Communal Resource Conflict Dynamics and Socio-Economic Development in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A communal resource conflict dynamics is slowly taking over the conflict between states which appears to have dominated the international state since the end of the Second World War. The harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence that characterized rural dwellers, especially in Cross River State seems to have been torn apart owing to the daily occurrence of crisis within the polity which has in no small measure undermined the development of the social and economic lives of the people. This crisis manifests in different forms, common among them include; civil wars, violence and conflicts, land disputes, gang violence and political wars, etc. The critical nature of this crisis and its devastating implications are obvious socio economic well-being of the affected communities. The study adopted a survey research design. Out of the eighteen (18) local governments in the state, the study purposively selected some local governments with incessant communal crises. This led to four (4) communities which made up the 4 clusters which were systematically selected for the study. Data for the study were collected using a questionnaire from three hundred and seventy ( 375) respondents who were randomly selected from four (4) communities within the study area. Chi-square (X2) was used as an analytical tool to test hypotheses. Data collected were analyzed at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings confirm that socio-economic underdevelopment could be a negative consequence of communal crisis.