WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA
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Date
2009
Authors
Adeboye, O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press
Abstract
Drawing its examples from both Islam and Christianity, this study examines the political relevance of women’s religious associations in Nigeria in the post independence period. The main issue is to find out the contributions of these organizations to both democratic inauguration and consolidation in Nigeria. This research agenda also tries to resolve a seeming paradox presented by the insertion of ‘socially subjugated’ women as political champions, into a religious context permeated by supposedly sacrosanct ideas. The paper adopts the civil society argument, and also distinguishes between direct and indirect engagement of the religious associations with other actors within the Nigerian political arena. In addition, the study seeks to find out if and how these organizations fostered the type of social capital that was useful during the transition to democracy and its present maintenance. By addressing the political relevance of women, this study therefore goes beyond the issue of gender barriers faced by women in the religious, economic and social realms, and portrays them as veritable agents of political change.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Association , Democracy , Women , Religion , Research Subject Categories::HUMANITIES and RELIGION::History and philosophy subjects
Citation
Adeboye, O. A. (2009). Women's Religious Association and Democracy in Nigeria in Julius O. Adekunle (ed.), Religion in Politics: Secularism and National Integration in Modern Nigeria, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 239-262