Preventing Violent Conflict in Africa: Inequalities, Perceptions and Institutions (Conflict, Inequality and Ethnicity)

Horizontal inequalities are root causes of violent conflict in Africa. Yet, people take actions not because of statistical data on inequalities, of which they might not be aware, but because of injustices they perceive. This volume analyses the results of original surveys with over 3,000 respondents in African cities and towns, exposing clear discrepancies between objective inequalities and people's subjective perceptions. The contributors examine experiences in country pairs and probe into the reasons why neighbouring countries, sharing common historical traits, sometimes took contrasting pathways of peace and violent conflict. Combining quantitative analysis and qualitative anatomy of historical experiences of conflict and reconciliation in Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria, the study brings forward a set of policy recommendations for development practitioners. This work further addresses the issue of institutional choice and reveals how sustainable power-sharing and decentralisation contribute to political stability in Africa. "Horizontal inequalities are root causes of violent conflict in Africa. Yet, people take actions not because of statistical data on inequalities, of which they might not be aware, but because of injustices they perceive. This volume analyses the results of original surveys with over 3,000 respondents in African cities and towns, exposing clear discrepancies between objective inequalities and people's subjective perceptions. The contributors examine experiences in country pairs and probe into the reasons why neighbouring countries, sharing common historical traits, sometimes took contrasting pathways of peace and violent conflict. Combining quantitative analysis and qualitative anatomy of historical experiences of conflict and reconciliation in Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria, the study brings forward a set of policy recommendations for development practitioners. This work further addresses the issue of institutional choice and reveals how sustainable power-sharing and decentralisation contribute to political stability in Africa"-- Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Introduction: Disentangling the Linkages between Horizontal Inequalities and Political Institutions....Pages 1-9 Comparing Political Institutions: Institutional Choice and Conflict Prevention in Africa....Pages 10-39 ‘Twin Countries’ with Contrasting Institutions: Post-Conflict State-Building in Rwanda and Burundi....Pages 40-65 Horizontal Inequalities, Ethnic Politics and Violent Conflict: The Contrasting Experiences of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire....Pages 66-94 Beyond Ad hoc Power-Sharing: Comparing South Africa and Zimbabwe....Pages 95-125 Is Ethnic Autonomy Compatible with a Unitary State? The Case of Uganda and Tanzania....Pages 126-152 The Politics of Identity, Horizontal Inequalities and Conflict in Kenya....Pages 153-177 Managing Horizontal Inequalities and Violent Conflicts in Nigeria....Pages 178-207 The Relationship between Objective and Subjective Horizontal Inequalities: Evidence from Five African Countries....Pages 208-251 Findings and Implications: The Role of Development Cooperation....Pages 252-274 Back Matter....Pages 275-307 7.6 Perceptions of ethnicity and inequality in Kenya7.7 The new constitution and prospects for preventing future conflicts; 8 Managing Horizontal Inequalities and Violent Conflicts in Nigeria; 8.1 Introduction; 8.2 Configurations of identity; 8.3 Horizontal inequalities between identity groups; 8.4 Political process and institutional choice; 8.5 How political institutions and policies work; 8.6 Popular perceptions; 8.7 Concluding remarks; 9 The Relationship between Objective and Subjective Horizontal Inequalities: Evidence from Five African Countries; 9.1 Introduction 4 Horizontal Inequalities, Ethnic Politics and Violent Conflict: The Contrasting Experiences of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Côte d'Ivoire: From Ivorian miracle to civil war; 4.3 Ghana: Living with diversity; 4.4 Some conclusions; 5 Beyond Ad hoc Power-Sharing: Comparing South Africa and Zimbabwe; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Historical evolution of HIs in South Africa and Zimbabwe; 5.3 Contemporary political transitions in South Africa and Zimbabwe; 5.4 Popular perceptions in South Africa and Zimbabwe; 5.5 Conclusion: Institutional choice and development 6 Is Ethnic Autonomy Compatible with a Unitary State? The Case of Uganda and Tanzania6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Formation of identity groups in Uganda and Tanzania; 6.3 Socioeconomic horizontal inequalities; 6.4 Political processes and the choice of political institutions; 6.5 What interview surveys reveal; 6.6 Conclusion; 7 The Politics of Identity, Horizontal Inequalities and Conflict in Kenya; 7.1 Introduction; 7.2 Configuration of Kenyan society; 7.3 Horizontal inequalities; 7.4 Politics: Processes, institutions and policies; 7.5 The 2008 post-election violence Cover; Contents; List of Figures and Tables; Foreword by Sadako Ogata; Preface; Acknowledgements; Notes on Contributors; 1 Introduction: Disentangling the Linkages between Horizontal Inequalities and Political Institutions; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 HIs and violent conflict; 1.3 HIs, perceptions and political institutions: A framework of analysis; 1.4 Structure of this book; 2 Comparing Political Institutions: Institutional Choice and Conflict Prevention in Africa; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Defining political institutions; 2.3 Elements of PD and PC institutions 2.4 Mapping political institutions in Africa2.5 Plural pathways towards sustainable democracy?; 2.6 Conclusion; 3 'Twin Countries' with Contrasting Institutions: Post-Conflict State-Building in Rwanda and Burundi; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Configuration of identity groups; 3.3 Horizontal inequalities; 3.4 Post-conflict institutional choices and their backgrounds; 3.5 Institutions and political power: How do the institutions work?; 3.6 Popular perceptions; 3.7 Conclusion: Implications for conflict prevention A global cast of contributors explore ways to prevent violent conflict by addressing political subjectivity and comparing patterns of horizontal inequalities and political institutions in Africa 9.2 Why objective and subjective inequalities may differ