Voter backlash and elite misperception : the logic of violence in electoral competition / Steven C. Rosenzweig.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rosenzweig, Steven C., 1985- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Voter intimidation--Kenya--Case studies.

Voter intimidation.

Political violence--Kenya--Case studies.

Political violence.

Political crimes and offenses--Kenya--Case studies.

Political crimes and offenses.

Presidents--Kenya--Election--Case studies.

Presidents.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xix, 201 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Summary:

Existing theories of election-related violence often assume that if elites instigate violence, they must benefit electorally from doing so. With a focus on Kenya, this book employs a wide array of data and empirical methods to demonstrate that - contrary to conventional wisdom - violence can be a costly strategy resulting in significant voter backlash. The book argues that politicians often fail to perceive these costs and thus employ violence as an electoral tactic even when its efficacy is doubtful. Election-related violence can therefore be explained not solely by the electoral benefits it provides, but by politicians' misperceptions about its effectiveness as an electoral tactic. The book also shows that violence in founding elections - the first elections held under a new multiparty regime - has long-lasting effects on politicians (mis)perceptions about its usefulness, explaining why some countries' elections suffer from recurrent bouts of violence while others do not.

Contents:

Election-related violence in Kenya and around the world

Theorizing election-related violence : towards a theory of elite misperception

Violence and election outcomes

How violence affects voting : coercion, persuasion, and backlash

Elite misperception and election-related violence

Voter backlash, elite misperception, and violence beyond Kenya.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 22 May 2023).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781009354905 (ebook)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.