Institutional Engineering and Hybrid Power-sharing in Divided Societies

Many societies are strongly divided, especially in ethnic, religious, racial, and ideological terms. Such divisions are usually related to the existence of divergent interests that may lead to serious conflicts between groups and/or between them and state authorities. In order to limit them, participation in decision-making processes by members of different groups is needed. However, it is extremely difficult to establish and maintain effective power-sharing arrangements. This book examines the cases of Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Burundi, where hybrid models of power-sharing have emerged, combining specific elements of consociational and centripetal types. It also explains the specificity, life cycle, and performance of different hybrid systems.

Krzysztof Trzci?ski, Ph.D., is a professor of political science and international studies at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. He is a lecturer in the politics and societies of Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa and an author and editor of over 90 academic publications on institutional design for conflict management in multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies, political thought, citizenship theory, separatism, and conceptual analysis. He regularly visits African and Asian countries, where he conducts field research projects, including discussions with academics and public officials.