefore, be correct to assert that the first and most important vehicle of a political party, below an ideal situation, should be its ideological stance. 614 J Shola Omotola, MS. , saviours University, Move, Ogun State, NigeriaIn reality, however, this is seldom the case. Perhaps, due to the superficia lity of democratic roots especially in the developing countries, other forces of identity particularly ethnicity and religion would shape up to have taken the place of ideology. The rising influence of money politics represents another crucial restrain dimension (see, Nugent, 2001a 2001b 2001c 1999 1995 Gros, 1998 Omotola, 2004). What is the situation with Nigerian parties? Put antithetically, do Nigerian parties have ideology? How has its ideological school shaped and influenced the course of party politics in the artless?The main thrust of this chapter is to critically busy these questions with a view to suggesting ways of reviving and raising the consciousness of Nigerian parties with regard to the centrality of ideology to party activities and effectiveness. The paper is organized into a number of sections. Firstly, it will analyze the place of ideology in political theory. The second substantive section situates Nigerian parties in historical perspectives, tracing briefly their founding and suppuration as a precursor to the analysis of the place of ideology in Nigerian parties across antithetical epochs.The last substantive part of the paper, drawing on its immediate preceding section, engages the central question of whether Nigerian parties have ideology or not. It is argued that despite all pretences to the contrary through their manifestoes, as much as the superficial classifications as the left and right, progressive and conservative parties, Nigerian parties seem to be bereft of clear ideological commitments. This conclusion is predicated upon the relegation of politics of issues to the background across the various republics, and in its place the ascendancy of identity and money politics.Other factors include the rising magnitude of political vagrancy on the basis of selfish and parochial interests, the high level of party indiscipline, absence/weakness of party cohesion and internal democracy, and the high mortality and turnover of party l eadership. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of this for Nigerias democratization and democratic consolidation, before concluding. 615 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria 2. Ideology and Political Theory.Ideology represents a typically crucial element of political parties and their activities. It is a set of ideas about politics, all of which are related to one another and that modify and lose each other. Though relatively enduring, it is yet a dynamic phenomenon, capable of being modified by new issues. It was in this light that Philips W. Shively (1997) defines an ideology as a continually developing, organized set of ideas about politics that helps us to make sense of the myriad of political questions that face use.For Okudiba Nnoli, ideology typifies a systematized and interconnected set of ideas about the socio-economic and political organization of society as a complete (Nnoli, 2003 178). The supposition of ideology, is, histor ically, deeply rooted in political theory. As a concept, it was coined by the late eighteenth blow French philosopher, Destutt de Tracy (1754 1836). match to Nnoli (2003177), Destutt de Tracy used it to describe a new scientific discipline that systematically studies ideas, emotions and sensations the attainment of ideas.This conception has since changed and ideology has come to embody the ideas themselves. As a result of the changes, ideology has come to be presented as a subject representing two contradictory realities the good and the bad, the former depicting ideology as a system of thought that animates accessible or political action, and the latter as a misleading, illusory or one-sided criticism or condemnation (cf Nnoli, 2003178-79). This was the kind of debate that dominated political discourse in the midnineteenth century.For instance, in their The German Ideology, Marx and Engels (1960) took a swipe at Hegel and his-co-travelers, describing them as ideologists of t he bourgeois system, not articulate about the material conditions of social and political liveness. Yet, they went ahead to articulate another conception of ideology based on class analysis as a device for articulating the conflicting interests of diametrical social classes (Nnoli, 2003178). 616 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria.From whatever perspective one looks as it, the reality of political flavor across political systems, developed or developing, is the fact of multiple political options from which inevitably, choice(s) must be made. At such critical crossroads, ideology provides a ready guide for appropriate action. Philips W. Shively posits that ideology is useful to people, both for their own personal ease and satisfaction and for their public political activities. At the individual level, ideology helps to make sense reasonably easily and quickly of the varied political questions that come to ones attention.In terms of its public uti lities, it helps people to make persuasive arguments convincingly to enlist popular support for a given public policy (Shively, 199746 47). On the whole, therefore, ideology is an indispensable element of politics. It does not only serve as a major instrument of state power, playing major role in the acquisition, use and consolidation of power, but also functions as political heartline for the animation of politics, forcing individuals and groups alike to make political judgment, especially in the face of competing and conflicting divides, as between capitalism and socialism, during the Cold War.On these notes, Nnoli (2003181-83) summarizes the functions of ideology as that of providing A cognitive structure for looking at society generally, be serving as an explanatory and justificatory category for societal realities A prescriptive formula a guide to individual action and judgment as a basis for the legitimization of public polities when in conformity with popular belief An i nstrument of conflict management and the integration of society by limiting the basic set and issues over which societal members and disagree A way of self-identification for the satisfaction of specific personality