COMMUNALISM AND INDIVIDUALISM: REVIEWING THE SCRAMBLE BETWEEN CAPITALISM AND HUMANISM- PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE PEACEBUILDING

By

Elisha Mallam Duchi

Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

 National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

Moses Etila Shaibu

 Department of Political Science

National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

&

Taiwo Philip Orebiyi

Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

Abstract

An increasing struggle between individual national security has persistently subdue common human security: supplanting communalism for individualism; giving capitalism advantage over humanitarianism. This study seeks to investigate the pursuit of destructive individualism; examine the promotion of segregated communalism; inquire into the scramble for exploitation of resources for profit; assess the implication on humanism and peacebuilding. The study adopts Unequal exchange theory to explain the issues under investigation. The inquiry uses qualitative data approach to gather data. It was revealed that, individual human person, and state’s national interests had supplanted common humanity’s interest; segregated communalism has loosened the strand holding human society together; global search for profit had continue to worsen conflict; cheap extraction of resources has sustained growing inequality and poverty in poor nations; and increasing poverty and illiteracy undermine continuously the foundation for peace. It was suggested that, practice of integrated communalism will promote win-win for common humanity; advanced nations should deploy their technology to process and trade in refined products instead of raw materials. This will create jobs and establish a concrete and sustainable foundation for peacebuilding.