Harmonizing Ethnic Claims in Africa: A Proposal for Ethnic-Based Federalism
Author(s)
Kimenyi, Mwangi S.
Abstract
The unitary form of government has been inadequate in alleviating social strife within African nations. While this form of government was regarded a necessity to instill nationalism among the different ethnic groups rather than tribalism, it had actually worsened inter-tribal conflicts and led to economic deterioration. The different ethnic groups resorted to violent measures to achieve dominance in the government to be able to favorably allocate resources to their own groups. An alternative worthy of consideration is a decentralized ethnic-based government.