Political Science Research Papers/Topics

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE: UNIT COMMITTEES UNDER GHANA’S DECENTRALISED SYSTEM

Effective democratic governance requires the existence of locally elected representatives with functions that revolve around issues that matter to the constituents, to which the state responds through public services delivery. This study set out to examine whether or not citizen expectations from locally elected representatives are in consonance with the functions that are assigned to them in national legislative instruments, using the Unit Committees, the base structure of Ghana’s decentra...

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES AND THE ELECTORAL FORTUNES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN GHANA'S 2008 ELECTIONS

The year 2008 will probably go down in Ghanaian political history as unique for the manner in which the general elections were conducted. The elections, which were held in December, were preceded by a number of events including the famous presidential debates. This paper discussed the two presidential debates in Ghana, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana) in Accra and Tamale prior to the general elections. The debates provided an opportunity for the presidential aspirant...

Deepening Regional Democracy: The Role of Political Parties in the East African Legislative Assembly Elections

Abstract: This study assesses the role of political parties in deepening regional democracy in the East African Community (EAC). The study focuses on the involvement of political parties in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) elections. It assesses whether the legal framework for the EALA elections promotes the deepening of regional democracy. Further, it reviews the methods political parties have used to nominate the EALA representatives, in order to ascertain whether it fosters pa...

Ethnicity and Land Conflict: A Study of the Post-Election Violence in Kenya

Abstract: The recent post-election violence affected millions of Kenyans. This was mainly on tire western part of the country which was deeply affected with the Rift Valley province the most seriously affected of the areas. This violence created death, destruction and displacement of thousands of Kenyan people. Ethnicity if well harmonized has proved to be one of the most reliable strategies for promoting a sense of sustainable nationhood in Kenya. However, because of ineffective leadership,...

Infrastructure, Development and Geopolitics: A Case Study of LAPSSET Corridor. (Contested Terrains)

Abstract: The LAPSSET corridor is an ambitious infrastructure project that promises regional integration, to safeguard the environment and bolster security and to provide opportunity for economic growth and wealth creation. This study will focus on Kenya and Ethiopia, two states that seek to be regional hegemonies in the Horn of Africa. This study adopted a secondary research method of data collection based on surveys, literature review, published reports, conventions, declarations, regional...

The Effect of Social Media Bans on Political Parties: The Case of Uganda’s 2021 General Elections

Abstract: This study examines how social media was used by political parties in the 2021 general elections in Uganda. It specifically focuses on how the social media ban, imposed a few days to the elections by the government, affected the participation of political parties in the elections process. Key parameters in the analysis of this study include; the use of social media by political parties in the 2021 general elections in Uganda, the extent that the social media ban affected the prepar...

The Uganda-Rwanda Rivalry: The Dynamics of Power Politics and Regime Security

Abstract: Considering the historical relations between Rwanda and Uganda, the two states have turned into rivals The underlying concern was that, faced with the prevalent tensions between the two East African countries, the government of Rwanda closed its borders with Uganda leading to an escalation of the conflict. Different mediation processes were undertaken to endless the conflict. Among these was the Agreement reached upon in Luanda the capital city of Angola called the Luanda memorandu...

Democratic Governance and the Rise of Inequality in Africa: A Case Study of Mauritius and Kenya (1992-2019)

Abstract: Democratic governance implies a system of government where institutions function according to democratic norms and processes. Inequality is being not equal in terms of distribution of income, wealth and consumption and it is measured using Gini Index or Gini Coefficient. The study mainly focused on exploring the relationship between democratic governance and the rise of inequality in Africa. The study was guided by three objectives. The first objective examined the correlations bet...

Federalism and National Unity: A Case Study of the Federal Republic of Somalia (1991-2013)

Abstract: This study examines national stability and federalism in Somalia from the perspectives of history and identity politics. I argue that national stability have at times, when faced with a common enemy, generated temporary cooperation among Somalis. However, they have not been able to integrate traditional forms of identity such as clan affiliation and Islam. They have been at their weakest in the face of clan feuds and regional power struggles. Furthermore, disagreement over national...

Electoral Conflicts and Economic Development in Kenya

Abstract: Since independence Kenya has been plagued by electoral related conflicts. People have lost their I lives and properties worth millions of shillings have been destroyed. This paper aims to investigate the causes of the electoral conflicts and how it has affected the economic development of the country. Kenya got independence in 1963 from the Great Britain. The first election was held in 1964 and Jomo Kenyatta became the first president of the country through the Kenya African Nation...

The Role of the Kenyan Media in the "Unsatisfactory" Presidential Elections

Abstract: Elections are important public undertaking. Since elections are crucial for democracy and stability of Africa, the media is ce11ainly one of main actors in the process. To what extent was the local media responsible or complicit by not changing aspects that were in public interest and deemed unfair in the 2013 Kenyan elections? What role did it play? The primary document considered in this thesis is the stakeholders meeting that fully reviewed the conduct of 2013 elections that inv...

The Political Economy of Devolution: Rethinking Participatory Governance for Development from the Bottom in Kenya

Abstract: This paper is about development failures as has been experienced in Kenya given the broader context of cutthroat competing political and economic typologies that has little in common with specific development needs of the people. In many ways, development as it has been experienced before - that is the process - was by and large removed from the local people and controlled by the State functionaries and apparatus. Taking the destructive nature of extractive politics practiced every...

Role of Media in Foreign Policy Formulation in Africa: The Post-Cold War Perspective

Abstract: Foreign policy is a central to a state’s approach towards its dealings with other states and lately non-state actors within the international organization. In such set up, states behave in a manner that addresses their own national interests and overall common good as liberals would put it. The core aim of the post-cold war foreign policy of African states is to harmonize domestic interests with the external environment based on the available means and resources. Despite the limi...

Policy Factors Leading To Illegal Immigrants in Kenya between 2002 And 2016

Abstract: Increasing levels of illegal movement of immigrants is a result of high level of political intolerance in neighboring states, economic disparities between countries as well as the threat of climate change and its associated impacts are all key factors that drive immigration and population movements. Illegal movement of immigrants in Kenya is often perceived as the ones providing channels for potential terrorists to enter the country or those likely to spread infectious diseases. Ke...

The Military and Kenya’s Big Four Agenda: The Case Of Infrastructure

Abstract: The Big Four Agenda are Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, development agenda from 2018 to 2022 focused on raising the standard of living of Kenyans and promoting a strong, inclusive, economic growth in line with Vision 2030 of Kenya. This paper studied the Role of the Kenya Military in the Achievement of Kenya’s Big Four Agenda with a primary focus on enhancing infrastructure. The primary purpose of any military is National Defence. A State’s military in the past was charged...


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