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Battles over boundaries. Contested devolution in Kenya and Uganda

This project analyses how the politics of contested devolution influences inclusion and exclusion at the sub-national political level in two divided societies, Kenya and Uganda. In societies characterised by deep-running political divisions, inequalities and exclusion, the issue of how to organise and distribute political power impacts hugely on stability. Devolution of power and resources to sub-national entities is often promoted as a remedy for problems of exclusion. However, changes in territorial demarcation and relocation of authority set off struggles over who should exercise what power, how and where. At the same time, fluid political identities frequently conflict with the scope of territorial and authority structures. The projects aims to 1) analyse how the contestation over devolved power in Kenya and Uganda influences political inclusion and exclusion and 2) contribute to theoretical development with regard to how the above is shaped by the interplay between formal and informal institutions and boundaries. The project seeks to capture this through empirical studies, based on interviews, policy documents and legislation, of struggles over territory, authority and identity at the sub-national level.

Project ID

SE-0-SE-29-2015-03193_1-285-43082

Activity status

2 - Implementation

Aid type

D02 - Other technical assistance

% to Uganda

100.00

Organisations

Funding

Sweden

Extending

The Swedish Research Council

Implementing

Nordiska Afrikainstitutet

CRS code	%
Research/scientific institutions (43082)	100.0