The Neighbour With The Machete: An explaining view at the violence in Kenya following the General Elections on Dec. 27, 2007 from the perspective of four different theoretical models

Master's Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, grade: A, Dalarna University, course: Master Program in European Political Sociology, language: English, abstract: The Thesis has the aim to find out the reasons that stand behind the

post-election violence in Kenya. After incumbent Mwai Kibaki was

declared President over his competitor Raila Odinga on December

30, 2007, Kenya fell into two month of heavy bloodshed. The

cleavages where along tribal lines but different theories could

explain the happenings.

The four theories chosen are dealing with a Security

Dilemma, Resource Contesting, Corruptive Elites and Symbolic

Policy. It will be shown that dilemma or primordial hatred are

existing and contributing but not actual reasons to the initial

violence. In contrast, the contest over resources and the incitement

of politicians and elders are primary factors that led to the

thousands of death and hundreds of thousands of displaced people.