The Making of Ecological Debt: Power Contestation Around Oli Exploitation in The Niger Delta

Mercyta Jorsvinna G, Maharani Hapsari

2017 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

ABSTRACT This undergraduate thesis aims to explain how unequal power relations partaking between the superior and inferior actors are contributing to the making of ecological debt. Using the case study of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta, unequal power relations are divided into two specific time frame: the colonial era of Nigeria and the post-colonial era of Nigeria. During the colonial era of Nigeria, unequal power relations took place in the form of British colonial expansion, granting exclusive oil licenses solely to British company – Shell d’Arcy, forcefully expulsing the locals off their lands, as their lands are utilized for oil-extraction area. They were turned from the previously owner into non-owner of resources, severely marginalized as both British and Shell cooperated together to accumulate oil profit to prosper their own interests. After the colonial expansion perished, unequal power persisted through post-colonial government corrupted behavior, stealing the oil wealth to strengthen their political positions and patron-clients relations. Similarly, the locals’ rights were denied and movements aimed to alter this unjust system were responded coercively. This inability for Niger Delta’s locals to claim over their own resources in terms of lands and oil wealth, constructed the ecological debt – demand for justice. These debts came in a form of poor development, non-existent infrastructure, severe health issues, and high number of unemployment found after the oil industry commenced. Karl Marx’s theory of primitive accumulation is utilized to explain how the locals were separated from their properties through inhumane actions, and ecologically unequal exchange theory is used to further elaborate how unequal power persisted in spite of the departure of colonial power. As ecological debt deals with demand for justice, the thesis will therefore argue that the more marginalized the locals are, the greater the ecological debt is, and this could be seen from the number of social movements and whether or not the government responded well towards their demands. Keywords: Unequal Power, Ecological Debt, Primitive Accumulation, Nigeria, and Oil.

Kata Kunci : Minyak