Go to the BBC country profile for Iran and Nigeria and answer the following questions:
1. What is the most interesting analysis you came across in the "Overview" section? Why?
2. Choose a fact from the "Facts" section that you think helps to explain a general theme that is prevalent in each of the countries. Why did you choose this fact and why is it particularly illuminating?
3. Identify and explain one similarity and one difference between the media in Iran and Nigeria. How can these comparisons help to better understand the dynamics of each country's political systems?
4. Compare and contrast the influence of religion and oil in these two countries.
5. Comment on at least one of your classmates responses.
1) I found the political and ethnic division in Nigeria to be interesting, because it mirrors the current separatist conflict in the Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point. The corruption is universal and cause problems all over the world and it shows that it is not a cultural thing.
DeleteThe political and ethnic division in Iran in similar with the Muslim division
Delete1. I find it interesting that at the end of Nigeria's Overview it said that the country's shaky infrastructure is hindering foreign investment even though Nigeria, due to its oil production would be a prime candidate. This is kind of weird for me, and it may just be me that feels this way, because if a foreign power were really want to be involved in Nigeria's oil industry they can they can do that, but with a "hands-off" type of approach where they have an economic-only relationship so that the investing country does not directly get their hands dirty in Nigeria politics or social conflicts. However. on the other hand I understand this piece of analysis because civil unrest has come as a result of Nigeria taking liberties with the oil industry that inadvertently leave over half the country out to dry. I guess I could see both sides of this analysis (and I kinds just contradicted myself a bit).
ReplyDelete1) The most interesting analysis of the two countries pertained to the nature of the corruption. In Iran there are questions of legitimacy with the leadership as the voting seems sort of sketchy and undemocratic. In Nigeria the corruption stems from the abundance of oil but the lack of distribution of wealth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but I was wondering if this oil inequality also can extend to threaten the legitimacy of the government leaders in Nigeria.
DeleteThat was actually my post above, I was logged in as Inam. Oops
Delete1. The most interesting thing I found in the Iran overview was the fact that there is a domestic divide between the more liberal president and the more conservative supreme leader. I always figured that a regime such as that in Iran was more unified in their conservative principles, but now there is a liberal aspect to its government. In the Nigeria overview, I found it interesting how the oil that is such a boost to the economy also brings a lot of political unrest at the same time.
ReplyDelete2) Nigeria has Islam and Christianity as the dominant religions, showing the divide in the nation. Iran is an Islamic republic, which by itself isn't inherently bad, but is one of the reasons why it's so conservative and repressive.
ReplyDeleteI agree - and I think you could also add that the division in religion might lead more ideas that would challenge the government. Whereas in Iran where the government is repressive and focused on promoting the ideas of one religion, there is less opportunity or motivation to diverge.
Delete1) IRAN: I didn't realize that there was such a sharp divide between the conservatives and the reformists in Iran, and that the reformists are often rendered impotent by the existing ultra-conservative political powers within the Iranian government.
ReplyDeleteNIGERIA: I didn't realize the extent of the political violence that exists between the Christians and the Muslims within Nigeria, and that this, according to the article, has to do with the fact that the country is now run by political and military forces. Also, it seems as if the article feels that the violence is primarily one-sided, that is from al Qaeda.
2. For Iran the fact that stood out to me was their major language being Persian. In class we discussed how Iran, religiously, made it quite diffrent than the other Muslim countries of the world and the fact that their main language is so unique to their ancient history reiterates the fact that they a kind or enigma to the Muslim republics of the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteFor Nigeria the fact that stand out to me is that they have so many export goods. It amazes me how this nation can have so many opportunities for encouraging wealth among its people, yet over half are living in poverty. This fact contributes to the thee of corruption and inequality among the Nigerian ethnic groups.
I'm with you on what you said about Nigeria. It really goes to show that the more wealthy groups in the state are very corrupt. I was surprised that a lot of people living in the oil side of the state is still living in poverty.
Delete2) IRAN: One of the major exports of Iran is petroleum, and it is highly reliant in this resource. Because of this oil, Iran is particularly susceptible to oil embargoes, and that makes the EU's oil embargo particularly effective. Also, oil is a major reason why Iran is able to sustain the economy that it does.
ReplyDeleteNIGERIA: Christianity and Islam are two major religions in Nigeria, and this helps explain the sharp divisions between the North and the South. This division makes it difficult to effectively govern the country as a whole.
