Based on the instrumentalist theory of ethnic conflict, the paper examines into the theoretical understanding of how the electoral competition triggers the politicization of ethnicity and ethicized conflict in Kenya. The paper critically interrogates how the Kenyan political elites have used ethnicity as a tool to mobilize their ethnic groups promising to create political and socio-economic opportunities for them at the expense of neglecting the other tribes. Furthermore, the paper scrutinizes the trajectory of politics since 1963 up until 2007 post-election crisis and how the politicization of ethnicity created a sense of mistrust and national division among the diverse ethnic communities in Kenya.
Keyword: Electoral Competition, Politicisation of Ethnicity, Kenya
Table of Contents
Introduction
Politicisation of Ethnicity during electoral competition
The Implications of Political Ethnicity in Kenya’s 2007-Election Violence
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the theoretical understanding of how electoral competition in Kenya triggers the politicisation of ethnicity and ethnicised conflict, specifically investigating how political elites manipulate ethnic identities to mobilize support and secure power, ultimately leading to national division and electoral violence.
- The instrumentalist theory of ethnic conflict in the Kenyan context.
- The role of colonial legacy and "divide and rule" policies in shaping modern ethnic tensions.
- The impact of political elites and "political greed" on electoral outcomes.
- The correlation between electoral competition and increased ethnic mobilization.
- The consequences of politicised ethnicity on national cohesion and social stability.
Excerpt from the Book
Politicisation of Ethnicity during electoral competition
Kenya is an East African country of 42 ethnic groups (Sawe, 2017) who speak more than 68 languages (Anon., n.d.) The main ones are the Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, and Kamba respectively and they are 72 percent of Kenya's 47.6 million population (cia.gov, 2017). Even though this shows Kenya's cultural and linguistic diversity, the ethnic groups themselves are not in fighting with each other nor pose a threat to the country's peace merely because their traditional and philological features are not the same (Kwatemba, 2008).
However, understanding ethnic violence in Kenya needs to consider the knowledge of causes and trigger factors which indeed is not an issue that emerges in an overnight. Many African scholars hold the view that the ethnic animosity was primarily triggered by the politicisation of ethnicity which began with the arrival of British Colonists in Kenya's soil in 1920 (Butale, 2015). As Deng (1997) argues the modern Kenyan state is the product of British colony and thereby consideration was not given the cultural, linguistic and religious differences of the ethnic groups. According to Kwatemba (2008), the British colonial administration purposely created new boundaries without the consent of different ethnic communities. Such territorial invention brought mutually antagonistic communities together while further divided up homogenous groups into multiple sub-tribes placing them under new administration system, ruled by new values and principles (Deng, 1997).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section defines key concepts such as ethnicity and political ethnicity, setting the theoretical stage by introducing the instrumentalist theory of ethnic conflict.
Politicisation of Ethnicity during electoral competition: This chapter analyzes the historical origins of ethnic divisions in Kenya, tracing them back to colonial administration policies and their subsequent exploitation by post-colonial political elites.
The Implications of Political Ethnicity in Kenya’s 2007-Election Violence: This section explores how the mobilization of supporters along ethnic lines, driven by political greed, resulted in severe electoral violence and compromised national stability.
Conclusion: This final part summarizes the argument that ethnicity is not inherently the cause of conflict, but rather a tool manipulated by power-hungry elites to achieve short-term political and economic goals.
Keywords
Electoral Competition, Politicisation of Ethnicity, Kenya, Ethnic Conflict, Instrumentalist Theory, Political Elites, Ethnic Mobilisation, Colonial Legacy, Divide and Rule, Voting Behaviour, Political Greed, National Division, Social Stability, Electoral Violence, Ethnic Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper primarily investigates how electoral competition in Kenya acts as a catalyst for the politicisation of ethnicity and subsequent ethnic conflict.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include the manipulation of ethnic identities by political elites, the historical impact of colonial governance, the role of economic resource distribution, and the consequences of ethnic voting patterns on national democracy.
What is the main objective or research question?
The research aims to explain the trajectory of ethnic politics in Kenya since 1963 and how political elites utilize ethnicity as a strategic tool to mobilize support during elections.
Which scientific theory is applied in this analysis?
The paper utilizes the instrumentalist theory of ethnic conflict, which argues that ethnic strife is engineered by elites for political and economic gain rather than being an inherent trait of ethnic groups.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the definitions of ethnicity, the historical influence of the British colonial "divide and rule" policy, voter behavior in Kenya, and detailed analysis of post-independence election crises.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Electoral Competition, Politicisation of Ethnicity, Political Elites, Kenya, and Instrumentalist Theory.
How did colonial policies specifically contribute to modern ethnic tension in Kenya?
The colonial administration created new boundaries without local consent and employed "divide and rule" strategies, such as playing the Kikuyu and Luo against each other, which set the stage for post-independence ethnic rivalry.
What role does "political greed" play according to the author?
The author argues, referencing Collier's work, that political greed—the desire for economic advantage and power—is a stronger driver of ethnic conflict than the grievances of the ethnic groups themselves.
How does the author characterize the behavior of the Kenyan electorate?
The electorate is described as often feeling that voting for a candidate from their own ethnic group is a necessary strategy to ensure future access to state resources, jobs, and security.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Abdikadir Askar (Autor:in), 2017, Electoral Competition and Politicised Ethnicity in Kenya, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/430884