needs, a means of self-evaluation and social solidarityA dynamic force in both individual and collective commitment action for or against the control class or decision. That is, it provides a powerful basis for mobilization 617 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria Enhancement of the political magic spells of a political party, by differentiating one party from another and Negatively, may serve not only as a serious impediment to national integration and overcome the down the stairsprivileged, but also to disguise authoritarian rule. This is because, it tends to provide individuals with imaginary avenues of escape from the harsh realities of social life (Nnoli, 2003183). It is important to note that ideologies do have certain defin ing attributes.Most notable among these include the fact that they are not simply the creation of those who hold them. Rather, they tend to take on a life of their own and guide the political views of their holders in unanticipated ways (see, Price and Sullivan, 1980 Freeden, 1996). In most cases, ideologies formulate from seemingly irreconcilable antagonistic settings, tend to be exclusive, absolute and universal in character and can be personalized and turned into a sacred belief similar to religious beliefs. While it is not entirely permanent, it is, however, resistant to fundamental changes (see, Sibley, 1970 Nnoli, 2003 Enemuo, 1999). Some illustrations suffice.Across time and space, various forms of ideologies have emerged at different times, Marxism and not in the least, African socialism. For space constraints, we can not examine each of these here. It is however important to note that most of these ideologies do fit correctly to the aforementioned attributes. For instance, almost all such ideologies such as conservatism and socialism emerged in situation of acute social strain, in result to liberalism and capitalism respectfulnessively. While liberalism emphasizes individualism ( freehandeddom, liberty), conservatism harps on collectivism characteristic of welfarist states.Despite their long history, attacks and counterattacks against each other, both liberalism and conservation still remain prominent ideologies in western democracies particularly the United States of American and big Britain (see, Rudolph, Jr. , 1996 Kay, 1976). Today, the emphasis in political theory is predominantly on democratic ideology.David Howarth 618 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria defines a democratic ideology as one involving the classification and analysis of different geeks of democratic ideologies, as they are articulated and function in concrete societies. It includes various democratic forms and institutions as capitalist/lib eral democracy and radical democracy. It also reflects on the differences within a given type such as direct and indirect variants of liberal democracy (Howarth, 2001 191-94).Essentially, democratic ideology centers on the way in which the language and rhetoric of democracy function as a tool of ideological justification and legitimization by political elites and ruling classes. It also focuses on cultural and ethnical conditions for the proper functioning of liberal democratic states and societies, requiring in the least, a belief in or at least an acceptance of democracy (see, Putnam, 1993 1995 1996).Above all, democratic ideology typifies the use of democracy by social groups and political forces to constitute their identities and advance their interests. Here, according to Howarth (2001193), democracy is itself a key ideological element in political mobilization and struggle, and is used to create political frontiers between differently located social groups and agencies.Democr atic ideology therefore captures the whole essence of our theoretical postulations on the centrality of ideology to the exploits of political parties. What needs to be added is that an umbrella party (Catch-All Party) that seeks to appeal to diverse interests, usually by adopting a general or vague platform, may not needs stick to only one ideology and vice versa. This is the case in the United States where in the two dominant parties Democrats and commonwealthan there are Liberals, Moderates and blimpishs. The reverse is the case in Great Britain where the Labour and Conservative parties are each highly centralized and less catch-all in nature than American parties (see, Rudolph, Jr. , 1996 1021).Yet, in either case, the parties are known for their well-defined and distinct ideologies. 619 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria 3. Origin and step-up of Nigerian Parties Philips, W. Shively (1997200) observed that although political party had tur ned to be useful for a variety of tasks that admit control or communication, it was first invented for to a greater extent limited and self serving purposes. This observation aptly captures the Nigerian reality. At its inception in 1923, precisely 24 June, 1923, following the introduction of the elective principle by the Clifford constitution, Nigerian parties had very limited and self-serving objectives.The main objective was perhaps, that of buying legitimacy for the colonial government through very limited franchise restricted to Lagos and Calabar. Richard Sklar, in his seminal work Nigerian Political Parties demonstrates articulately how the emergence of political associations such as the Peoples Union, was only in response to the prevailing realities of colonial administration (Sklar, 1963 Coleman, 1958). Little wonder, when the first political party in Nigeria, the Nigerian bailiwick Democratic Party (NNDP) emerged in 1923, under the leadership of Herbert Macaulay, its act ivities were restricted to contesting elections into the Lagos city council.For years, the UNDP was hegemonic in its dominance in electoral politics in the country. This was to be challenged by the Lagos early days Movement latter Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM)- make in 1934 and defeated the NNDP for the three seats allocated to Lagos that year. By 1944, the increasing tempo of nationalic agitation had resulted in the formation of another political party the subject field Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (CNCN), under the leadership of Herbert Macaulay and subsequently Nnamdi Azikwe (see, Sklar, 1968 46-50).This was followed, in quick succession, by the transformation