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ReplyDelete3) Both state's limit to varying extents foreign media access in their countries. Certainly in Iran this trend is stronger. Also, Iran practices a strong censorship with its development of a closed parallel internet.
ReplyDeleteYes, but at least Iranians are making use of the internet. Nigerians are using the radio still, which may be effective in their country, but not as effective in drawing international attention to issues within the country.
Delete4) In Iran, Islam is the dominant religion, and oil is a major source of income for the country. However, in Nigeria, oil is a much more marginalizing factor with the Christians primarily in charge of the oil.
ReplyDelete2. Iran's GNI per capita is $4580, which is fairly low compared to the US whose GNI per capita is ten times greater. This might be a cause of he political unrest in the country. I always thought Iran, since it exported petroleum, had a stronger economy.
ReplyDeleteNigeria, however, contains many different kinds of religions, including Islam, Christianity as well as indigenous religions. This might also be a source for political and social unrest.
2) One of the interesting facts about Iran is that its major religion is Islam which shows that the "Islamic Republic of Iran is unique among contemporary political systems in the sense that it is a theocracy infused with strong with democratic elements. " what is also interesting is that both Iran and Nigeria's major export is petroleum. Oil has a major influence on the politics of these countries and is even the source of corruption in Nigeria.
ReplyDelete5) To Andy's point about corruption in Iran, I think that the major protests after the 2009 elections illustrate this trend very well, and the government's increased crackdown on dissidents following these protests shows a desire to root out opposition.
ReplyDelete1) I found it interesting that although Nigeria has a large amount of a resource that could boost their economy and potentially give them more power, corruption and mismanagement prevents them from improving their economy and overall well being as a nation.
ReplyDelete1) I found it quite interesting that he was elected deputy governor of his native state in 1999, when the governor was impeached on corruption charges in 2005. Yet when he was chosen to be Mr Yar'Adua's right hand man, the ticket had allegations of vote-rigging. I find this interesting because he was replaced by the vote of the people in hopes that he would end the corruption.
ReplyDelete1) for Iran I found the nuclear program it has to be interesting. I don't what to think about it, the Iranians say that it's for peaceful reasons but the EU and the America freak out about it and accuse the Iranians and somehow I think the religious factor of Iran being Muslim constitutes a large part of westerners fears.
ReplyDeleteNigeria, in Nigeria I think that the separatist movements very interesting because these divisional lines come from the imperial powers back then. The imperial powers like Britain decided to make zones and utterly crossed all the boundaries and they made the Nigerians work
3. In both Iran and Nigeria there is a strong presence of state-run media. However, the amount of autonomy each country demands from the media varies greatly. In Iran the state uses its control of the media to stop dissent since the government has one unifying ideology: Islam. Nigeria's media, especially the radio, prompts public response which would make sense because its political system is full of conflicting voices and corruption, thus there needs to be a mode for people to stay informed so that politicians can learn how to stay in favor with the voting public. Another interesting difference is that the internet is on the rise as a form of media in Iran, which makes sense in this day and age, while the radio is still striving in Nigeria is a rich source of media, something I would not have guessed would be so important after the invention of the television. But i guess it does make sense because Nigeria is behind in its economic development; therefore, televisions would not play such a huge role in common life.
ReplyDelete2) I think that religion plays a huge part for both countries, in Iran the Muslim faiths is the law and in Nigeria the divisional lines between Muslims and Christi s cause a great amount of tension.
ReplyDelete3. The media in Iran is state run and is therefore much more influenced by propaganda and is filtered according to what the government wants the people to believe. The media in Nigeria, however, is independently owned and therefore might reflect the true events better and without bias. This difference in the media signifies that Nigeria might leans towards a more liberal regime that is more responsive to what the people want and is less oppressive and controlled.
ReplyDelete3) The media in Iran is state run which allows for more censorship and propaganda. It helps to isolate Iran from the rest of the world. The media in Nigeria is more independent and open. It allows for freedom of thought and creates a more democratic society because the people can express their thoughts.
ReplyDelete1. I found the nuclear sanctions put on Iran to be interesting. I don't really understand how America could just come in and tell them that they're not allowed to produce nuclear power anymore, when they have not done anything to indicate that they'd use it for anything but peaceful purposes. I also never realized that nuclear sanctions barred the use of nuclear power plants to develop electricity.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting (and kind of terrifying) to see that Al Qaeda's influence spreads as far as Nigeria, with its ally power Boko Haram. Al Qaeda is one of those things that I thought just stayed in the Middle East, so the fact that it has spread its influence all the way to Western Africa is pretty scary.
