Less than 20% of Africa's states achieved statehood following rebellion or armed insurgency; in the others, independence flowed from . The essay concludes with a sobering reflection on the challenge of achieving resilient governance. The quality and durability of such leader-defined adaptive resilience cannot be assured and can be reversed unless the associated norms become institutionalized. Even the court system is designed to provide for consociational, provincial, and local organization, not as separate courts but as divisions of the key national courts; once again, a compromise between a fully federal or consociational arrangement and the realities of the South African situation that emphasize the preservation of national unity . Maintenance of law and order: the primary and most important function of the government is to maintain law and order in a state. The rise of non-Western centers of power and the return of global polarization among major powers reduce the presence and weight of western influence. Public Administration and Traditional Administrative System in Africa The Pre-Colonial Period: From the Ashes of Pharaohs to the Berlin Conference At the end of the prehistoric period (10 000 BC), some African nomadic bands began to (PDF) The role and significance of traditional leadership in the This discussion leads to an analysis of African conflict trends to help identify the most conflict-burdened sub-regions and to highlight the intimate link between governance and conflict patterns. Their endurance and coexistence with the institutions of the state has created an institutional dichotomy in much of Africa. Traditional African religions are not stagnant but highly dynamic and constantly reacting to various shifting influences such as old age, modernity, and technological advances. The African Charter: A Printed Futility or a Reflection of Human Rights A second objective is to draw a tentative typology of the different authority systems of Africas traditional institutions. Based on existing evidence, the authority systems in postcolonial Africa lie in a continuum between two polar points. At times, devolution has had major fiscal and governance consequences, including serving as a vehicle for co-option and corruption. Large segments of the rural populations, the overwhelming majority in most African countries, continue to adhere principally to traditional institutions. It seems clear that Africas conflict burden declined steadily after the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s owing to successful peace processes outstripping the outbreak of new conflicts; but the burden has been spiking up again since then. No doubt rural communities participate in elections, although they are hardly represented in national assemblies by people from their own socioeconomic space. PDF Traditional Leaders In Modern Africa: Can Democracy And The - ETH Z The leaders, their families and allies are exempt. The selection, however, is often from the children of a chief. Towards a Definition of Government 1.3. Long-standing kingdoms such as those in Morocco and Swaziland are recognized national states. The Political History of Africa: The Pre-Colonial Era - African You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Extensive survey research is required to estimate the size of adherents to traditional institutions. for a democratic system of government. Chief among them is that they remain key players in governing and providing various types of service in the traditional sector of the economy because of their compatibility with that economic system. Careful analysis suggests that African traditional institutions lie in a continuum between the highly decentralized to the centralized systems and they all have resource allocation practices, conflict resolution, judicial systems, and decision-making practices, which are distinct from those of the state. PDF The role and importance of the institution of traditional leadership in David and Joan Traitel Building & Rental Information, National Security, Technology & Law Working Group, Middle East and the Islamic World Working Group, Military History/Contemporary Conflict Working Group, Technology, Economics, and Governance Working Group, Answering Challenges to Advanced Economies, Understanding the Effects of Technology on Economics and Governance, Support the Mission of the Hoover Institution. Indigenous African Education - 2392 Words | Studymode There are several types of government that are traditionally instituted around the world. Another issue that needs some clarification is the neglect by the literature of the traditional institutions of the political systems without centralized authority structures. 3. On the other hand, their endurance creates institutional fragmentation that has adverse impacts on Africas governance and socioeconomic transformation. Institutional systems emanate from the broader economic and political systems, although they also affect the performance of the economic and political systems. Another measure is recognition of customary law and traditional judicial systems by the state. For Acemoglu and Robinson, such turning points occur in specific, unique historical circumstances that arise in a societys development. There are several types of government systems in African politics: in an absolute monarchy, the head of state and head of government is a monarch with unlimited legal authority,; in a constitutional monarchy, the monarch is a ceremonial figurehead who has few political competences,; in a presidential system, the president is the head of state and head of government, Traditional governments have the following functions; One common feature is recognition of customary property rights laws, especially that of land. Obstruction of nation-building: Nation-building entails a process of