Dire consequences or empty threats? Western pressure for peace, justice and democracy in Kenya

Brown, Stephen; Raddatz, Rosalind

doi:10.1080/17531055.2013.869008

Cited by 36 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Just as scholars (in Coopers' words, 'who like their colonialism very colonial' 72 ) often over-estimated the power of colonial authorities to shape outcomes in Africa, so too, analyses of aid relationships overstate the power of donors to achieve desired reforms. A series of studies have emphasised the agency of recipient states in resisting pressure for reform 73 ; the misapplication of pressure by donors 74 ; the contradictions within underlying 'donor support rationale' structures and African states' ability to manipulate those 75 ; and the limitations of attempts by donors to use aid to achieve political reform. 76 The second claim, that African growth stems from the rise of fast-growing developing economies, draws attention to the latest phase of global uneven development and its impact on Africa through stimulating exports and investment in Africa by 'rising powers'.…”

Section: A Changed External Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Still one size fits all? Uneven and combined development and African gatekeeper states

Brown

2018

Third World Thematics: A TWQ Journal

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This paper critically evaluates 'one size fits all' characterisations of African states in the context of diverse change in Africa. It provides an original critique of Frederick Cooper's gatekeeper states concept based on a novel application of the theory of uneven and combined development. The theory draws attention to the unevenness of development across the international system, the production of multiple, combined forms of state and points to an expectation of heterogeneity among 'later developing' countries, questioning generalised characterisations of 'African' states as a sui generis category of state. The paper argues that Frederick Cooper's concept of the 'gatekeeper state' sits close to, though not entirely within, this pattern. This careful application of theory shows that while there are strong synergies between Cooper's empirical account of state formation and developmental processes highlighted by the theory, there is greater divergence over the question of heterogeneity. The paper argues that uneven and combined development helps to reveal the limits of 'one-size fits all' approaches and the potential for a broader theoretical grounding to Cooper's gatekeeper concept. In doing so it provides an important corrective to donor assumptions of general failings of African states and uniform policy prescriptions with which to address them.

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Section: A Changed External Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Still one size fits all? Uneven and combined development and African gatekeeper states

Brown

2018

Third World Thematics: A TWQ Journal

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“…102 Additionally, western diplomats expressed their support for the ICC as a policy position from their home countries. 103 Despite their ICC tribulations, Kenyatta and Ruto won the elections. Although many question the credibility of the results, 104 Essentially, the Jubilee Alliance linked the ICC intervention to the re-emergence of the western domination of Africans (through targeting their leaders while ignoring other serious conflicts) and therefore the need for Kenyans to safeguard their sovereignty.…”

Section: The Neocolonial Narrative: Intentions and Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Counter-Shaming the International Criminal Court’s Intervention as Neocolonial: Lessons from Kenya

Lugano¹

2017

International Journal of Transitional Justice

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“…Similar to the diplomatic pressure the Kenyan government utilizes in the case of refugees, other nations leveraged statecraft on the Kenyan government to fix the IDP problem, although in an uneven fashion and with mixed results (Brown and Raddatz 2014). While initially meager, intensifying pressure led to the formation of the national-level Protection Working Group on Internal Displacement (PWGID), which was a crucial political step for the IDPs (Malombe and Omolo 2013).…”

Section: Government Lessons Learned Regarding Idpsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Refugees flexing social power as agents of stability : creating modes of economic livelihoods in Kenya’s camps

Larkin¹,

Clark²

2017

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Although the United States Army recognizes the importance of the social domain in military and humanitarian aid zones, little work has been done to analyze and describe the social domain in those areas. The Engineer Research and Development Center of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is designing an interactive mapping program that provides information on social categories. It is not enough to understand who the local powerbrokers might be, because national and international connections also play into social power dynamics. More importantly, this report demonstrates how social power should be analyzed in order to understand how each situation of conflict or emergency hides threads of power that are not obvious. To establish how a social power analysis might be performed, this work discusses relevant social science theory to construct a framework for study. Using a case study of the Kenyan government's threats to close their largest refugee camp due to their claims that the camp is full of terrorist activity, the authors demonstrate how closer analysis can provide critical understanding of a situation. That new understanding shows that refugee camp citizens harness their own social power, acting as agents of social and economic stability within the country. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

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Dire consequences or empty threats? Western pressure for peace, justice and democracy in Kenya

Cited by 36 publications

References 37 publications

Still one size fits all? Uneven and combined development and African gatekeeper states

Still one size fits all? Uneven and combined development and African gatekeeper states

Counter-Shaming the International Criminal Court’s Intervention as Neocolonial: Lessons from Kenya

Refugees flexing social power as agents of stability : creating modes of economic livelihoods in Kenya’s camps

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