I agree with your statements about Iran's nuclear power production! I honestly believe that America is looking for excuses to monitor Iran and do searches through the country, which has occurred on multiple occasions. However, whether or not its true, my understanding is that the type of uranium Iran is gathering is more likely to be used for weapons than power production. This may be a result of our media trying to justify America's actions, but it is an understanding area of concern when the country already has so many domestic tensions and enmity toward the west.
Delete1)The most interesting analysis I came across was under the economic section of Nigeria which stated that Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer, but half of its people live in poverty. This suggests how corporatism takes place within Nigeria and that there is a general inequality when it comes to the revenue made from oil.
ReplyDelete4. Both of these countries are defined socially by the presence if religion. Nigerian is racked with a Christan-Muslim slip across the country and Iran has shaped its society around following Islamic doctrine. However, in Iran religion is a unifying force where in Nigeria it is a means to justify terrorism and class division. And in regard to oil, both are large producers, but how nations deal with their economy differ. Iran suffers from sanctions by the Western world while Nigeria is stuck in a cycle of clientelism which leads to more ans more inequality and corruption.
ReplyDelete3) Iran has a large amount of people compared to Nigeria because it is slightly more advanced and is able to redistribute their wealth from oil. Nigeria has a large newspaper industry reflecting the lack of internet access there, because they do not have a large middle class.
ReplyDelete2) The full name of Iran is the Islamic Republic of Iran. This stood out the most to me because it fully emphasizes how religion is a governing force in the country. The major religions in Nigeria are Islam, Christianity, and other indigenous beliefs. This fact stood out to me because it on paper opposes the religious sentiment in Iran. Although there is diversity, the judicial system is guided by religion and leads to corruption.
ReplyDeleteI found this interesting too, I wanted to see the article talks about these groups along with the main ones.
Delete1) that the EU in the past received 20% of Iran's oil exports because I didn't think that Iran would give up that much oil.
ReplyDelete2)"Main exports: Petroleum, petroleum products, cocoa, rubber" - Nigeria. I think this is representative of both countries because both have a main export of petroleum and petroleum related products. It just is concrete evidence that Nigeria really is an oil based economy.
3) as far as media, Nigeria's media is much more liberal and free as opposed to the state run media in Iran. It goes to show that one, Nigeria, is freer than the other, Iran.
4) Whoever has the oil has the money and power. That's it. With religion, the differences in religious beliefs means a difference in usually political beliefs which causes turmoil now and again.
1. The most interesting thing I saw in the overview section was about nuclear energy in Iran. I think that they should produce nuclear energy, but it is also dangerous for the rest of the world.
ReplyDelete2. In Iran, one of the main exports is petroleum. It shows how dependent they are on oil. In Nigeria, the life expectancy is in the 50s. It might be a result of all the violence in the country
ReplyDeleteIf find is interesting in that it makes lots IOC money from oil yet the people die young and poverty is extremely high.
Delete1. I saw the view of corruption to be interesting. In Nigeria, it appears to be over how wealth is divided, mainly due to oil. In Iran, the view of corruption stems from political legitimacy.
ReplyDelete3. Western media is prevalent in both countries. A difference is that in Iran, media is more tightly controlled. They show how strict and religiously based Iran is.
ReplyDelete2. Religion plays a large part in both if these nations. It defines the rule of law in Iran, and all decisions are based off it. In Nigeria, the population is split along religious lines, so ethnic conflict can often stem from this and make the region unstable.
ReplyDeleteI think that the media in Iran has a more unifying effect since the majority of the country are Sunni Muslim so that means that the populace will be better at identifying and sympathizing with whatever the supreme leaders speaks about On the tv. Nigerias media however, causes more tension since half is Muslim and half are christans the media could incite one and as easily praise it to incite the other.
ReplyDelete3. Both Iran and Nigeria have internet access, and the use if blogs is growing in both nations. However, Iran has a very censored internet and site usage, while Nigeria has very vibrant access to multiple sources.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Nigeria's poverty level limits many people's access to the internet. For instance, it said in the facts section that their main media was via radio and that only television was only concentrated in urban areas. So although they more have more freedom through the Internet, this freedom is a luxury for those who can afford the technology.
