Political Economy of Identity: Opportunities and Threats for Achieving the SDGs by Prof. C. Ezibe скачать в хорошем качестве

Political Economy of Identity: Opportunities and Threats for Achieving the SDGs by Prof. C. Ezibe

In this inaugural lecture, Professor Christian Ezeibe interrogates the Political Economy of Identity as both a catalyst and a constraint in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Identity, when constructively mobilised, can advance inclusive and culturally grounded development. Yet its politicisation often breeds exclusion, conflict, and “identity-based rent-seeking,” in which elites capture state resources for narrow group interests. Drawing on extensive empirical research in Nigeria, the lecture reveals how divisive identity politics undermines SDGs on peace (SDG 16), poverty reduction (SDG 1), and inequality (SDG 10). At the same time, it explores how identity can be harnessed as a unifying force through inclusive governance, equitable legal frameworks, and participatory community engagement. Ultimately, the lecture calls for a paradigm shift—from top-down, technocratic models of development to context-sensitive, people-centred approaches that transform identity from a source of division into a foundation for sustainable and inclusive nation-building. About the Lecturer Christian Chukwuebuka Ezeibe is a Professor of Political Economy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He graduated with First Class Honours in Political Science in 2007 and earned his PhD in Political Economy, with Distinction, in 2013. A prolific scholar, Professor Ezeibe has authored over 100 publications, including 47 indexed in SCOPUS, and has been listed among the world’s top 2% of scientists in 2024 and 2025. His research spans African Political Economy, Social Policy, Human Rights, and Election Administration. An accomplished academic leader, he has supervised 10 PhD and 30 M.Sc. theses and currently serves as Dean of Student Affairs at UNN. Professor Ezeibe’s expertise is widely recognised through international conference engagements, consultancies for UNICEF and UNESCO, and service as an external examiner for professorial assessments. His career reflects a deep commitment to academic excellence, policy relevance, and service to humanity.