integrating different segments of the citizenry to form a community of citizens under shared institutions. Legal norms are an integral part of the discussion about inclusivity since they affect every aspect of economic and personal life; this poses a critical question over whether individual rights or group rights take precedence in the normative hierarchy. They are well known, among others, for their advancement of an indigenous democratic process known as Gadaa. In this paper, I look first at the emergence of the African state system historically, including colonial legacies and the Cold Wars impact on governance dynamics. Regional governance comes into play here, and certain precedents may get set and then ratified by regional or sub-regional organizations. The traditional Africa system of government is open and inclusive, where strangers, foreigners and even slaves could participate in the decision-making process. Others choose the traditional institutions, for example, in settling disputes because of lower transactional costs. Governments that rely on foreign counterparts and foreign investment in natural resources for a major portion of their budgetsrather than on domestic taxationare likely to have weaker connections to citizens and domestic social groups. In this view, nations fail because of extractive economic and political institutions that do not provide incentives for growth and stability. However, they do not have custodianship of land and they generally do not dispense justice on their own. The Role of Traditional Leaders in Post Independence Countries Botswana In this context the chapter further touches on the compatibility of the institution of chieftaincy with constitutional principles such as equality, accountability, natural justice, good governance, and respect for fundamental human rights. It is too soon to tell whether such institutions can evolve in modern Africa as a result of gradual tinkering with reformist agendas, as the legacy of wise leaders; or whether they will only happen as a result of fundamental tests of strength between social and political groups. The council of elders, religious leaders, and administrative staff of the chiefs exercise checks on the power of the leaders and keep them accountable (Beattie, 1967; Busia, 1968; Coplan & Quinlan, 1997; Jones, 1983; Osaghae, 1989). In West Africa, a griot is a praise singer or poet who possesses a repository of oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. In the past decade, traditional security systems utilized in commercial or government facilities have consisted of a few basic elements: a well-trained personnel, a CCTV system, and some kind of access control system. Another layer represents the societal norms and customs that differ along various cultural traits. The government is undertaking a review of local government, which includes a commitment to introduce direct election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs). Table 1 shows the proportion of the population that operates under traditional economic systems in selected African countries. It is imperative that customary land rights are recognized and respected so that communities in the traditional economic system exercise control of land and other resources under their customary ownership, at least until alternative sources of employment are developed to absorb those who might be displaced. While comprehensive empirical studies on the magnitude of adherence to traditional institutions are lacking, some studies point out that most people in rural areas prefer the judicial service provided by traditional institutions to those of the state, for a variety of reasons (Logan, 2011; Mengisteab & Hagg, 2017). Printed from Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Politics. In new countries such as most of those in Africa,7 where the rule of law is in competition with the rule of men, leaders play a strikingly critical role, for good or ill. Only four states in AfricaBotswana, Gambia, Mauritius, and Senegalretained multiparty systems. Evidence from case studies, however, suggests that the size of adherents varies from country to country. Tribes had relatively little power outside their own group during the colonial period. African traditional institutions continue to exist in most African countries, albeit at different levels of adherence by the populations of the continent. The Alafin as the political head of the empire was . In Africa, as in every region, it is the quality and characteristics of governance that shape the level of peace and stability and the prospects for economic development. Features Of Traditional Government Administration. Oromos are one of the largest ethnic groups in sub-Saharan Africa belonging to the Cushitic-speaking peoples in Northeastern Africa in general and in modern Ethiopia and Kenya in particular. The traditional African religions (or traditional beliefs and practices of African people) are a set of highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions . These include - murder, burglary, landcase, witchcraft, profaning the deities and homicide. PDF The Local Government System in Ghana - Clgf 2. "Law" in traditional Igbo and other African societies assumes a wide dimension and should be understood, interpreted, and applied as such, even if such a definition conflicts with the Western idea. This process becomes difficult when citizens are divided into parallel socioeconomic spaces with different judicial systems, property rights laws, and resource allocation mechanisms, which often may conflict with each other. Although much has been lost in the shadows and fogs of a time before people created written accounts, historians . These partners, for their part, sometimes disengaged from close political ties and often brought new governance conditions into their assistance