Delete1. I thought it was interesting that the overview of Nigeria pointed out that the country is a former British colony, possibly suggesting that this status could have led to Nigeria's widespread corruption and inequality gap. After all, most countries of the third world, and even developing countries, began as subjects of imperialism.
ReplyDelete2. For Iran, the life expectancy for men and women was around 72 and 73. However, in Nigeria, the life expectancy was around 52 and 53. The 20 year gap in life expectancies is significant because even though the two countries have similar economies, something else must be affecting the health of their citizens- this May be due to corruption in Nigeria or maybe the moral law in Iran. Either way, this topic seems like a good one for a site like gapminder to explore.
3. While the media in Nigeria differs from that in Iran by having privately owned tv and radio stations, the media in both countries is monitored to some extent by the government. In Nigeria, foreign radio broadcasts and television shows are restricted by the government. Iranian media is also restricted, but on a much larger scale, to the point where it is difficult to hear stories from the inside of the country.
4. In Nigeria, the split in religion has led to a wide gap in the economy- Christians in the South control the country's oil, while Muslims in the South experience poverty. In both countries, oil rules the economy, which leads to a concentration of powers and money. In Iran, religious leaders are more likely to control the oil due to their high status in Iranian society. The prevalence of Shia Islam in Iran has led to a dominance by that sect, and a concentration of power in Shia religious authorities.
2) I thought that the difference in religions, as most are saying, to be significant. Iran is predominantly known as Islamic, which is demonstrated by the official full name "Islamic Republic of Iran." Nigeria contains several different religions, including Islam, Christianity, and indigenous beliefs. I think that the difference in religions shows not only the difference in culture, but the differences in society, government, and economy because it shows that since Iran is based in one religion, they have one set of "values," whereas Nigeria's slightly bigger diversity shows that they do not all follow one set of "values" and are not in the same mindset as Iran is. So the way that each country is run is pretty much influenced in some way or another by the religion within the nation.
ReplyDelete4. Iran is run by religion, while Nigeria is divided by it. Iran is able to unite under their common beliefs, while this is a thorn for Nigeria. The oil situation us also similiar in Nigeria, as wealthy Christians control the oil, further dividing the country. Iran is more unified, but dye to USA sanctions, it has difficulty capitalizing on its oil profits/industry.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way you compared the effect of religion on the two countries and I agree that it plays a very different role for Iran and Nigeria. It's interesting to think that religion also affects the oil as well.
Delete2) the major religion in Iran is Islam and this is the only religion listed unlike Nigeria. This shows how dominant the religion is within the country and how effective it can be in regards to things like politics. I chose this fact because around the world it is obvious that Islam is what constructs most if not all of Iran. The low expectancy rate for Nigeria at around 50 years inclines how the impoverished characteristics of the country impact the people. In correlation to the oil production it suggests how Nigeria is extremely corrupt.
ReplyDelete1. I found it interesting that Ahmadinejad, who was Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, insisted that Iran had an "inalienable right" to produce nuclear fuel. With Nigeria, the article refers to the fact that Nigeria was a British colony, possibly suggesting economic innovation was due to colonialism.
ReplyDelete2. The fact that Nigeria has a lower life expectancy than the United States and the fact that Iran's predominant religion is Islam are indicative of general themes present in those countries. Although the fact that Iran's religion is Islam isn't particularly interesting, it shows the overarching affect of religion in the country and with Nigeria, the lower life expectancy proves the nature of a developing democracy.
3. One major difference between Iran and Nigeria is that Nigeria's has a vibrant media with civilian involvement; whereas, in Iran, the media is highly controlled. Both countries have a government controlled media. This comparison shows the difference between a authoritarianism of a theocratic-based government and a developing democracy in media.
4. Religion has a more direct effect in Iran as parts of the legislative branch are religiously affiliated, the judiciary is completely religious, and the supreme leader (executive) is a religious figure; however, in Nigeria, religion plays a smaller, secular role in society, and not in the political realm. Both economics are dependent on oil as their main economic source of revenue. Oil sanctions in Iran make exports increasingly difficult and multinational companies, along with corporatism and clientilism, breeds corruption in Nigeria.
4. Religion in Iran runs the country because all laws are based on it. In Nigeria, it causes a split between the north and south. In both countries, only certain people control the oil, resulting in many others being poor.