of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a Yoruba sociocultural organization, into a political party, the Action pigeonholing (AG) in 1950 under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Northern People Congress (NPC) in 1959 with dominance in the northern region.By 1951, a breakaway faction of the NPC consisting mainly o f radical youths based in Kano formed the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU). These parties dominated the political landscape of the country particularly in their respective regions in the 620 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria march towards independence and in the First res publica (see, Dudley, 1973 Sklar, 1963). Although the Second Republic (1979 1983) witnessed the emergence of more political parties, there was no much difference with what obtained under the First Republic.Rather, what happened was the reincarnation of parties of the First Republic under different nomenclatures with some additional parties. The parties included the depicted object Party of Nigeria (NPN), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) replacing the NPC, AG and NCNC, respectively. Others were the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP), and later Nigerian Advance Party (NAP), which was registered in 1982, after failing the first round in 1978 (Osaghae, 1998). These parties constituted major actors in the Second Republic. Under the aborted Third Republic, there was a fundamental change in the mode of party formation in Nigeria.This pertains to the official formation of parties by the state after a series of experiments with different political associations (see, Oyediran and Agbaje, 1991). The parties were the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC), the former being a niggling to the left and the latter a itsy-bitsy to the right (see, Olagunju, et al, 1993216 Omoruyi, 2002). This increase, executed after the dissolution of the thirteen associations that applied for registration has been as part of the grand design to execute a hidden agenda to perpetuate the military regime in power (Osaghae, 1998220). The eventual annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election by the military regime of general Babangida lends some credence to this claim. The country once again returned to multi-party democracy in 1999 following the rebirth inaugurated and successfully immaculate by General Abdulsalm Abubakar. Initially, three political parties Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Peoples Party (APP), later All Nigerian People Party (ANPP), and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) were registered by the Independent National Electoral consignment (INEC). By December 2002, the number of registered parties rose to thirty (30), firearm additional three 621 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria political parties were registered in January/February 2006 (see, Simbine, 2005 Onu and Momoh, 2005). This presupposes the opening up of the political space for democratic opportunities and development.But in reality, the opportunities associated with such openings are yet to be positively exploited for the political development of the country. This may not be unconnected with the poverty of ideology that characte rizes Nigerian parties, as will be demonstrated in the next section. 4. Nigerian Parties and Ideological Dispositions Let us begin with parties of the First Republic, that is, the NPC, NCNC and AG. Ideologically, the NPC was an essentially conservative and elitist party, while the AG and NCNC appeared to be progressive and welfarist, predicated upon collectivised ideology. Even at that, it may be difficult to delineated the very ideological orientation of these parties.They, however, share a common feature of ethno-regional ideology, seeking to capture and merge power in their respective spheres of influence/region. They were also driven by a commitment to the nationalist struggle, though in varying degrees, against colonialism. The ambiguity as regards their ideological disposition can further be gleaned from the pattern of alignment between/among the parties. For example, the resolve of the NPC and NCNC, two ideologically incompatible parties, the former to the right and the la tter to the left, to enter into the trammel that formed the government during the First republic attests to this. Scholars have pointed out that the alliance was a marriage of inconvenience, and would have been better between the AG and NCNC.Because the alliance was not informed by a commitment to a belief system and principles espoused by party ideology, it crumbled, sooner than expected, like a park of cards (see, Dudley, 1993 Post and Vickers, 1973 Olaniyi, 199787). In terms of ideological orientations, parties of the Second Republic would appear, safe for the GNPP, to be the reincarnations of the parties of the moribund First Republic. 622 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria For this and related reasons, there were no fundamental differences in party politics and activities, as the country was once again mired in a vituperative and vicious politics (Yaqub, 2002 125).This was graphically captured by the unprecedented pace of intra and inter-pa rty factionalization and conflicts. Political vagrancy permeates the political landscape, leaving in its wake major realignments and coalitions among the parties (see, Osaghae, 1998139 44). Notably, the formation of the so-called forum of the progressive governors consisting of PRP, GNPP, NPP and UPN was unable to survive long, as the ruling NPN used its federal might and patronage to attract decampees from other parties. Eventually, it succeeded in wooing the NPP of the East, in a manner reminiscent of the First Republic into an alliance, which like the earlier one, collapsed sooner than expected.The eventual breakdown of the alliance marked the beginning of internal crisis for the NPP, following the refusal of some of its top leaders particularly Mathew Mbu and Professor Ishaya Audu to publish their appointments in government (Osaghae, 1998140). Logically, it may be argued that if the parties had been guided by a clear commitment to a particular belief system and principles, muc h of the crisis and contradictions that characterized party politics under the Second Republic could have been averted. But, since the parties were motivated largely by ethnic competition