programs. Overturning regimes in Africas often fragile states could become easier to do, without necessarily leading to better governance. . A third layer lies between the other two layers and is referred to in this article as traditional institutions. This short article does not attempt to provide answers to all these questions, which require extensive empirical study. Similarly, the process of conflict resolution is undertaken in an open assembly and is intended to reconcile parties in conflict rather than to merely punish offenders. In most African countries, constitutionally established authorities exercise the power of government alongside traditional authorities. Note: The term rural population is used as a proxy for the population operating under traditional economic systems. Legitimate authority, in turn, is based on accepted laws and norms rather than the arbitrary, unconstrained power of the rulers. African Traditional Political Systems and Intitutions - Academia.edu State Systems in Pre-colonial, Colonial and Post-colonial - Jstor Political leaders everywhere face competing demands in this regard. Subsequent to the colonial experience, traditional institutions may be considered to be informal institutions in the sense that they are often not sanctioned by the state. In Botswana, for example, the consensual decision-making process in the kgotla (public meeting) regulates the power of the chiefs. The participatory and consensus-based system of conflict resolution can also govern inter-party politics and curtail the frequent post-election conflicts that erupt in many African countries. There is little doubt that colonial occupation and the ensuing restructuring of African political entities and socioeconomic systems altered African traditional institutions of governance. Its marginalization, in turn, impedes the transformation of the traditional sector, thus extending the fragmentation of institutions. 14 L.A. Ayinla 'African Philosophy of Law: A Critique' 151, available at The modern African state system has been gradually Africanized, albeit on more or less the identical territorial basis it began with at the time of decolonization in the second half of the 20th century. Less than 20% of Africas states achieved statehood following rebellion or armed insurgency; in the others, independence flowed from peaceful transfers of authority from colonial officials to African political elites. We know a good deal about what Africans want and demand from their governments from public opinion surveys by Afrobarometer. These circumstances can generate an authoritarian reflex and the temptation to circle the wagons against all sources of potential opposition. Our data indicate that traditional leaders, chiefs and elders clearly still play an important role in the lives One of these will be the role and weight of various powerful external actors. An election bound to be held in the year 2019 will unveil the new . Discuss any similarities between the key features of the fourth Interestingly, small and mid-size state leaders have won the award so far.) Any insurrection by a segment of the population has the potential to bring about not only the downfall of governments but also the collapse of the entire apparatus of the state because the popular foundation of the African state is weak. The introduction of alien economic and political systems by the colonial state relegated Africas precolonial formal institutions to the sphere of informality, although they continued to operate in modified forms, in part due to the indirect rule system of colonialism and other forms of reliance by colonial states on African institutions of governance to govern their colonies. In the thankfully rare cases where national governance breaks down completelySouth Sudan, Somalia, CARits absence is an invitation to every ethnic or geographic community to fend for itselfa classic security dilemma. Each of these societies had a system of government. PDF African Governance Systems in the Pre and Post-Independence Periods This page was processed by aws-apollo-l2 in 0.093 seconds, Using these links will ensure access to this page indefinitely. Institutions represent an enduring collection of formal laws and informal rules, customs, codes of conduct, and organized practices that shape human behavior and interaction. In sum, the digitization of African politics raises real challenges for political leaders and has the potential to increase their determination to digitize their own tools of political control. The reasons why rural communities adhere to the traditional institutions are many (Logan, 2011; Mengisteab & Hagg, 2017). Their "rediscovery" in modern times has led to an important decolonization of local and community management in order to pursue genuine self-determination. This study points to a marked increase in state-based conflicts, owing in significant part to the inter-mixture of Islamic State factions into pre-existing conflicts. A second conflict pattern can develop along the lines of ethnic cleavages which can be readily politicized and then militarized into outright ethnic violence. A command economy, also known as a planned economy, is one in which the central government plans, organizes, and controls all economic activities to maximize social welfare. One influential research group, SIPRI in Sweden, counted a total of 9 active armed conflicts in 2017 (in all of Africa) plus another 7 post-conflict and potential conflict situations.3, More revealing is the granular comparison of conflict types over time. Government and the Political System 2.1. He served as assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 1981 to 1989. In many cases, the invented chieftaincies were unsuccessful in displacing the consensus-based governance structures (Gartrell, 1983; Uwazie, 1994). Africas geopolitical