20th century african history
20th century kenyan history
A01=Jennifer A. Widner
Author_Jennifer A. Widner
autocrat
Category=JPL
Category=NHH
corruption
daniel arap moi
dictator
eq_bestseller
eq_history
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
governmental control
head of state
human rights
human rights abuses
jomo kenyatta
kadu
kanu
kenya
kenya african national union
kenyan african democratic union
kenyan history
kenyan politics
party states
political climate
president of kenya
regimes
repressive government
single party system
surveillance
watchdog
Product details
- ISBN 9780520076242
- Weight: 680g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 06 Jan 1993
- Publisher: University of California Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
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Although Kenya is often considered an African success story, its political climate became increasingly repressive under its second president, Daniel arap Moi. Widner charts the transformation of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) from a weak, loosely organized political party under Jomo Kenyatta into an arm of the president's office, with "watchdog" youth wings and strong surveillance and control functions, under Moi. She suggests that single-party systems have an inherent tendency to become "party-states," or single-party regimes in which the head of state uses the party as a means of control. The speed and extent of these changes depend on the countervailing power of independent interest groups, such as business associations, farmers, or professionals. Widner's study offers important insights into the dynamics of party systems in Africa.
Jennifer A. Widner is Associate Professor of Government at Harvard University.
