An inquiry into the use of illegal electoral practices and effects of political violence

• Roxana Gutiérrez Romero ^[1]
  1. [1] Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

     Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

     Barcelona, España

     
• Localización: Working papers (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Economia Aplicada), Nº. 10, 2012
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo  1 (pdf)   2  
• Resumen

  • This article investigates whether vote-buying and the instigation of violence in the disputed 2007 Kenyanelectionswere strategically motivated, and whether those affected by electoral violencechanged their views towards ethno-politics and the use of violence. To answer these questions, a panel survey conducted before and after the elections is combined with external indicators of electoral violence. We findthat political parties targeted vote-buying towards specific groups to weakenthe support of their political rivals and to mobilize their own supporters. Furthermore, partiesinstigated violence strategically in areas where they were less likely to win. Although the victims of violence would prefer that parties are no longer allowed to organize in ethnic or religious lines, they are more likely to identify inethnic terms, support the use of violence and avoid relying on the police to resolve disputes. The overall findingssuggest an increased risk of electoral-violence reoccurring.