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Download fileTrickle-Down ethnic politics: drunk and absent in the Kenya police force (1957-1970)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 08:46 authored by Oliver Vanden Eynde, Patrick M Kuhn, Alexander MoradiHow 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 PolicyISSN
1945-7731Publisher
American Economic AssociationExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
10Page range
388-417Department affiliated with
- Economics Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes