Social Deprivation In Nigeria

Deprivation theory posits that social movement formation and growth was as a result of the lack of access for the people to what could make life worth living for them. A good example in Nigeria is the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereignty State of Biafra (MASSOB). Other similar movement sprang up in other parts of the country to protest one form of injustice or the other

Goes to show that people who are even witnessing improved living conditions are likely to keep agitating for more. One critical point to be noted here is that absolute deprivation may not aggravate the formation of social movement but relative deprivation. As captivating as the theory seems, it has the shortcoming of only explaining the causes of social movement

It is this conviction that the leadership of such social movements worked on to enhance the commitment of members within the group. They must not only be aware of their poor living conditions but be convinced that they are actually living in abject poverty compared to others, hence a change is needed.

·The problem comes when the society fails to meet these expectations. This was the situation that led to the formation of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in Nigeria. As an oil producing society, the people expect much from the government in terms of infrastructural facilities, education, economic empowerment etc. which was not forthcoming, hence the formation of their social movement

·They also must be armed with explanations as to the causes of their suffering as well as the solutions to them. Grievances at this stage are often expressed through demonstrations etc.

·There must be a precipitating factor: for social movement formation, people must have been complaining for a longtime but all that is needed for the eruption of a collective action is a minor governmental policy such as fuel scarcity, tax increment, hike in school fees, etc. this is enough to spark of revolts thus collective behavior leading to a social

They provide aids both in cash and kind and they help popularize the group through the mass media, which put them on world notice. Such was the support given by the United States to the pro-democracy groups in the old Soviet Union until socialism collapsed.

Social movements are different from each other across societies, however their goal remains virtually the same and that is seeking a change in the existing order of things or maintenance of the system pattern. Tilly (2004) and other scholars have identified four phases in the life of any social movement in spite of their differences across the globe. These they put as emergence, coalescence, bureaucratization and decline.

On emergence it is said that a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction often provoke people to desire a change. Others may also spring up due partly, to the awareness of the general populace on the issue of concern to them.

At the same time, the leadership must embark on enlightenment campaign through rallies, public debates, etc. The policies as well as methods of achieving its aim and objectives must be developed at this stage. Thereafter its leadership must start massive recruitment of members and forge alliances with sympathetic groups for