ReplyDelete4. Both countries export oil and petroleum products, so oil is a major sector of their economies. In both cases, the oil has potential to cause political unrest and already has. The wealth from the oil also does not really trickle down to the people, but stays in the hands of a few very powerful people.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to religion, it causes more unrest in Nigeria because there are multiple religions practiced including Christianity and Islam. In Iran, only Islam is practiced, so the people are more unified in that regard.
4) I think that oil has helped both countries but the effect is limited in Iran because of sanctions from the US and EU and in Nigeria the amount of corruption results in stolen
ReplyDelete3)The media in Nigeria is more vibrant while the media in Nigeria is Extremely conservative and state-runned. These comparisons reflect the religious background of each country and the economic values.
ReplyDelete3) A significant difference would be that in Nigeria the media is more independent from the government allowing information to get out. While in Iran the media is filtered by the state. However, foreign television is more widely excepted in Iran. In both countries the radio is a leading distributor of information and news.
ReplyDelete4) Religion in Iran dominates the politics because it is a theocracy. It controls how every thing is run especially the economy. Oil has been a major source of their economy and the recent sanctions have perpetuated the religious tensions between the west and east. In Nigeria religion plays less of a role in politics but drives the tension in the country. Oil has split the country north and south that also happens to be the divisions of religion.
ReplyDelete1. I think the most interesting analysis was that religious division played such a significant role in alienating and hindering peoples' opportunity to survive. The government in Nigeria has actually benefitted in the last 20-30 years due to oil, but still, a great deal of individuals have suffered because of inequality spurred largely by geography, which is a product of religious divisions.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the religions and the languages in both countries both demonstrate the ideologies. The language and religion in Iran is monolithic, and this demonstrates the emphasis on tradition, and lack of change in the country. Nigeria is more varied, and I think this represents more freedom, but greater opportunities for discrepancies, and dividing differences.
3. Both countries allow for foreign TV and media, but Iran is more critical of the types and sources of media presented to citizens. Nigeria has the most variety in terms of media, which allows the population to become more educated and bipolar in their views of the government.
4. I discussed religion before, but essentially, Aidan's monolithic religious system = less divergence in ideas of the people. This helps to secure the overbearing government, and secure the traditional government rule of revenue. The variety of religion in Nigeria = more divergence! and more corruption as class is determined by corruption.
5) Baijundesai I agree with you,in Nigeria the south with all the oil are christans
ReplyDeleteWhile the north are Muslim and the Muslim and christans both have many greviences against each other
2. I noticed that although both countries have petroleum listed as their biggest export, the GNI per capita of Nigeria is about $3,000 less than that of Iran. This was surprising, because these countries have a lot of wealth due to oil, but many of the people apparently do not benefit from the oil wealth.
ReplyDelete1. Oil is a factor that appears in both Nigeria and Iran's overviews. The oil conflicts in Nigeria and Iran are different, however. In Iran, the problem with oil is shared with outside countries, while oil is causing more of an internal conflict in Nigeria.
ReplyDelete4) Nigeria has a much stronger issue with religion, compared to Iran, because in Iran they still mostly follow the same religion, and they just argue about the repression it brings. In Nigeria they are divided between Christianity and Islam, which causes large religious and ethnic conflicts. Oil is prominent in both countries, however it causes much more conflict in Nigeria because the oil delta is located in the southern, Christian part, leading to alienation of the northern, Islamic section.
ReplyDelete1. The fact that Nigeria produces the most oil in Africa, yet has a poverty level over 50% of its population. I thought this was interesting because it shows the level of the wealth gap. I also thought it was interesting that the
ReplyDeleteEU announced a ban on Iranian oil imports even though it normally receives 20% of it.
1. The most interesting part for me was the fact that the life expectancy for Nigeria was only 53 years. It is weird to think of that and picturing that in the us and how short it seems to us. It really goes to show just how different life is in other countries and that we may not even think about it or know that it is going on. It also can show just how corrupt it is and how the people in poverty really need help
ReplyDelete2. For Iran the most prevalent factos obviously the fact that religion is Islam. They are dominated by religious beliefs and base their judiciary and legislature after that. This is very important because it goes into everything that Iran does, whether it be domestic or international, economic or political. For Nigeria the main fact is thatenglish is their main language even though the country is African. It shows that the whites have taken over their country and have put their influence onto them and it has had a lasting effect which can explain the corruption and troubles.