for power through their respective ethnic champions, naught more could have been expected. As Osaghae has argued, while the instrumentalist, to the attainment of this feat (1998144).The degeneration of party politics through political vagrancy, elite factionalization and weak institutionalization led to the military coup of December 31, 1983 that brought the Second Republic into an abrupt end. Yet, the NPP and GNPP appeared to be liberal in ideology with a strong belief in motley economy the NPN conservative with emphasis on free market system and respect for traditional institutions.The PRP, a leftist and most radical party had a populist, antineocolonial agenda and advocates social revolution and income redistribution and the UPN the most disciplined, socialist/welfarist in orientation was base d on the 623 J Shola Omotola, MS., Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria philosophy of free education and heath care delivery (see, Ujo, 200091-102 Osaghae, 1998118-122).The aborted Third Republic witnessed a new experiment in party formation, when for the first time in the history of party politics in Nigeria the government created and compel two political parties on the system. Ordinarily, the existence of two political parties should represent two different ideological camps, as has been the case between the Labour and Conservative parties in Britain and Democrats and Republican parties in the USA. This was not the case with respect to the SDP and NRC in Nigeria.Although, while one was a little to the left and other a little to the right, nothing much differentiates the parties, at least not in ideological dispositions (see, Jinadu, 1995 Lewis, 1994 Oyediran and Agbaje, 1991 Adejumobi, 1997). Yaqub (2002128) had written about party politics under the Third Republic tha t The way incompatibility had been manifested in the two parties was not basically due to serious ideological divisions (in any case, the manifestoes of the parties, despite phrase mongering of a little to the left, and a little to the right, did not articulate much programme differences), but to assert, that even if we are to follow Babangidas words, the old lines of cleavages and primordial loyalties once again simply asserted themselves.If parties of previous republics were found abstracted on ideological stance and commitment, those of the Fourth Republic are obviously worse. Omoruyi (20028) has noted that the manner of origin of the parties does not fit into what we know from literature, their composition fluid and unstable, and can be viewed as mere instruments of transition from military to civil rule. And for the future and with the prospect for more parties, they raise more questions than answers to the lingering political problems for Nigeria.According to him, the PDP, for example, draws its founders from all and sundry political persuasions conservatives, radicals and progressives (Ghali Nabba, 624 J Shola Omotola, MS., Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria 2001 cf Omoruyi, 20028), most of whom back up the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and flirted with the military during the annulment and in the post-annulment period including some serving as ministers or members of the ING or as member of the Abacha undemocratic constitutional conference or as leaders of some of the five political parties set up and managed by General Abachas aides that lastly endorsed him as the sole presidential candidate in April 1998 (Omoruyi, 20028-9). The APP did not differ in any respect as its founders also served as ministers or as aides in different parts of the country under Abacha.The AD that looks different was, however, affected by its inability to meet the federal character clause in the constitution and up till today remains essentially a Yoruba party. It was perhaps the forego faulty origin and precarious foundations of these parties that have been largely responsible for their seeming ideological barrenness. Although, the PDP and APP (ANPP) were status quo parties, given their capitalist and conservative dispositions and the AD progressive and radical in appearance, none of them seems to have clear policy positions as a basis of popular mobilization and legitimacy of their actions. Judging by their activities, it has been observed that theres almost nothing to chose, between PDP and other parties in terms of ideological learning (Iyare, 200492).Simbine (2002200523) has also observed that the manifestoes of the first three political parties were essentially the same in content, as they were not crafted differently, and the strategies for achieving objectives did not differentiate parties from each other. In a seeming self-indictment passage, Jerry Gana, a former Minister of education and PDP stalwart observes In terms of cohesion and firm ideological learning, there is a problem but PDP will be transformed, PDP will be strong, PDP will be strengthened ideological, PDP will be more organized, PDP will be in power for 30 years (quoted in Iyare, 200494).625 J Shola Omotola, MS. , Redeemers University, Move, Ogun State, Nigeria Given the obvious poverty of ideology that characterizes the first three political parties of the Fourth Republic, PDP, APP and AD, it should not be surprising that almost all the other parties that sprang up or broke away from them did no do so because of ideological disagreements.Neither was it that they have articulated alternative views of governance for sustainable democracy and development as a viable basis of popular mobilization to wrestle power from the incumbent party. Rather, they were products of adversarial elite behaviour taken to the points of irreconcilability. Little wonder, these parties also have no ideological stance on major national qu estions other than the transformation and manipulation of forces of identity particularly ethnicity and religion (see, Simbine, 2005). The implication is that the so-called political parties are not in competition with one another.They are in factions these factions are more in competition within themselves than with another party (Omoruyi, 200217). An informed observer and consistent scholar of Nigerian politics captures the scenario thus Unfortunately, the succeeding generations of party leaders, despite having their forbearers legacies to draw from and better educational background into the bargain, have not demonstrated this perspicacity.