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A Case Study of 2007/2008 Post-Election Violence In MEDIATION AND NEGOTIATION AS STM RATEGIES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION: A CASE STUDY OF 2007/2008 POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA BY MARTHA KENDI MWITI REG. NO: 651757 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (SHSS) AT THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA SUMMER 2019 DECLARATION I declare that this research proposal is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university Signature…................................................................Date……........................................ Martha Kendi Mwiti 651757 This research proposal has been submitted for examination with my approval as United States International University-Africa (USIU) supervisor. Signature:.....................................................................Date……................................... Mr. Leonard Maumo Supervisor, USIU-Africa Signature:…………………………………..………...Date…………………………….. Professor Martin C. Njoroge Dean-School of Humanities and Social Sciences Signature……………………………………………..Date……………………………… Ambassador Professor Ruthie Rono Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic and Student Affairs (DVCASA), USIU-Africa ii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my family members, my husband Raymond and mum Joy for their emotional support, love and encouragement, which had positive contribution towards completion of this study. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank the supreme power of the Almighty God for His guidance, spiritual and physical strength He granted me to develop the study. Without God’s grace, the completion of this project couldn’t have been a reality. Next, I am grateful to my mum Joy, I feel indebted to her for the work she did in the past to support my education and make me who I am today with the ability to develop a study that contributes to a broad field of conflict management in international relations discipline. I feel obliged in taking this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to my husband Raymond for the encouragement and support he gave me during the period of the research and project development. I extend special tribute to my supervisor, Mr. Leonard Maumo for walking me through the thesis selflessly and for equipping me with all the knowledge I needed to do the thesis conclusively. Also for Mr. Dan Odaba, USIU-Africa lecturer for taking his time to read my document and make corrections. I am thankful to all my lecturers and colleagues at USIU- Africa for the support they offered throughout my study period. Even though I have no more valuable words to express my thanks to everyone who came to my aide during the period, my heart is still full of favors I received from every person during the research study and development period. May God bless you for me! iv ABSTRACT This paper explores the use of mediation and negotiation as a strategy of conflict resolution in the case of Kenya 2007/2008 post-election violence crisis. The rationale behind this study was that mediation and negotiation as a conflict resolution strategy has been used in different conflicts such as Colombia, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia without success. On the other hand, mediation and negotiation was used successfully in South Sudan, but it did not bring everlasting peace in the country. Where mediation and negotiation are not applied, other conflict resolution strategies such as international pressure, sanctions and military intervention have been used to topple dictatorial regimes. However, sanctions and military interventions do not bring lasting peace and stability. This research work, therefore, engaged in an investigative case study to examine factors that led to successful use of mediation and negotiation as a conflict resolution strategy in Kenya 2007/2008 post- election, which brought immediate and long-term political, economic and social stability. To answer the research questions and achieve its objectives, a mixed methodology approach was used. Quantitative data was collected from 89 PEV victims while qualitative data was collected from previous works and from senior officials in the Interior Ministry and Kenya National Commission of Human Rights. The research was supported by two relevant theories; conflict and realist theories. The results showed that mediation and negotiation process led by Kofi Annan resulted into political, social and economic stability in the country concluding that mediation and negotiation strategies were suitable for conflict resolutions. This study recommends further research to explore the reasons that cause failure or success of mediation and negotiation as a conflict resolution strategy elsewhere. It also recommends that the government and stakeholders should institute mediation and negotiation programs across the country to help in solving local disputes such as cattle rustling, land and boundary, as well as tribal motivated disputes. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................. iv ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. x LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS .................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................... 5 1.3 Research Objectives ................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Specific Objectives .............................................................................................. 6 1.4 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Justification of the Study ............................................................................................ 7 1.6 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................... 8 1.7 Scope of the Study...................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................................. 9 1.9 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 11 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................. 11 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................ 12 2.2.1 Conflict Theory.................................................................................................. 12 2.2.1.1 Proponents of Conflict Theory.................................................................... 12 vi 2.2.1.2 Strengths of the Theory ............................................................................... 13 2.2.1.3 Weaknesses of the theory............................................................................ 13 2.2.1.4 Application of the theory ............................................................................ 13 2.2.2 Realism Theory.................................................................................................. 14 2.2.2.1 Proponents of the Theory ............................................................................ 14 2.2.2.2 Strengths of the Theory ............................................................................... 14 2.2.2.3 Weaknesses of the Theory .......................................................................... 15 2.2.2.4 Application of the Theory ........................................................................... 15 2.3 Introduction to the Literature ................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Overview of Conflicts ....................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Conflicts Around the World .............................................................................. 21 2.2.2.1 World Conflicts in the First Half of 20th Century ....................................... 21 2.2.2.2 World Conflicts from Post-War World to the end of Cold War ................. 24 2.2.2.3 World Conflicts from 1990s to Present ...................................................... 27 2.2.3 Conflicts
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