Mitterand Okorie

Dr Mitterand Okorie (BA, EMU; MA, Aber; PhD, UKZN)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr Okorie’s research focuses on the examination of democratization challenges in Africa, delving into the continent’s political aspirations and imaginaries. He explores the relationship between failing political institutions and democratic fragility, with a particular focus on South Africa and Nigeria. Beyond the above, He researches on the myriad democratization challenges such as elections, human rights and climate justice.
He is currently interrogating the merits of neo-welfarism as an ideal framework for organizing politics in Africa. Having studied International Relations at Eastern Mediterranean University (first class), Terrorism and International Relations at Aberystwyth University, and holds a PhD in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. He won the African Studies Centre postdoc award at Rhodes University in 2022 and was an academic visitor at the University of Oxford in 2023. Prior to joining Nelson Mandela University in 2024, he worked in the international development sector as a research and communications consultant, primarily in West and East Africa.

 

Contact Information

Publications

Selected Publications in Journals and Edited Books

  • Okorie, M.M. 2024. Policing Nigerian elections: violence, institutional weaknesses and remedial trajectories. Policing & Society, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2024.2402859
  • Okorie, M.M. 2024. Religion and Coronavirus Response in Kano State, Nigeria. Journal of Religion in Africa, 1(aop), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700666-12340304
  • Okorie, M.M and Okeja, U. 2024. Prosecuting human trafficking in Nigeria: victim-witnessing and community-oriented challenges. Trends in Organized Crime. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-024-09548-y
  • Okorie, M.M., and Okeja, U. 2023. Child trafficking in Africa: Reimagining the problem. Genealogy, 7(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy7030064

Book Chapters

  • Okorie, M.M. 2023. Corruption: Definitional ambiguities and current imaginations. In Okeja. U. (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of African Political Philosophy. (pp.151-162). London: Routledge.
  • Okorie, M.M. 2022. Populism in the ANC and the 2019 Xenophobic Violence in South Africa. In Schapkow, C. and Jacob, F. (Eds), Nationalism and Populism: Expressions of Fear or Political Strategies. (pp.71-96). Oldenburg: De Gruytner. DOI: 10.1515/9783110729740-005
  • Okorie, M.M. 2021. Boko Haram, Counterinsurgency and Media-Oriented Terrorism, in Oriola, T., Onuoha, F., & Oyewole, S. (Eds), Boko Haram’s Terrorist Campaign in Nigeria. (pp.74-101). London: Routledge.
  • Okorie, M.M. 2018. Presidential Amnesty and Resource Militancy in a Petro-state, in Obi. C, & Oriola, T. (Eds), The Unfinished Revolution in the Niger Delta. (pp.60-76). London: Routledge.

Upcoming Publications

  • Okorie, M.M. 2026. Human Trafficking in Africa: context, theories and emerging trends. In Chikanda, A. (ed.) Cambridge Companion on Migration in Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  • Okorie, M.M. 2026. “What has Zuma done?” Black rage and the 2021 South Africa unrest. In Anna Romanowicz & Ahana Choudhury (Eds.) Emotions in the Global South, Leiden: Brill.
  • Okorie, M.M and Bodunrin, I. 2026. The Nigerian Military and the question of human rights in internal security operations. In Oyewole, S (ed). The Nigerian Military in Internal Security Operations: Considerations, Capabilities, Contributions and Challenges. London: Palgrave MacMillan.