THE ‘UNDER CARPET SWEEPING’ SYNDROME OF URBAN VIOLENCE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

The developing countries have peculiar challenges which are related to the modality of managing violence and related matters. It is the duty of the state to secure the lives and property of the citizens promptly. What is usually obtained in many developing countries is micromanagement and jettisoning of important security matters. Therefore, the syndrome obtained when urgent security issues are abandoned or partially executed and when major aspects of curbing violence is jettisoned and the minor part is politically magnified, then essentialities of the germane issues is the ‘under-carpet sweeping’ syndrome. A time of relapse may ensue when under carpet syndromes becomes unbearable. The repercussion will be a wide spread violence or at the magnitude of civil war. The research question spotlight is what are the effects of organised abandonments of potential security threats on safety and development in most developing and some developed countries. The notion of relative deprivation theory is used to justify organised abandonments of major issues in the democratic regimes. Afrobarometer database is analysed to deduce the state of (in) security in five countries across Africa. The recommendation posited is that governments should allow best practice and prompt action on security matters. Conclusion is premised on the fact that when security matters are treated with levity and salient issues are swept under-carpet, violence will multiply in the country.