Miscommunication and Missed Opportunities: Rethinking Conflict Resolution through Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Abstract

Kenya’s 2024 Gen-Z protests exposed the fragility of governance when leaders fail to engage citizens meaningfully, a challenge directly linked to SDG 16’s goals of peace, justice, and strong institutions. Using Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar as a comparative lens, this paper examines how miscommunication, rhetorical strategies, and ignored warnings escalate conflict. Caesar dismisses critical advice, Brutus struggles to win public trust, and Antony stirs the crowd—failures that echo Kenyan youth feeling silenced and marginalized. Combining literary insight, African political contexts, and conflict resolution theory, the study demonstrates that sustainable governance requires transparent, empathetic, and inclusive communication. Literature thus offers practical lessons for building trust, resolving conflict, and fostering peaceful, accountable societies.