environment is shaped by Africans to a considerable degree. Contents 1. Legitimate authority, in turn, is based on accepted laws and norms rather than the arbitrary, unconstrained power of the rulers. Different property rights laws are a notable source of conflict in many African countries. In some countries, such as Botswana, customary courts are estimated to handle approximately 80% of criminal cases and 90% of civil cases (Sharma, 2004). All the characteristic features of a traditional society are, for obvious reasons, reflected in the education system. The leader is accountable to various levels of elders, who serve as legislators and as judges (Legesse, 1973; Taa, 2017). Within this spectrum, some eight types of leadership structures can be identified. Traditional Institutions of Governance in Africa As noted, African countries have experienced the rise of the modern (capitalist) economic system along with its corresponding institutional systems. Africa: Government and Political Systems - Geography There is a basic distinction between those systems with a centralized authority exercised through the machinery of government and those without any such authority in which . There is also the question of inclusion of specific demographic cohorts: women, youth, and migrants from rural to urban areas (including migrant women) all face issues of exclusion that can have an impact on conflict and governance. Issues of corruption and transparency are likely to become driving themes in African politics. According to this analysis, Africas traditional institutional systems are likely to endure as long as the traditional subsistent economic systems continue to exist. Africas rural communities, which largely operate under subsistent economic systems, overwhelmingly adhere to the traditional institutional systems while urban communities essentially follow the formal institutional systems, although there are people who negotiate the two institutional systems in their daily lives. Differences and Similarities Between a Democracy and a Republic But established and recognized forms of inherited rule cannot be lightly dismissed as un-modern, especially when linked to the identity of an ethnic or tribal group, and could be construed as a building block of legitimacy. They are already governing much of rural Africa. In addition to these measures, reconciling fragmented institutions would be more successful when governments invest more resources in transforming the traditional socioeconomic space. Differences and Similarities between Democracy and Authoritarian Other governance systems in the post-independence era and their unique features, if any. The book contains eight separate papers produced by scholars working in the field of anthropology, each of which focuses in on a different society in Sub-Saharan Africa. Invented chiefs and state-paid elders: These were chiefs imposed by the colonial state on decentralized communities without centralized authority systems. They succeed when there are political conditions that permit a broad coalition to impose pluralist political institutions and limits and restraints on ruling elites.20 Thus, resilience of both state and society may hinge in the end on the rule of law replacing the rule of men. A more recent argument is that traditional institutions are incompatible with economic, social, and civil rights (Chirayath, Sage, & Woolcock, 2005). The swing against western norms was captured in an interview with Ugandas repeatedly re-elected president Yoweri Museveni who remarked How can you have structural adjustment without electricity? Additionally, inequalities between parallel socioeconomic spaces, especially with respect to influence on policy, hinder a democratic system, which requires equitable representation and inclusive participation. Yet, governments are expected to govern and make decisions after consulting relevant stakeholders. Democracy and Consensus in African Traditional Politics: a Plea - Jstor Your current browser may not support copying via this button. The population in the traditional system thus faces a vicious cycle of deprivation. There are very few similarities between democracy and dictatorship. Paramount chieftaincy is a traditional system of local government and an integral element of governance in some African countries such as Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia and Ivory Coast. When a seemingly brittle regime reaches the end of its life, it becomes clear that the state-society gap is really a regime-society gap; the state withers and its institutions become hollow shells that serve mainly to extract rents. Womens access to property rights is also limited, as they are often denied the right of access to inheritance as well as equal division of property in cases of divorce. Reconciling the parallel institutional systems is also unlikely to deliver the intended results in a short time; however, there may not be any better alternatives. As institutional scholars state, institutional incompatibility leads to societal conflicts by projecting different laws governing societal interactions (Eisenstadt, 1968; Helmke & Levitsky, 2004; March & Olsen, 1984; North, 1990; Olsen, 2007). African Traditions - Centuries of African heritage - Victoria Falls Guide Third, Africas conflict burden reflects different forms and sources of violence that sometimes become linked to each other: political movements may gain financing and coercive support from criminal networks and traffickers, while religious militants with connections to terrorist groups are often adept at making common cause with local grievance activists. THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN CUSTOMARY LAW, Fenrich, Galizzi, Higgins, eds., Cambridge University Press, 2011, 27 Pages
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