Election Management in Regions: A Global Security

The nature of regional security/insecurity among neighbouring states which for long have been viewed traditionally localized seem to have limitations in the current paradigm among geographically adjacent states. Security in the era of regionalization is no longer remote thus electoral management insecurity is likely to have impact to the existing peace and security in a regional network of states. The electoral management dynamics (political architecture, systemic models, operational issues, and security strategies) despite many previous elections with internal violence unprecedentedly caused threats to East Africa regional security architecture in socio-eco-political perspectives. This book examined electoral management dynamics to East Africa regional security architecture perspectives of Kenya's 2007 election violence. The research proceeded to establish electoral Management architecture towards East Africa regional security, finding out the challenges of Kenya's 2007 electoral management to East Africa regional security, assessing the effects of Kenya's 2007 electoral management to East Africa regional security, and finally examining electoral management policy frameworks to mitigate East Africa regional security. In light of complexities that exist in Inter-State Security Arrangements (ISSA) due to functional-structural weakness of core state institutions, the researcher focused the study theoretically using Buzan and Waever Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) in Regions and Power which address areas of internal "security interdependence" and securitization among states linked geographically. Additionally, the study dialectically probed the possibility of Regional Institutional Perspective Theory (RIPT) being applicable together with RSCT in a regional integration framework.

The RIPT application in the form of Extra- State Security Structure (ESSS) may be a better alternative to Intra-State Security Structure (ISSS) in African sub-regions. Where national security no longer meets its obligations in terms of securitization, an inclusive security response may need to be adopted in a regional network of states as a way of preservation of the subjects (citizens) in the smaller entities (states). It is apparent in this book that the East Africa regional security was eco-socio-politically affected in a number of ways as a result of electoral management dynamics in Kenya's 2007 election.

The book highlights that EM conflicts in Kenya that led to EARS is cyclic in nature and that EM challenges across East Africa region are similar in many ways. It recommends among others; First, in light of EM dynamics in Kenya that there is urgent need to deal with hidden political feuds (the violence root cause in ethnicity to define the form state) and monoethnic dominance through attainment of federal system for multinational (multiethnic) states of Africa. Secondly, redesigning the role of Commander -in- chief during elections, and thirdly, making EMBs really independent as to (decisional, secretariat, and institutional independence).