3. One difference is the authoritarian ideals that Iran places on the media by censoring and controlling rather than Nigeria which has a ton of competition and a variety of channels that can report anything. One similarity is that TV is the most popular source of information for both and everyone seems to watch tv
4. Oil is very important to both countries and controls the economy and causes uneven distribution of wealth and corruption in some cases. Religion is the dominating force in Iran. Add it is monopolized but in Nigeria it causes disputes and segregation and conflict.
1. I thought it was interesting that Nigeria, though it has an abundant amount of oil, is still considered as a pretty poor country because of the corruption as well as other countries and companies trying to exploit its natural resources. I feel like just because it is Africa with its poor reputation and its history with colonialism makes it a target for corruption and companies taking advantage.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment on Nigeria's possession of oil that it would seem to make Nigeria a more prosperous nation; however, corruption hinders potential prosperity.
Delete2. The fact that the life expectancy in Iran is 20 years higher than Nigeria shows the corruption and violence has an effect on the social aspects of the country. It also shows that although Iran has religious conflicts, it's history as one of the greatest ancient empires helps distinguish it from Nigeria.
ReplyDelete1. It was interesting to note that the EU's sanctions against Iranian oil have reduced Iranian oil exports by 20%. This indicates that the economic sanctions are probably having a substantial impact on the Iranian economy and thus, may also reflect one of the reasons why the Iranian government has adopted a more open approach towards the West.
ReplyDelete2. The fact that the GNI per capita in Iran is only about $4,000 and in Nigeria is only about $1,000 highlights the stark reality of income inequality in both countries. As a comparison, the GNI per capita in the US is approximately $50,000.
3. Iranian media is state-run and state-sponsored whereas the media landscape in Nigeria contains both state-run and privately owned institutions allowing for greater freedom of expression. However, both countries impose limits on journalists through Imprisonment. The contrast in the extent of freedom of expression can be tied to the religious focus of the Iranian government that seeks to permeate its strict interpretation of religion throughout society that is different from the liberal democratic principles that Nigeria seeks to establish. However, the imprisonment of journalists in both countries suggests the presence of corruption in both countries.
4. While religion makes up the foundation of government in Iran, Nigeria, on the other hand, is seeking to promote a liberal democracy free of religious influence. However, religion in Nigeria also plays a significant role due to the presence of ethnic tensions motivated by religious differences. Oil in both countries has promoted corruption and income inequality as evident by the low GNI values. However, in Iran, oil has become tied more closely to its foreign policy due to the imposition of sanctions
4) the ethnic divisions and split between Christianity and Muslims in Nigeria influences the policies candidates utilize for election. The religion in Iran almost completely runs the country and makes up 99 percent of the population. The state runned oil in Iran inclines how powerful the government is and the clientslism in Nigeria reflects the poverty in the country and the corruption.
ReplyDelete4) In both Iran and Nigeria oil is the basis of the economy which is held in the hands of the rich, created inequality and causing the poor to suffer. The decision is further developed, however in Iran because its system based on clientalism. The same goes for the religious force in both countries. In Nigeria the judicial system is guided by the major region. In Iran his is also true in the use of the Islamic consultative assembly and the assembly of religious experts.
ReplyDelete3) One similarity is that television is used and that they are mainly in urban areas; however, the difference is that Iran allows foreign TV stations to broadcast whereas Nigeria limits foreign networks. I found this interesting because although Iran seems more repressive than Nigeria in terms of relaying information to their public as their news is governed by the state, I'm surprised that Iran was a little more welcoming to Western influence through television entertainment. Nonetheless, the biggest difference in media is social media where Nigeria has many young internet users whereas Iran bans social media sites, showing the repression of the state.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the site gives a fact regarding Nigeria's religions. Religion continues to be a big factor in the developing countries. The fact emphasizes how there is a split between the North and South due to religion. The fact that the page isn't specific about the denominations of Islam makes me believe that the country does not seem to let it cause an inner conflict.
ReplyDelete#2, sorry.
DeleteI also noticed the split of religion in Nigeria, but do you think in comparison to Iran, a split in religion is better than just having one absolute religion?
DeleteYou pose a good question Jose. Does the split in religion actually hurt the chances of Nigeria becoming a fully functional democracy? We all think diversity is a good thing, but if that diversity hurts the functional capacity of the government by creating violence and disagreement, is it really good?
