Overview

Recent estimates indicate that more than 640 million small arms and 16 billion rounds of ammunition circulate the globe yearly. In North East Africa and the Rift Valley, the flow of arms has been particularly heavy and has led to the escalation of banditry, cattle rustling, raiding, and ethnic conflict. The impact small arms have on the area, according to Kennedy Agade Mkutu, is a symptom of the failure of states to govern and of superficial programs that focus simply on disarmament. In this hard-hitting book, Mkutu brings together all the issues affecting the arms trade, from the regulation of international arms sales to regional efforts to improve security, community involvement, and economic development. He cites cultural changes to the legacy of pastoral violence in the region as key ingredients in stemming the disastrous spread of small arms.

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Reviews

<p>. .. stimulating... a fascinating empirical analysis of the dysfunctionalnature of modernization. -- Foreign Affairs, March/April 2009

<p> Mkutu's valuable study demonstrates what happens when the institutionsand security apparatus of government are too weak, disinterested, or corrupt toexert their authority to keep peace, and a Hobbesian state of nature dominated byarmed militias take over. As such, Mkutu's book is profoundly disturbing andilluminating. -- Susanne D. Mueller, Harvard University, Intnl Jrnl AfricanHistorical Studies, Vol. 42.1 2009--Susanne D. Mueller, Harvard University Intnl Jrnl African Historical Studies (01/01/2009)

<p> A path-breaking examination of a highly important and hitherto largely neglected topic. --Mark Leopold, University of Sussex--Mark Leopold, University of Sussex

A path-breaking examination of a highly important and hitherto largely neglected topic. -Mark Leopold, University of Sussex A systematic overview of the effect of small arms on pastoralism and governance in Karamoja and Samburu/Laikipia/Turkana. -Philip Winter, Rift Valley Institute ... stimulating... a fascinating empirical analysis of the dysfunctional nature of modernization. -Foreign Affairs, March/April 2009 Mkutu's valuable study demonstrates what happens when the institutions and security apparatus of government are too weak, disinterested, or corrupt to exert their authority to keep peace, and a Hobbesian state of nature dominated by armed militias take over. As such, Mkutu's book is profoundly disturbing and illuminating. -Susanne D. Mueller, Harvard University, Intnl Jrnl African Historical Studies, Vol. 42.1 2009 Without doubt the author has succeeded in making a valuable contribution toward understanding the nature of pastoral life in the Rift Valley. He must be commended for addressing vexing issues and for the risk he endured in conducting the research. Like the author's other publications, this book will be extremely useful to policymakers, researchers, and NGOs working on SALW. -African Studies Review, Vol. 54.1 2011 [T]hose studying social change in Africa will find Guns and Governance of great use. Of special note are the changes in tribal administration and interaction brought about by colonialism and national independence, how theses changes have influenced the flood of small arms, and how this flood has changed the cultural landscape of the Rift Valley. -African Studies Quarterly

Author Information

Kennedy Agade Mkutu lectures at the Kenya Institute of Administration and has been a consultant on small arms and pastoral conflict for many international agencies.

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