Decision making in International Crisis: Kenya's post-election crisis, 2007-2008

Abstract

The concept of international crisis has recently transformed from the conventional interstate conflicts to an intra-national dimension. The transformation has developed along the lines of intra-state conflicts resulting from election-related crisis that have become a feature of democratic elections in Africa. As a: result, the knock on effect of electoral crisis in Africa has seen the emergence of power sharing arrangements in the form of coalition governments between the ruling party and the opposition. This situation has dangerously undermined democratic values as espoused by the western form of democracy.

Despite this unpleasant development in the continent, the policy scholars have never made an attempt to explain the causes of such ·crisis. Consequently, the basic aim of this research study is to understand the literature on international crisis and its management by giving different views on the concept. It will also examine prominent 20th century international crisis and review various international crisis episodes and their impact on decision makers. Similarly, the research study will focus on the analysis of two thematic areas; international crisis and crisis decision making. This will be examined in relation to Kenya's post-election crisis of 2007-2008 especially with regard to the government decision making.

The decision process and the structure of Kenya's decision making system with specific description on how an organization's structure affects strategic decision process will be explored. Also to be discussed by the study is interaction of different types of decision making structures both in a crisis and non-crisis situations. Conclusions will then be reached on issues such as the efficacy of the decision making structures in Kenya especially in crisis.