The Democratic Management of Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia, Namibia, and Nigeria
Date
1995
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Haverford College. Department of Political Science
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Thesis
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The Herman M. Somers Prize in Political Science
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of conflict regulating mechanisms that seek to mitigate the effects of and control the divisiveness of ethnic conflict in democratizing states. Given the prevalence of ethnic conflicts throughout the world, especially in Africa, and the increasing importance placed by the international community on democratic governance, a study analyzing the democratic management of conflict is timely. Specifically, this study will examine whether the democratization process must incite ethnic conflict if ethnicity can serve as a political mobilizing force without leading to divisive competition and violent conflict, and the effectiveness of constitutional and institutional mechanisms designed to manage and diffuse ethnic cleavages. It is providing evidence for a theory of democratic ethnic conflict management, which holds that, properly managed, ethnicity can serve as an interest among other interests in the search for potential tools of political mobilization. The expression of ethnic demands can be mediated and institutionalized by the State, and the potential for violent ethnic conflict can be diffused. The study tests these propositions in three African countries, Ethiopia, Namibia and Nigeria. It first looks at the ethnic history of these states, paying particular attention to how political organizations have utilized ethnicity as a mobilizer and tailored their appeals to arouse ethic consciousness. Then it analyzes the constitutions under which these countries have been enacting a transition to democracy, highlighting the clauses that deal with ethnicity and aim to manage ethnic expressions. The third section of each case analyzes the effects of such constitutional engineering on the actual democratic transition (where the information is available, otherwise we look at the transition process in general). It considers the nature of political party formation, the issues used in electoral campaigns, the bases of party support and the degree of ethno-political polarization as depicted by election results, and incidences of violence that can be traced to ethnic conflicts. In the last section, the study will draw overall conclusions concerning the nature of democratization and ethnic conflict. Our interpretation is that ethnicity can serve as a legitimate and fruitful basis of political mobilization, provided that it is one of several utilized bases. Democratic management of ethnic conflict, through constitutional engineering, had proved highly successful in some countries, and moderately so in others. Where it has met with difficulties, the study will show that these difficulties are partly a cause of the process of instituting a democratic government, and partially a reflection of the persistence of old habits. Overall, the evidence is considered to support the thesis that multi-ethnicity is not inimical to democracy.