Delete4. The influence of oil causes these countries to play a large role in the global economy. However the influence of religion causes them to have domestic issues that threaten to tear the nations apart.
ReplyDelete2. I think a prevalent theme between Nigeria and Iran is that their man exports are oil or petroleum based and agricultural based products. As a result, I feel like the high demands and current prices of oil and the market today contributes to the economic problems of both countries; it is prone to corruption.
ReplyDelete3. A large difference between the media in Iran and Nigeria is the role of the state. Whereas the state in Nigeria supports the growth and vibrance of the media, the state in Iran blocks it. A similarity is the wide influence of the radio, and the relatively small power of TV as a media platform, which is greatly different from our media in America.
ReplyDeleteThe state in Nigeria actually censors other countries radio broadcasts so I wouldn't say that Nigeria supporting growth is entirely true.
Delete3. A difference between the 2 countries is the fact that the internet in Nigeria is accessed by 33% of the population, and the internet in Iran is accessed by a little over 50%. A similarity involves the fact that censoring is involved in both countries, with Iran censoring its internet and Nigeria censoring its radio broadcasts.
ReplyDelete3. Despite the fact that media is spread in Iran and Nigeria, it is still severely limited by the government. Nigeria seems to be less tough when it comes to Internet usage, however, because one of the biggest social media websites, Facebook, remains unblocked. Iran seems to have it blocked because the government does not want activists to spread information there.
ReplyDelete4. Religion is a huge factor in Iran; a lot of politics is based off of religious values. However, in Nigeria, religion is a big cause of conflict within the state. As for oil, refer to 1, because I discuss it there.
ReplyDelete1) I thought that the most interesting analysis from the Nigeria overview page was how the stolen oil trade caused even more violence and corruption. I knew that the normal oil trade would cause that, but I had no idea that there were problems with large amounts of oil being stolen.
ReplyDelete2) For both countries, one of the main exports is oil. This means that there will be people in both countries who make a lot more money than the other people. A large gap between the rich and poor is caused by this, and it also means that there is more corruption in both of these countries.
ReplyDelete3) One difference between both countries is their media. In Iran, the media is controlled by the government. This has led to the media only reporting things that reflect the official ideology of the government. To make things worse, there is also a ban on satellite equipment to prevent outside news from coming in. In Nigeria, the opposite is true. The media is described as “vibrant,” and there are many independently owned radio and TV shows. Satellite is allowed in Nigeria.
ReplyDelete4) There is a large amount of oil in both Iran and Nigeria. This means that whoever has the ability to sell the oil in these countries will be able to make a lot of money. There are no other means to make this much money in either country, so there is a large divide between the rich and poor. The people who have money have a lot of money, and therefore a lot of power. This allows them to do whatever they want because they can simply pay off authorities who would otherwise have much less money.
ReplyDeleteIn Iran, 99% of the population is Muslim, therefore it plays a very large role in the government. Many laws are created just for the religion. In Nigeria, there are a large amount of both Christians and Muslims. This means that religion does not have as much of an influence because a large majority of the population does not share the same religion.
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ReplyDelete1)1) I think that the most interesting thing I came across was the al-Qaeda related violence. I think that the common characteristic many people associate with African countries is hunger and poverty and it is just surprising to me that this is apparently a large problem in Nigeria but we never hear about it.
ReplyDelete2) I think that the fact that Persian is Iran's official language is important in showing its strong traditional values which are also reflected in the country's government and policies. I think that Nigeria's main religions being Islam, Christianity, and indigenous beliefs reflect the religious clash that is prevalent in the country.
ReplyDelete3) Both Iran and Nigeria's media is strongly controlled by the government. However, Iran's main source of media is television and Nigeria's main source is radio (television is concentrated in urban areas). I think that this shows Nigeria's poverty level because access to radios is definitely much cheaper than access to television. This shows how much finances and poverty is a larger problem in Nigeria than in Iran.
ReplyDelete4) Oil is a large contributor to both Iran's and Nigeria's economy. In Nigeria, oil causes a lot more corruption than in Iran because of clientelism and corporatism. Although they are one of the world's top oil exporters, the majority of the Nigerian population is struck with poverty. On the other hand, Iran's oil is controlled by the country which means less corruption as well as more benefits to the citizens.
ReplyDeleteIf the oil is controlled by the country, does that necessarily mean less corruption? If I recall correctly, there has been political corruption in Iran as recently as last year in the presidency of Ahmadinejad.
