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Ethnic Coalitions of Convenience and Commitment: Political Parties and Party Systems in Kenya

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  • Elischer, Sebastian

Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of ethnicity in shaping the character of Kenya's political parties and its party system since 1992. Drawing on a constructivist conception of ethnicity, it uses a framework of comparison derived from Donald Horowitz and distinguishes between three party types: the mono-ethnic party, the multi-ethnic alliance type and the multi-ethnic integrative type. It shows that although Kenyan parties have increasingly incorporated diverse communities, they have consistently failed to bridge the country's dominant ethnic cleavages. Consequently, all of Kenya's significant parties represent ethnic coalitions of convenience and commitment and, thus, ethnic parties. The paper further states that the country's post-2007 political environment is a by-product of the omnipresence of this party type.

Suggested Citation

  • Elischer, Sebastian, 2008. "Ethnic Coalitions of Convenience and Commitment: Political Parties and Party Systems in Kenya," GIGA Working Papers 68, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:68
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    Cited by:

    1. Stroh, Alexander, 2009. "The Power of Proximity: Strategic Decisions in African Party Politics," GIGA Working Papers 96, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    2. Moroff, Anika, 2010. "Ethnic Party Bans in East Africa from a Comparative Perspective," GIGA Working Papers 129, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    3. Michael Otieno KISAKA & Israel Nyaburi NYADERA, 2019. "Ethnicity and Politics in Kenya’s Turbulent Path to Democracy and Development," Journal of Social Policy Conferences, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(76), pages 159-180, June.
    4. Mwangi S. Kimenyi & Roxana Gutierrez Romero, 2008. "Identity, Grievances, and Economic Determinants of Voting in the 2007 Kenyan Elections," Working papers 2008-38, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.

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