John Campbell says diplomacy and democracy--not firepower--is the best way to undermine Nigeria's growing Islamist threat.

Nigeria's elections last April were among the most seriously flawed in the country's history, thanks largely to the manipulations of the U.S.-backed ruling party. With Nigerians increasingly clamoring for accountability, Washington's continuing support could generate more unrest -- and could pose a risk both to oil supplies coming out of Nigeria and to the stability of West Africa.

These teaching notes, by author and CFR Senior Fellow John Campbell, feature discussion questions and additional projects for educators to supplement the use of the CFR book Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink in the classroom. In this book, Ambassador Campbell examines the country's postcolonial past and offers policy options for the United States to help promote political, social, and economic development in Nigeria.

High food prices have swelled the number of people going hungry around the world. Food aid is also a culprit, say some experts.

After flawed elections, the president of oil-rich Nigeria faces the looming shadow of his predecessor and popular disillusionment with the country’s political system.

Election monitors and the opposition decry Sunday’s presidential elections as Nigeria’s worst vote in history, issuing calls for a new vote.

Widespread allegations of vote rigging, intimidation, and outright violence dashed hopes of a clean election in Nigeria on Sunday and led to calls for a clean slate.

Nigerians have begun voting in two sets of elections closely watched for signs of the fitness of their democracy. Early indications are discouraging.

Oil piped through the swamps and creeks of the Niger Delta powers Nigeria’s economy, but ecological devastation and pervasive poverty are stirring political unrest.

Nigeria has the potential to make great strides in its own development, but it must first overcome some difficult obstacles, including rampant violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

In a continent where despotism often wins the day, the Nigerian Senate's vote to reject a constitutional amendment that would have allowed President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term of office is notable - even more so since Obasanjo has decided to abide by it.

Nigeria’s political temperature continues to rise as moves to alter the constitution to extend presidential term limits stir protests across the country. The country is already beset by sectarian violence and ongoing clashes with militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

"Ansaru's new salience represents another, serious challenge to Nigeria's stability," writes John Campbell.

John Campbell says that as oil-rich Nigeria continues to suffer from decades-long dysfunctional governance and tensions between the Christian South and the Muslim North are rising, Nigeria is in need of creative American diplomacy.

John Campbell and Asch Harwood discuss the challenges facing Nigeria's newly elected president, Goodluck Jonathan.

John Campbell discusses the death of Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua and its implications for Nigerian politics.

John Campbell, CFR's Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies, discusses the recent escalation of violence by Nigeria's radical Islamic movement, Boko Haram, and analyzes strategies to undermine the threat.

CFR's John Campbell discusses the increased religious violence that has occurred in the wake of Nigeria's elections, as part of CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative.

CFR's John Campbell discusses the upcoming elections in Nigeria, as well as policy recommendations from his book "Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink," as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Academic Initiative.