features of traditional african system of government features of traditional african system of government

The colonial system constitutes the second section. The origins of this institutional duality, the implications of which are discussed in Relevance and Paradox of Traditional Institutions, are largely traceable to the colonial state, as it introduced new economic and political systems and superimposed corresponding institutional systems upon the colonies without eradicating the existed traditional economic, political, and institutional systems. One of these is the potential influence exerted by the regions leading states, measured in terms of size, population, economic weight, and overall political clout and leadership prestige. These include - murder, burglary, landcase, witchcraft, profaning the deities and homicide. Traditional and informal justice systems aim at restoring social cohesion within the community by promoting reconciliation between disputing parties. As noted, African countries have experienced the rise of the modern (capitalist) economic system along with its corresponding institutional systems. 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). We know a good deal about what Africans want and demand from their governments from public opinion surveys by Afrobarometer. Government and the Political System 2.1. West Africa has a long and complex history. Rather, they often rely on voluntary compliance, although they also apply some soft power to discourage noncompliance by members with customary laws. Additionally, inequalities between parallel socioeconomic spaces, especially with respect to influence on policy, hinder a democratic system, which requires equitable representation and inclusive participation. In Module Seven A: African History, you explored the histories of a wide diversity of pre-colonial African societies. The Sultanes of Somalia are examples of this category and the community has specific criteria as to who is qualified to be a chief (Ahmed, 2017). An alternative strategy of bringing about institutional harmony would be to transform the traditional economic systems into an exchange-based economy that would be compatible with the formal institutions of the state. Paramount chiefs: Another category of leadership structure is that of hereditary paramount chieftaincy with various traditional titles and various levels of accountability. Throughout our over one-hundred-year history, our work has directly led to policies that have produced greater freedom, democracy, and opportunity in the United States and the world. Yet political stability cannot be based on state power alone, except in the short run. This is done through the enforcement agencies such as the police force. By the mid-1970s, the politics of Africa had turned authoritarian. 2. The analysis presented here suggests that traditional institutions are relevant in a number of areas while they are indispensable for the governance of Africas traditional economic sector, which lies on the fringes of formal state institutions. A Sociology of Education for Africa . A second objective is to draw a tentative typology of the different authority systems of Africas traditional institutions. According to this analysis, Africas traditional institutional systems are likely to endure as long as the traditional subsistent economic systems continue to exist. Tribes had relatively little power outside their own group during the colonial period. There are very few similarities between democracy and dictatorship. Suggested Citation, 33 West 60th StreetNew York, NY 10023United States, Public International Law: Sources eJournal, Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic, Political Institutions: Parties, Interest Groups & Other Political Organizations eJournal, Political Institutions: Legislatures eJournal, We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content. Given its institutional disconnect with the state, the traditional sector and the communities that operate under it invariably face marginalization in influencing policy as well as in access to economic resources throughout the continent. Their endurance and coexistence with the institutions of the state has created an institutional dichotomy in much of Africa. Other governance systems in the post-independence era and their unique features, if any. What policies and laws will determine relations between farmers and urban dwellers, between farmers and herders, between diverse identity groups living in close proximity or encroaching on each others farm land, and between public officials, criminal networks and ordinary citizens? By 2016, 35 AU members had joined it, but less than half actually subjected themselves to being assessed. 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. However, the traditional modes of production and the institutional systems associated with them also remain entrenched among large segments of the population. South Africas strategy revolves around recognition of customary law when it does not conflict with the constitution and involves traditional authorities in local governance. 