Diaspora Social Media Use and State Legitimacy in Nigeria

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With an estimated population of over 215 million, Nigeria has one of themost established diaspora communities globally. These Nigerians(estimated to be about 15 million) often send money home to supporttheir loved ones and other socio-economic development initiatives in theircommunities. However, evidence from academic literature suggest thatbeyond remittances, the Nigerian diaspora are also interested in nationalpolitics (including election campaigns and separatist agitations) in theirhome country. This project examines the extent to which diasporaNigerians have or can do this by exploring the link between diasporapolitics, social media, and citizens' perception of state legitimacy inNigeria using Igbo people as case study. Specifically, the study seeks tounderstand historical and cultural factors that shape citizens' perceptionsof state legitimacy; interrogate debates on how social media providesagency for citizens at home and in the diaspora to engage themselves andthe state; explore how such relations determine political/developmentoutcomes in the home country; and assess how these are applicable infragile states such as Nigeria. Findings from this study will make asignificant contribution to literature on state-society relations andtheoretical debates on citizenship, diaspora relations and state legitimacy.It is also relevant to governments given the increasing role that socialmedia plays in politics and political behaviour.