Trickle-down ethnic politics : drunk and absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970)
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Economic Association
Abstract
How does ethnic politics affect the state's ability to provide policing services? Using a panel of administrative personnel data on the full careers of 6,784 police officers, we show how the rise of ethnic politics around Kenya's independence influenced policemen's behavior. We find a significant deterioration in discipline after Kenya's first multiparty election for those police officers of ethnic groups associated with the ruling party. These effects are driven by a behavioral change among these policemen. We find no evidence of favoritism within the police. Instead, our results are consistent with co-ethnic officers experiencing an emboldenment effect. Our findings highlight that the state's security apparatus, at its most granular level, is not insulated from ethnic politics.
Description
CITATION: Eynde, O. V., Kuhn, P. M. & Moradi, A. 2018. Trickle-down Ethnic politics : drunk and absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970). American Economic Journal : Economic Policy, 10(3):388-417, doi:10.1257/pol.20160384.
The original publication is available at https://www.aeaweb.org
The original publication is available at https://www.aeaweb.org
Keywords
Alcoholism and employment -- Kenya, Police -- Alcohol use -- Kenya, Ethnic relations -- Political aspects -- Kenya -- 1950s, Ethnic relations -- Political aspects -- Kenya -- 1960s
Citation
Eynde, O. V., Kuhn, P. M. & Moradi, A. 2018. Trickle-down Ethnic politics : drunk and absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970). American Economic Journal : Economic Policy, 10(3):388-417, doi:10.1257/pol.20160384