Political Science Knowledge and Electoral Violence: Experiences From Kenya and Zimbabwe

Abstract

The relevance of political science education and research in the conduct of elections is evident, but their actual roles are not. We zero in, specifically, on the contribution of political science education and research to peaceful polling in Kenya and Zimbabwe. In both countries, electoral violence has accompanied multi-party competition. To get a profile of political science scholarly production and impact, from a comparative perspective, particularly research output on electoral violence, we employ bibliometric analyses covering publications from the whole African continent. Web of Science and Sabinet databases provide a reliable picture of a fair amount of elections expertise in Kenya and Zimbabwe. In order to approach the role of political scientists in the countries’ electoral politics as well as their participation, or lack of it, in public engagement and public decision-making, we have conducted semi-structured interviews of political scientists working in universities there. Our study reveals structural obstacles related to the ethnicization of political power in Kenya and the economic decline in Zimbabwe. Although academic qualifications were respected and the faculty enjoyed freedom to express opinions on political issues, self-censorship and frustration were identified as hampering the ability of scholars to enhance peaceful polling.