Some might describe the new cold war dominating foreign affairs today as Westernization and globalization versus Islamic fundamentalism. Recently Boko Haram, a Nigerian Selafi extremist group, kidnapped 276 girls from their boarding school and threatened to sell them as child brides. The abduction sparked a global outcry against the group and calls for the girls' return. Unfortunately, the kidnapping is not an isolated event, as Boko Haram has terrorized much of northern Nigeria in recent years. The anti-Westernization that fuels Boko Haram is not a product of the new Cold War and religious fervor, but in fact an anti-Westernization sentiment that has its roots in the roots of colonial Nigeria. Nigeria has a complex history and although independent, the effects of British colonization are still present.1#2 Nigeria's dissent is inextricably linked to the merger of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914.2#3 Early missionaries used Western education as tool of evangelization by causing an Islamic-dominated northern population to be suspicious and reject Western education. influences.3 In the Southwest the ideals became more widely accepted as a result of their embrace of Christianity and evangelicalism. Because of their easy acceptance of Westernization, the English built schools, roads, and infrastructure in the South, none of which appeared in the North. Biased colonial policies, typically favoring the Christian South, lead to regional disparities. 3 Due to a combination of historical facts, neglect and corruption, the Muslim-majority North has lagged behind the South in terms of education and wealth.2 Although the North's population is probably larger, it is much poorer than to the rest of the country. It's... middle of paper... Emerged in Nigeria." Boko Haram: How a Militant Islamist Group Emerged in Nigeria. Accessed May 26, 2014. http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4232 /boko-haram-nigeria. Campbell, Amb. John. “Why Nigeria's North-South Distinction Matters.” The Huffington Post, 7 February 2011. Accessed 26 May 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amb- -nigerias-north-south-_b_817734.html.Smith, Mike. “Boko Haram is not a 'global terrorist' group.” The Guardian, 15 May 2014. Accessed 25 May 2014. http:// /commentisfree/2014/may/14/boko-haram-nigeria-corruption-abducted-girls-islamist."Africacourier." How the British Planted the Seed of Disunity in Nigeria Accessed May 26, 2014. http ://www.theafricancourier .de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=481:how-the-british-planted-the-seed-of-disunion-in-nigeria&catid=122:africa--50&Itemid=819.