Electoral Violence, Corruption, and Political Order

"This thoughtful book develops a theoretical framework to understand when electoral violence is and is not likely to occur. It represents the best kind of political science—a sophisticated engagement with real-world issues in all of their complexity. The clarity of thought, precision of language, and strong analysis will make Electoral Violence, Corruption, and Political Order a classic of its genre and required reading."—Nic Cheeseman, author of How to Rig an Election

"This important book examines election violence as one strategy of election manipulation, and considers the distinct motivations of government and opposition actors. Birch impressively engages with the vast and fast-moving literature on this topic and does a good amount of conceptual brush clearing that will be essential to the field."—Susan D. Hyde, author of The Pseudo-Democrat’s Dilemma

"Examining electoral violence as an instrument for political exclusion, this book is a welcome addition to an important field of inquiry for the promotion of democracy and violence prevention. Marked by empirical richness, the work advances knowledge on the determinants of electoral violence, its association with other forms of electoral manipulation, and suitable approaches for averting violence during electoral periods."—Kristine Höglund, Uppsala University

"Synthesizing a fragmented field, Birch offers an innovative account of election violence. With unprecedented empirical scope, her landmark work illustrates the centrality of violence in the political order of many nonconsolidated democracies and highlights the interdependency between violence and other forms of election manipulation. This novel and compelling book will greatly influence the field and inspire new, exciting research for years to come."—Michael Wahman, Michigan State University