Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/102988 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2014/096
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
Barrington Moore's famous line 'no bourgeoisie, no democracy' is one of the most quoted claims in political science. But has the rise of the African middle class promoted democratic consolidation? This paper uses the case of Kenya to investigate the attitudes and behaviours of the middle class. Analysis of Afrobarometer survey data reveals that the middle class is more likely to support the opposition and hold pro-democratic attitudes. This suggests Moore's claim holds, at least for some African countries, and that contemporary demographic changes will improve the prospects for democratic consolidation. However, qualitative evidence from the Kenyan 2013 general election raises important questions about the resilience of these attitudes. The middle class may be more inclined to democratic attitudes than their less well-off counterparts, but class continues to intersect with ethnicity and its political salience is likely to wax and wane as a result.
Subjects: 
middle class
democracy
elections
democratization
Kenya
Africa
JEL: 
D70
D72
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9230-817-9
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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