CGP.8.1 How Political Cleavages Affect Government

Boko Haram in Nigeria has grown so much in popularity and power, that it has become a great threat to Nigerians.

Their fight to instill a government that follows the Sharia law in Nigeria is violent and has resulted in many human rights abuses.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

In the UK, there has been a growing sentiment among the Scottish people for full separation from the mainland. The countries share a complex history, having shared a monarchy since the 14th Century. But, Scotland has its own legal system, government and cultural identity. The process of the BREXIT has increased these tensions, and the Scottish National Party continues to advocate for a second independence referendum.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

The Russian government's invasion on Ukraine that began in February of 2022 was a shocking attempt of imposing power over a state that did not believe in the capacity of the Russian government to resort to violence. As a very extremist strategy, the Russia President Vladimir Putin engaged in a very long and cruel war, to prove Russia's hegemonic power in the region.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

The Zapatista Movement grew its activity after the signing of the NAFTA because they believed that it would economically harm indigenous communities.

However, there were also other groups that believed that it was an excellent advancement for Mexico to be more integrated in the world market.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

The Basque and Catalonia regions are cultural distinct from the rest of Spain. Both have a history of nationalistic aspirations of independence.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

The stateless nation of Kurdistan occupies 4 Middle Eastern countries. The terrorist group, ISIS, occupied of two of them-Iraq and Syria. During the Obama Administration, the US military forces aligned with the Kurds to protect them from ISIS attacks. However, after a 2019 phone call with Turkey's leader Recep Erdogan, Donald Trump withdrew the support. Without U.S. military aid, and as a measure to suppress its own Kurdish population, Turkey proceeded to destroy the Kurdish fighters in Syria.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

Transnistria is a multi-ethnic region between the main section of Moldova and Ukraine. It is an unrecognized breakaway state that left Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990.

The Transnistrian government has its own presidential republic, military, police, postal service, currency, constitution, and official flag. But it is recognized by other countries and the United Nations as part of Moldova.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

During U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan, the power of the extremist Islamic group known as the Taliban, was held in check. However, after President Biden ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021, the Taliban retook control of the country after recapturing the capital of Kabul in August of that year.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

In 2016, a near evenly divided British populace voted 52-48% to breakaway from the European Union. This was result of strongly conflicting views on the scope of British sovereignty over its own economy and immigration policy.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.

During the American Revolution, the colonists were split among the Tories and Patriots. Tories felt that to go against King George III and Parliament was treason. The Patriots, however, believed the British policy of taxation without representation did not adhere to the government's historic norms that dated back to the Magna Carta. Hence, the Patriots decided to declare and fight for independence.

• Conflicting economic and political interests.

• Lack of government authority.

• Pressure for secession and autonomy.

• Encroachment of neighboring states.