Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Dr. Akpomuvire Mukoro
social structure and the functionally differentiated social structure of
an advanced civilization (Riggs 1964). By the laws of optics,
designating the initial stage is fused or absolutely undifferentiated.
While the final stage is diffracted or highly differentiated. The
transitional stage, which is of interest here, is ‘prismatic’. At the
prismatic stage, individual structures undertaking autonomous
functions cannot yet be determined. None of the decisive structures
can be understood without regard to the constant reactions of the
other structures on one another. Accordingly, structural
specializations and, as yet, mixed fields exist side by side in
developing societies (Konig 2003:454 – 455). The entire pattern of
influence in a prismatic society thwarts the basic idea that an
adequate administration will make it possible to bring about intended
social and economic changes. As the contradictory forces of transition
converge in the institutions of a prismatic society, the chance of
realizing a planned change vanishes.
A fundamental tenet of the policycentric theory is that there is a
deliberate fragmentation of authority among diverse decision centers.
Each of the centers serves as ‘necessary conditions for maintaining a
stable political order which can advance human welfare under rapidly
changing conditions’ (Ostrom 1993:43 – 68, Olowu 1995:25).
Polycentric Governance demonstrates that the unidirectional copying
of advanced societies model of governance have very limited influence
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