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Trickle-Down ethnic politics: drunk and absent in the Kenya police force (1957-1970)

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Version 2 2023-06-12, 08:46
Version 1 2023-06-09, 08:49
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 08:46 authored by Oliver Vanden Eynde, Patrick M Kuhn, Alexander Moradi
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.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy

ISSN

1945-7731

Publisher

American Economic Association

Issue

3

Volume

10

Page range

388-417

Department affiliated with

  • Economics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-11-14

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-11-14

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-11-13

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