Analysing protests through the prism of constructive patriotism: the EndSARS and Black Lives Matter movements in focus

Abstract

The rise of nationwide protests across many countries in the world has the potential to make or mar such countries. While research has greatly focused on the character, impact, common and unique factors that instigate such protests, what is evidently lacking is an explicit delineation of such protests within the prisms of constructive patriotism rooted in constitutional values. This gap in research does not allow for adequate analysis and understanding of specific protests by the public and the government, whose response to such protests can stimulate or condense the constructive patriotic verve of its citizens. Therefore, this study addresses the following questions: Is there a theoretical basis for constructive patriotism? What qualifies a protest to be categorised as constructive patriotism? And, what are the implications of categorising protest as a constructive patriotism? This study addresses the above by analysing, within the context of constructive patriotism, two spates of protests that took place in democratic countries: the EndSars in Nigeria and Black Lives Matter (BLM) in the United States. The qualitative case study methodology was adopted for this study. Data was obtained from primary and secondary sources. Constitutional patriotism, which advocates for citizens’ loyalty to a liberal democratic constitution and/or the shared national values and beliefs, was applied as a theoretical base to justify constructive patriotism over expectations of blind patriotism.