(iPoster) Social Media and the Rethinking State Legitimacy among the Nigerian Diaspora

• In Event: Poster Session: Immigration Politics in a Changing World & Middle East Section
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Immigration Politics in a Changing World

Abstract

This paper examines how the Nigerian diaspora in the UK uses social media to engage with Nigerian politics and governance and how it shapes their perception of state legitimacy. Situated at the intersection of migration, digital technology, and governance, the research explores how diasporic communities navigate crises of identity, inclusion, and belonging through digital platforms.
Guided by four interconnected themes, the study investigates how social media facilitates identity formation, sustains transnational connections, and shapes diasporic access to and interpretation of information about Nigeria. It also examines how the Nigerian state engages the diaspora on social media and how these platforms enable activism, amplify political discourse, and influence perceptions of governance and legitimacy.
Using an inductive, qualitative methodology that combines digital and offline ethnography with interviews, the study highlights the dualities of diasporic engagement, including exclusion and inclusion, critique and loyalty, and alienation and belonging. Preliminary findings reveal that digital platforms are contested spaces where diasporic communities address partisan, ethnic, and class-based divides, challenge governance narratives, and envision alternative political futures.
This paper contributes to migration and citizenship debates by demonstrating how digital technologies shape transnational political engagement and rethink state legitimacy. By addressing divisions rooted in partisanship, class, and ideology, the study offers insights into how governments can leverage digital platforms to foster trust and meaningful engagement with diaspora communities. It concludes by reflecting on how these dynamics can inform inclusive state-diaspora relations in a digital age.

Author

• Tobechukwu Nneli, King's College London