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. The third section deals with the post-colonial period and discusses some problems associated with African administration. The third section looks at the critical role of political and economic inclusion in shaping peace and stability and points to some of the primary challenges leaders face in deciding how to manage inclusion: whom to include and how to pay for it. African Politics: A Very Short Introduction explores how politics is practised on the African continent, providing an overview of the different states and their systems. Additionally, the transaction costs for services provided by the traditional institutions are much lower than the services provided by the state. They are well known, among others, for their advancement of an indigenous democratic process known as Gadaa. Its ability to influence policy is limited in large part because of its institutional detachment from the state and because of its poverty and lack of capacity to participate in the political process. Some trust traditional leaders more than they trust state authorities. Three layers of institutions characterize most African countries. The implementation of these systems often . This principle is particularly relevant for diversity management, nation-building, and democratization in contemporary Africa. Its lack of influence on policy also leads to its marginalization in accessing resources and public services, resulting in poverty, poor knowledge, and a poor information base, which, in turn, limits its ability to exert influence on policy. This can happen in several ways. In other words, the transition from traditional modes of production to a capitalist economic system has advanced more in some countries than in others. Why the traditional systems endure, how the institutional dichotomy impacts the process of building democratic governance, and how the problems of institutional incoherence might be mitigated are issues that have not yet received adequate attention in African studies. Since institutional fragmentation is a major obstacle to nation-building and democratization, it is imperative that African countries address it and forge institutional harmony. Overturning regimes in Africas often fragile states could become easier to do, without necessarily leading to better governance. The purpose is to stress that such efforts and the attendant will 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. The first objective of the article is to shed light on the socioeconomic foundations for the resilience of Africas traditional institutions. Only four states in AfricaBotswana, Gambia, Mauritius, and Senegalretained multiparty systems. This page was processed by aws-apollo-l2 in 0.093 seconds, Using these links will ensure access to this page indefinitely. Such a consensus-building mechanism can help resolve many of the conflicts related to diversity management and nation-building. Abstract. The guiding principle behind these two attributes is that conflict is a societal problem and that resolving conflict requires societal engagement. Rules of procedure were established through customs and traditions some with oral, some with written constitutions Women played active roles in the political system including holding leadership and military positions. 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. Based on existing evidence, the authority systems in postcolonial Africa lie in a continuum between two polar points. This fragmentation is also unlikely to go away anytime soon on its own. Another issue that needs some clarification is the neglect by the literature of the traditional institutions of the political systems without centralized authority structures. In African-style democracy the rule of law is only applicable to ordinary people unconnected to the governing party leadership or leader. The evidence suggests that traditional institutions have continued to metamorphose under the postcolonial state, as Africas socioeconomic systems continue to evolve. Towards a Definition of Government 1.3. However, almost invariably the same functions, whether or not formally defined and characterized in the same terms or exercised in the same manner, are also performed by traditional institutions and their leaders. It may be good to note, as a preliminary, that African political systems of the past dis played considerable variety. This brief overview of conflict in Africa signals the severity of the security challenges to African governance, especially in those sub-regions that feature persistent and recurrent outbreaks of violence. Greater access to public services and to productivity-enhancing technology would also help in enhancing the transformation of the subsistence sector. Strictly speaking, Ghana was the title of the King, but the Arabs, who left records . Note: The term rural population is used as a proxy for the population operating under traditional economic systems. Invented chiefs and state-paid elders: These were chiefs imposed by the colonial state on decentralized communities without centralized authority systems. Relatively unfettered access to the internet via smart phones and laptops brings informationand hence potential powerto individuals and groups about all kinds of things: e.g., market prices, the views of relatives in the diaspora, conditions in the country next door, and the self-enrichment of corrupt officials. Despite undergoing changes, present-day African traditional institutions, namely the customary laws, the judicial systems and conflict resolution mechanisms, and the property rights and resource allocation practices, largely originate from formal institutions of governance that existed under precolonial African political systems. Despite apparent differences, the strategies of the three countries have some common features as well that may inform other counties about the measures institutional reconciliation may entail. In addition to these measures, reconciling fragmented institutions would be more successful when governments invest more resources in transforming the traditional socioeconomic space. One is that the leaders of the postcolonial state saw traditional institutions and their leadership as archaic vestiges of the past that no longer had a place in Africas modern system of governance. One scholar specializing on the Horn of Africa likens the situation a political marketplace in which politics and violence are simply options along the spectrum pursued by powerful actors.5. In West Africa, a griot is a praise singer or poet who possesses a repository of oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. 