| dc.description.abstract | This thesis undertakes an investigation of diplomatic recognition as understood and practiced in Kenya. It is the general purpose of this study to discover the established trend or foreign policy behaviour of this country over the time period of study. It is our basic assumption that Kenya's operational strategy or code of diplomatic behaviour is premised upon her rationalized politics of survival as dictated by her national interests. The perceived national interests and the calculations behind her other declared foreign policy dimensions (principles and policies) are used as the yardstick of understanding her recognition position.
It is also the basic assumption of this study that a number of varying factors have influenced or determined Kenya's recognition position and her established external behaviour. These factors are therefore subjected to a critical review to demonstrate the extent to which each has affected Kenya's conception and practice of diplomatic recognition.
On a linkage level, Kenya's recognition position, the factors influencing that position and her general external behaviour, other issues or variables are correlated in their inter-linkage to facilitate the categorization of Kenya's foreign policy behaviour as consistent and/or inconsistent in specific issue-areas. Such categorization is based on the assumption that". both continuity and change have characterized Kenya's foreign policy process.
Throughout the thesis Kenya's foreign policy behaviour is taken to be generally representative of the new, poor and developing states of the international community. Kenya's practice and survival strategies are therefore viewed as a characteristic behaviour of such states in international politics especially their reference to international law to justify their existence and independence.
Synthesized in this study is also the phenomenon of state dominance in international politics and perpetuation of such dominance and existence, by states themselves through their practices as reflected in Kenya's recognition policy and practice. Kenya's emphasis on recognition of states; not governments, is seen as a strategy to safeguard her core values like territorial integrity, national security, which also justify her advocacy of policies like good neighbourliness, non-alignment and principles such as the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs of other states or the non-violability of territorial borders as well as her insistence on the principle of self-determination of all peoples. Our argument is that the concept of recognition is crucial in state relations and in maintaining the status quo in the international system.
Chapter one entails the conceptual components of the proposed research. Such include the research question which triggered the entire study as expressed in the form of statement of the problem. Justification for the study and its objectives are outlined. The literature reviewed is cited and suitable theoretical framework is also identified. The hypotheses to be investigated and the methodology for collecting and analysing the data are set- out.
Chapter two provides the basic foundation of the study by examining the principles underlying the concept of diplomatic recognition. A working definition of the concept recognition is arrived at, thus providing a pivotal point around which the investigation rotates.
In chapter three, factors or variables which determine and influence Kenya's foreign policy behaviour in relation to the aspect of recognition are identified and critically examined. An attempt to bring out the premises of Kenya's recognition policy is undertaken in the process of analysing the identified variables | en |
