Social Conflicts – JSS3 Social Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Conflict is a disagreement or misunderstanding between two or more people or groups. It can occur between individuals, families, communities and nations.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define conflict;
2. distinguish between violent and non-violent conflict;
3. explain inter-personal, intra-personal, inter-communal and inter-ethnic conflict, with examples;
4. give examples of conflicts in Nigeria;
5. state the causes of conflict;
6. describe the positive and negative consequences of conflict on society.

What is conflict?

Conflict is a disagreement or clash of interests, ideas or actions between two or more parties.

• Between families: a dispute over land or inheritance.
• Between communities: a quarrel over boundaries or chieftaincy.
• Between nations: a war or a dispute over borders.

What are the types of conflict?

There are two main types of conflict: violent conflict and non-violent conflict.

What is violent conflict?

Violent conflict is a conflict that involves the use of physical force.

• Fighting: people attack one another with their hands or weapons.
• War: armies or armed groups fight, as in the Nigerian civil war.
• Riots: crowds destroy property and harm people.

What is non-violent conflict?

Non-violent conflict is a conflict that does not involve the use of physical force.

• Sports competition: teams compete under agreed rules and regulations.
• Debate: people argue their views with words, not force.
• Peaceful protest or strike: workers or students state their complaints without fighting.

What is the difference between violent and non-violent conflict?

What are the kinds of conflict by the people involved?

There are four kinds of conflict by the people involved: inter-personal, intra-personal, inter-communal and inter-ethnic.

What is inter-personal conflict?

Inter-personal conflict is a conflict between one person and another.

• Two persons must be involved.
• It usually comes from a misunderstanding between them.
• Example: two friends quarrel over a borrowed item.

What is intra-personal conflict?

Intra-personal conflict is a conflict within one individual, also called internal conflict.

• It happens inside a person’s mind.
• It occurs when an individual takes a wrong decision or makes a wrong choice.

What is the difference between inter-personal and intra-personal conflict?

What is inter-communal conflict?

Inter-communal conflict is a conflict between two communities.

• Ezillo and Ezza: Ebonyi State.
• Umuleri and Aguleri: Anambra State.
• Obosi and Onitsha: Anambra State.
• Modakeke and Ife: Osun State.

It can also be called intra-ethnic conflict when both communities belong to one ethnic group.

• Yoruba: Ife and Modakeke.
• Igbo: Aguleri, Umuleri, Ezza and Ezillo.

What is inter-ethnic conflict?

Inter-ethnic conflict is a conflict between two ethnic groups.

• It is also called intra-national conflict, because both groups are in the same nation, Nigeria.
• Examples: Hausa and Igbo, Itsekiri and Urhobo, Kataf and Hausa, Yoruba and Hausa.

What is the difference between inter-communal and inter-ethnic conflict?

What are the examples of conflict in Nigeria?

Nigeria has experienced many conflicts, including wars, riots, protests and strikes.

• Civil war: fought between 1967 and 1970.
• Students’ protests: for example the “Ali Must Go” protest.
• Intertribal wars: for example the Ife and Modakeke war.
• Religious riots and wars: particularly in the northern part of the country (Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Maiduguri), and the issue of Boko Haram.
• Workers’ strikes and protests: for example the judiciary and health workers’ strikes.
• Electoral protests: these led to the burning of valuable property and the destruction of lives.

What are the causes of conflict?

The causes of conflict are the factors that make people or groups disagree or fight.

• Selfishness: a person thinks only of himself or herself.
• Lack of cooperation: people refuse to work together.
• Bad leadership: a leader is unable to perform his functions well.
• Religious intolerance: people cannot accept other people’s beliefs.
• Communication gap: two people or nations fail to share information or understand each other.
• Laziness and inefficiency: work is left undone and others suffer.
• Increase in crime: criminal acts among people cause fear and quarrels.
• Land and boundary disputes: two parties claim the same land.
• Unfair treatment: people feel cheated or left out.

What are the consequences of conflict on society?

The consequences of conflict can be positive or negative.

What are the positive consequences of conflict?

A consequence is positive when the conflict has been effectively managed.

• Better understanding: the parties learn each other’s views.
• Better relationships: both sides benefit from the amicable settlement.

What are the negative consequences of conflict?

A consequence is negative when the conflict is badly handled or turns violent.

• Break-down of law and order: rules are no longer obeyed.
• Uncertainty and crime: confusion, robbery and kidnapping increase.
• Loss of lives and property: people die and buildings are destroyed.
• Hindered activities: social and economic activities in the society stop.
• School closures: schools, colleges and universities close temporarily.
• Rustication and lost sessions: students are sent out of school or miss their academic sessions.
• Disturbed school calendar: the school year is adversely affected.
• Theft and vandalism: schools and society in general suffer damage.
• Hunger and diseases: for example kwashiorkor, as seen during the civil war in Nigeria.
• Slow development: all aspects of development in society are hindered.

How can conflict be settled peacefully?

Peaceful settlement is the use of talks and fair processes to end a conflict without violence.

1. Dialogue: the parties talk openly about the problem.
2. Negotiation: the parties bargain to reach an agreement themselves.
3. Mediation: a neutral person helps the parties to agree, for example an elder or a religious leader.
4. Arbitration: a neutral person or panel hears both sides and gives a decision.
5. Court action: a court gives a legal judgement that the parties must obey.

Evaluation

1. Define conflict.
2. Explain the difference between violent and non-violent conflict, with one example of each.
3. What is the difference between inter-personal and intra-personal conflict?
4. State four causes of conflict.
5. State four negative consequences of conflict on society.

Assignment

Explain the difference between inter-communal conflict and inter-ethnic conflict, giving one Nigerian example of each. Then describe how a conflict can have a positive consequence.