Peaceful co-existence: A tool for sustainable development along the boundary corridor of Nigeria

Abstract

This article deals with the relationship between peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. This is against the backdrop of the conflicts that arose as a result of the balkanization of Africa after the Berlin conference, which was done without due regard to traditional boundaries and consanguinity. Political independence provides a window of self-awareness and movements to counter the challenges of the partitioning. These movements manifest in border clashes and betrayals, rather than peace and development. Adopting the Border theory, we theorize that balkanization creates new borders which results in border competition for scarce economic resources or political opportunities that were not there before the partitioning. Land, water and minerals that were hitherto collectively owned before the balkanization became new sources of conflict along the new boundaries. Discourse analysis is the analytical method adopted for the study. We argue that peaceful co-existence rather than movements aimed at correcting the partitioning is a panacea for sustainable development along the boundaries. Specifically peaceful co-existence enhances sustainable development along the boundary corridor.