The Political Economy of Nigeria – Indonesia A Strategic Analysis of Secular States

Abstract

Nigeria and Indonesia are similar in countless ways however Indonesia has long escaped from the stagnancy of underdevelopment and economic backwardness leaving Nigeria behind as she is still engulfed with challenges of ethno-religiosity bedeviling her economic development. The study contends that both Nigeria and Indonesia are secular states, yet ethno-religion has little or no impact on the economic policies and developmental strides in Indonesia, whereas, Nigeria is deeply rooted and influenced by ethnic and religious divides. The study adopts time-series or trend research design, via comparative approach, documentary method of data collection, qualitative method of data analysis. The study is anchored on structural-functionalism as the theoretical beacon of analysis. The study deciphered that ethnic-religiosity, corruption, and leadership ineptitude/failure are undoubtedly factors that have continually bedeviled the Nigerian body-politic, as these factors determine to a huge extent the kind of public policy and economic policy made in Nigeria, which constitutes her economic woes. The study recommends amongst others that the Nigerian government should borrow a leaf from Indonesia in formulating economic policies that can stand the test and taste of time, devoid of ethno-religiosity. More so, there is a need to rebuild nationalism and patriotism against ethnicity and religious differences.