Does Exposure to Other Ethnic Regions Promote National Integration? : Evidence from Nigeria

Okunogbe, Oyebola

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: NATIONAL INTEGRATION;    NATION BUILDING;    NATIONAL SERVICE;    INTERNAL MIGRATION;    DIVERSITY;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8606
RP-ID  :  WPS8606

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper examines how temporarymigration to a different ethnic region affects nationalintegration. It uses original survey data from individualswho were randomly exposed to different ethnic regions ofNigeria during their mandatory national service, the largestprogram of its kind in Africa. Comparing participants whoserved in a state where they are the ethnic majority tothose who served in a state where they are not indicates twoconcurrent effects. First, interethnic exposure creates astronger connection to the country as a whole: exposedparticipants have greater national pride and more positiveattitudes about Nigeria, they are more knowledgeable aboutother parts of the country, and they are four times aslikely to be living outside their ethnic region seven yearslater. Second, consistent with social identity theory,immersion in a different ethnic region highlightsdistinctions between groups and reinforcesparticipants' connection to their ethnic group: exposedparticipants have more positive attitudes toward their ownethnic group, but not others, and are more likely to haveall their closest friends from their ethnic group.