Kenya and Uganda: defining and diffusing democracy in a transnational world

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Periodical article

Title:	Kenya and Uganda: defining and diffusing democracy in a transnational world
Author:	Schmitz, Hans Peter
Year:	1998
Periodical:	L'Afrique politique
Pages:	227-244
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Uganda Kenya
Subjects:	NGO democracy human rights
Abstract:	Transnational relations play an increasingly important role in domestic and international politics. In this article the author argues that transnational actors in the field of human rights have had a decisive impact on the democratization process in Africa. In two case studies the political developments in Kenya and Uganda are compared, first, with respect to the activities of democracy-promoting actors below the State level, second, with respect to the reactions of the challenged governments. The ability of regimes to adjust their responses to the new influences has been crucial in determining the current status of reforms. The author shows that attempts by State leaders to vilify international criticism have had little effect (case of Kenya), while the strategy of human rights NGOs has contributed, in a spectacular way, to challenging the sovereignty and the reputation of authoritarian regimes (case of Uganda). Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French (p. 13).