Political Science ETDs
Publication Date
Spring 5-16-2026
Abstract
This dissertation analyzes the responses of violent nonstate actors to changing economic conditions. Incorporating data from the Global Terrorism Database, I study political violence from 2011-2019 within the Sahel region of central and western Africa. I focus on levels of violence before and after economic shocks; these shocks include a significant policy change within Nigeria during 2016. I employ Nigeria as a case study to unpack the ways that disparate, heterogeneous terrorist groups respond to economic factors. I observe that more sophisticated nonstate actors -- with greater access to financial resources -- tend to be less responsive to economic shocks. Thus, territorial, well-connected groups such as Boko Haram, and its various factions, are less responsive to negative income shocks than more rudimentary groups of roving bandits, such as the Fulani extremists. In addition, my results tentatively suggest that Nigerian economic policy may be correlated with patterns of violence throughout the entire Sahel.
Degree Name
Political Science
Level of Degree
Doctoral
Department Name
Political Science
First Committee Member (Chair)
Dr. William Stanley
Second Committee Member
Dr. Mark Peceny
Third Committee Member
Dr. Tochukwu Omenma
Fourth Committee Member
Dr. Loren Collingwood
Language
English
Keywords
Conflict studies, political violence, terrorism, political economy, African politics
Document Type
Dissertation
Recommended Citation
Roman Banda, Kathryn Lauren. "Nigeria and the greater Sahel: Modeling the terrorist response to economic shocks." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/pols_etds/128