State - Society Relations in Nigeria explores the problematics of democratic consolidation, conflicts and reforms in Nigeria's contemporary political history. It analyses the, history, structures and dynamics of low intensity conflicts, the neo-liberal economic and political reforms, the war against corruption, as well as the challenges of democratization, good governance and development. The book adopts an integrative methodology based on a trans-disciplinary, multi-track, and empirically-grounded analytical framework. On the strength of a dynamic interface of social theory and empirical realities, the contributors offer useful functional guides to Nigerian policy makers and local and international stakeholders concerned with the challenges of helping to rebuild Africa's most populous and largest oil producing state. _________________________________________ "Dr Kenneth Omeje's edited book could not be timelier or more valuable. Nigeria is one of the strongest and most influential countries in Africa. Yet it has struggled with internal unrest, failures in economic development, and serious flaws in its fledgling electoral democracy. Dr Omeje's book provides a comprehensive, balanced, and objective assessment of governmental and societal developments over the last decade along with a first class analysis of the deeper political and societal factors at work." - Dr Princeton N. Lyman Former US Ambassador to Nigeria & Adjunct Senior Fellow for African Policy Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC "It is hard to underestimate the significance of Nigeria, not only geopolitically as a major oil supplier to the world's markets, but also, as a bellwether for the heath of Africa. The 2007 elections have demonstrated that the concerns addressed in Kenneth Omeje's important book State-Society Relations in Nigeria speak to the political transitions under way across the continent and the sorts of challenges that emerge in the interstices of neoliberal reform, resource-dependency and a vibrant polity in which new civic organizations are hitting their stride. A timely and pathbreaking volume." - Prof Michael Watts Director of the Centre for African Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA "Kenneth Omeje and his co-authors must be congratulated for their presentation of a wealth of new material in this synthetic, concisely written and well informed survey of a key period in Nigeria's post-colonial history. A much needed and convincingly argued contribution to the disentanglement of rhetoric from reality under the Obasanjo presidency." - Prof Daniel Bach Centre for African Studies, Institut d'Etudes Politiques, University of Bordeaux, France.