Political Violence in Plural Democracies: A Comparative Study of Uganda and Kenya

Abstract

This paper examines the nature, roots and implications of political violence in particular and the political system in general, in both Uganda and Kenya. It also looks into how these vexed issues are addressed within the framework of a democratic practice in Uganda and Kenya. Thus, the paper analyses the issues in a comparative perspective, while recognizing the exclusivity and specificity of the challenges involved in a specific national context. It also underscores the significance of creating a conducive and just socio-economic and political environment for promoting Political trust and tolerance. Besides, it is known that a violence-laden situation is one that drives society to the edge of chaos (which in chaos theory is the right place to be) where a system engages mechanisms of self-adaptation and transformation. Once properly negotiated, this chaos or violence may create a basis for effectiveness in all spheres of society. There is no gain saying therefore, that the political violence in Kenya and Uganda can be a basis for effective political transformation in the said countries if appropriate measures are taken to arrest the situation. Realistically therefore, understanding political violence in plural democracies becomes a sine-qua-non in contemporary political science studies.