Islam and democracy in East Africa

Abstract

This study examines the relative political significance of domestic and transnational Islamic militancy in three East African countries: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. It seeks to identify, describe and account for the sources and significance of such militancy and to relate how it impacts upon democratization outcomes. The analysis reaches three conclusions: first, encouraged by the post-9/11 international fall-out, regional Islamic networks are working towards improving the perceived low political and economic status of Muslims in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda; second, the political significance of Islamic militancy in the three countries is relatively low; and third, various Islamic initiatives are important in the pursuit of more democratic polities.