The Dualism of Contemporary Traditional Governance and the State

Abstract

In many parts of the world, people live in "dual polities": they are governed by the state and organize collective decision making within their ethnic community according to traditional rules. We examine the substantial body of works on the traditional-state dualism, focusing on the internal organization of traditional polities, their interaction with the state, and the political consequences of the dualism. We find the descriptions of the internal organization of traditional polities scattered and lacking comparative perspective. The literature on the interaction provides a good starting point for theorizing the strategic role of traditional leaders as intermediaries, but large potentials for inference remain underexploited. Studies on the consequences of "dual polities" for democracy, conflict, and development are promising in their explanatory endeavor, but they do not yet allow for robust conclusions. We therefore propose an institutionalist research agenda addressing the need for theory and for systematic data collection and explanatory approaches.

Balancing Democracy with Service Delivery: Power Relations, Politics and Accountability in Cooperatives Supporting Emergent Livestock Farmers in South Africa

“…Specifically, the persistent danger in countries such as South Africa, of electing traditional leaders into leadership positions within cooperatives lies in the difficulty of them being held accountable because of the power vested in them through their (unelected) traditional role. In many post-colonial countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, traditional leaders have been given formal powers over local governance (Holzinger, Kern, and Kromrey 2016), and in South Africa this is legitimised by the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act 41 of 2003 (DCGTA 2018). This creates a challenge of 'institutional multiplicity and competing claims to social and political legitimacy' (Beall and Ngonyama 2009: 1) or 'institutional layering' (Bennett, Ainslie, and Davis 2013: 34), which arises from the contentious duality of state actors and traditional leadership (Ntsebeza 2005).…”

Contemporarising ɔhene tene (the Akan chief’s procession) as political communication

“…The 1992 Constitution of Ghana has institutionalised a dual system of governance by creating structures for chieftaincy affairs as observed in some other parts of the world (Holzinger et al, 2016). The implication is that the institution is still of relevance and is, therefore, needed for good governance.…”

“…It follows then that a dual system of governance, defined in part by Holzinger, Kern and Kromrey (2016) as: "'dual polities' [which] are governed by the state and organize collective decision making within their ethnic community according to traditional rules," exists in Ghana. Unfortunately, it is an institutionalised parallel system which discourages fusion, even minimum cooperation, and is not amenable to harnessing for enrichment.…”

Social Preservation of Traditional Administration of Indigenous Peoples — The Ho Tribe in India

“…Many indigenous communities have contemporary traditional forms of governance that co-exist with political actors, as well as the institutions and laws of the State (Holzinger, 2016). The continual practise of traditional administration leads to conservation of traditions and customs.…”