Title: The Kenyan Pro-Democracy Struggle, 1985-1992: Nonviolent Resistance and the Transition to Democracy
Abstract: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a series of pro-democracy unarmed insurrections swept sub-Saharan Africa, ousting autocratic leaders in Mali, Benin, Madagascar, Malawi, and elsewhere. The 1985-92 pro-democracy struggle in Kenya is often depicted as a failure due to its inability to oust the authoritarian president Daniel arap Moi. Based upon interviews with participants and observers of the movement, as well as secondary sources, this paper argues that while a divided opposition allowed Moi to be twice re-elected by a plurality of votes, the growth and empowerment of civil society made possible important constitutional reforms and put major checks on Mois ability to rule in the absolute manner that he had previously. Unlike some civil insurrections which were able to oust a dictator without fundamentally changing the regime, Kenya appears to be a case where the regime was changed even while the ruler remained in the presidents office. The paper will focus on the application of various methods and tactics of strategic nonviolent action used by the opposition and how the mass struggle helped mature the Kenyan body politic and made possible a more complete democratic transition when Moi was finally forced to not seek re-election.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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