Delete1. The most interesting thing I came across was Iran's potential development of nuclear weapons. The increase in sanctions against Iran and international disapproval for the nuclear developments, even if they are just for potential power sources, is just another factor contributing to the already high tensions with Iran.
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ReplyDelete2. In Nigeria, the fact that has a most direct tie to its general theme of violence and disunity is the multitude of major religions. After reading the overview, it became clear that there were tensions between Muslims and Christians, especially in the north, which is probably a result of the vast popularity of both religions in the country.
ReplyDeleteIn Iran, the religion is more unified and hence less controversial in a domestic regard, but not in the international regard. The undisputed dominance of this religion in the country may be a cause OR an effect of its political ties and extremism.
3. In both countries, there are limitations on what can be published; journalists especially suffer in both Iran and Nigeria. This demonstrates a lack of free speech, which in Iran is a result of the laws and system of government, but in the self-proclaimed democracy of Nigeria is largely a result of corruption.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Nigeria does have significantly more freedoms than Iran, but this may be more greatly a result of less access than anything else. While Iran has many urban areas and is more technologically advanced, Nigeria only has select urban areas that are able to access the internet or TV networks. Essentially, the government in Nigeria may not NEED to be as concerned about the content in its tv networks and websites, because it has less power over the public view.
4. In both countries, oil is a fundamental part of the economy, but a catalyst for corruption. In Iran, those people in charge of oil are able to essentially gain political power, and oftentimes, this wealth gained from oil production does not reach the lower parts of the economy. Similarly, in Nigeria, violence over the control of oil has erupted.
ReplyDeleteWhile both countries have Islam as a major religion, Nigeria has multiple other religions, such as Christianity, that prevents the total dominance of Islam in its culture. This has been a source of contention, especially in the north. On the other hand, Iran may experience unity, but this is a factor in the dominance of the religion over other aspects of society and government.
I agree with Jessica. The presence of diversity in Nigeria is an important buffer against the dominance of one particular religion and reflects a significant difference between the two countries.
Delete4. I think that the oil industry plays a similar role in both countries. It provides the largest profit for both economies, and provides social and political problems that are equally as large in each country. In Nigeria, those problems just so happen to be related to their religious division, as the Christians tend to isolate the Muslims from the industry. In Iran, they are not religious issues, as it is fairly united in religion, but are catalysts for political and economic corruption due to the inequality of the distribution of wealth.
ReplyDelete4) Oil has a major influence on both economies. Having a natural resource such as oil provides a good profit and benefits the country. However, with oil comes corruption as whoever owns the oil possesses power. I think religion plays a bigger role in Iran than in Nigeria, especially since there is one established religion in Iran. Religion is evident in society, government, and even economy in Iran as Muslim values are instilled throughout the country, creating a more collective nation. In Nigeria, while Islam is a major religion, it is not the only one, so different religions can represent how much more diverse Nigeria is than Iran.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa, I agree to some extent especially with the corruption as a result of the oil but, I feel like the religious conflicts in Nigeria has also contributed to corruption.
Delete3. The media in both Iran and Nigeria are both monitored by the government. However, a major difference is that Nigeria's media is more vibrant growing independent while Iran is heavily state run. I think this helps to see how strict their political system base don't the fact that their media is state run.
ReplyDelete4. Religion and oil has definitely played a major role in Iran and Nigeria. In Iran the strong influence of the Islam religion reflects the strict and religious based government and how hey deal with their oil. In Nigeria, the conflict between the Muslim north and Christian south has caused conflict which I feel like contributes more to their economic problems and why they're having such difficulties.
ReplyDelete1. It is interesting how even though Nigeria has a large oil supply, corruption completely cripples any attempt by the government to make investments in the country. It illustrates how difficult it is for a young, former colonial governments to control a country and an economy without outside help from the mother country or other strong economic powers.
ReplyDelete2. I think the fact that the country is called the Islamic Republic of Iran goes to show that the religion comes first, democracy second. Nonetheless, the religious rulers of Iran frequently interfere with the democratic process.
ReplyDeleteIn Nigeria, three of the top four exports are petroleum, petroleum products, and rubber. Both are very economically lucrative products, but the GNI remains at a horrendous $1,280. This proves that Nigeria's manufacturing sector relies on oil, and corruption within the country makes it impossible to use that money for the welfare of the people.