Examining the new role of arts administration in counter terrorism in Nigeria

Abstract

There is a growing concern on domestic and global security all over the world. The use of terror as a means of coercion in pursuit of political aims  continues to increase at an alarming rate. Terrorism has continued to impoverish the peoples of the world in addition to its adverse effects on people’s  psychological health, security, social, political, economic life and food security. Military and non-military efforts are being employed to prevent and or  counter-terrorism. Agencies, such as, Mobile Police and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) are at the forefront of the efforts in the country. The  strategies to counter terrorism also require non-military dynamics such as attitudinal change, discourses and dialogue which can be propelled by arts  administration. Even enemies will have to dialogue at some point and since the performing arts can keep the public discussion going, arts administration  has a new role to play in counter-terrorism in Nigeria. This paper therefore examines how the arts and culture have fared and can be organised to  perform this new role. We explore the position of arts administration in the intersection of arts and terrorism in Nigeria. Although terrorism has damaged  the arts and cultural industries, proper administration is still potent means to counter terrorism. This can be achieved through democratisation  of theatre programmes and structures, cultural exchange at the local and foreign levels, organisation of festivals and carnivals and  encouraging the practice of museum theatre. Terrorism is usually sustained through continuous recruitment and a well-structured arts administration  programme can truncate this process and significantly block the source of recruitment while creating room for dialogue. The paper concludes that arts  administration is a panacea to counter terrorism in Nigeria.