In past years the international community has pushed hard for promoting democracy in instable and poor countries, in the goal that fairness can address historical grievances and guarantee peace. This view has also been dominant in academic research (e.g., Gurr, 1960, Hegre et al., 2001). However, recent episodes of post-election violence, e.g. in Kenya in 2007, Nigeria in 2007 or Ivory Coast in 2010, have cast doubt on whether elections really result in peace rather than in turmoil.