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. Some of these conflicts are, in reality, low-tech, sporadic skirmishes and armed attacks. They must know the traditional songs and must also be able to improvise songs about current events and chance incidents. The institution of traditional leadership in Africa pre-existed both the colonial and apartheid systems and was the only known system of governance among indigenous people. Government: A Multifarious Concept 1.2. The role of traditional leaders in modern Africa, especially in modern African democracies, is complex and multifaceted. This theme, which is further developed below, is especially critical bearing in mind that Africa is the worlds most ethnically complex region, home to 20 of the worlds most diverse countries in terms of ethnic composition.8. Regional governance comes into play here, and certain precedents may get set and then ratified by regional or sub-regional organizations. The arguments against traditional institutions are countered by arguments that consider traditional institutions to be indispensable and that they should be the foundations of African institutions of governance (Davidson, 1992). African indigenous education was. One common feature is recognition of customary property rights laws, especially that of land. Africas economic systems range from a modestly advanced capitalist system, symbolized by modern banking and stock markets, to traditional economic systems, represented by subsistent peasant and pastoral systems. The colonial state, for example, invented chiefs where there were no centralized authority systems and imposed them on the decentralized traditional systems, as among the Ibo of Eastern Nigeria, the Tonga in Zambia, various communities in Kenya, and the communities in Somalia. Still another form of legitimacy in Africa sometimes derives from traditional political systems based on some form of kingship. These communities select the Aba Gada, who serves a nonrenewable term of 8 years as leader. Legitimate authority, in turn, is based on accepted laws and norms rather than the arbitrary, unconstrained power of the rulers. 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. Yet, governments are expected to govern and make decisions after consulting relevant stakeholders. 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. Cookie Settings. This approach to governance was prominent in the Oyo empire. This short article does not attempt to provide answers to all these questions, which require extensive empirical study. All life was religious . African Traditional Political System and Institution: University of The Gambia, Faculty of humanities and social sciences. The pre-colonial system in Yoruba can be described to be democratic because of the inclusion of the principle of checks and balances that had been introduced in the system of administration. Thus, despite abolition efforts by postcolonial states and the arguments against the traditional institutions in the literature, the systems endure and remain rather indispensable for the communities in traditional economic systems. Some African nations are prosperous while others struggle. States would be more effective in reforming the traditional judicial system if they recognized them rather than neglecting them, as often is the case. That is, each society had a set of rules, laws, and traditions, sometimes called customs, that established how the people would live together peacefully as part of larger group. Less than 20% of Africa's states achieved statehood following rebellion or armed insurgency; in the others, independence flowed from . The imperative for inclusion raises many questions: should the priority be to achieve inclusion of diverse elites, of ethnic and confessional constituencies, of a sample of grass roots opinion leaders? However, three countries, Botswana, Somaliland, and South Africa, have undertaken differing measures with varying levels of success. 20 A brief account of that history will help to highlight key continuities spanning the colonial, apartheid and the post-apartheid eras in relation to the place of customary law and the role of traditional leaders. The chapter further examines the dabbling of traditional leaders in the political process in spite of the proscription of the institution from mainstream politics and, in this context, analyzes the policy rationale for attempting to detach chieftaincy from partisan politics. In the centralized systems also, traditional leaders of various titles were reduced to chiefs and the colonial state modified notably the relations between the chiefs and their communities by making the chiefs accountable to the colonial state rather than to their communities (Coplan & Quinlan, 1997). 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? 1995 focuses on social, economic, and intellectual trends up to the end of the colonial era. The express prohibition in the African Charter against discrimination according to ethnic group constitutes a major step for the continent as a whole because the realization of this right will lead to greater economic opportunity for those people not of the same kinship as the head of government. In general, decentralized political systems, which are often elder-based with group leadership, have received little attention, even though these systems are widespread and have the institutions of judicial systems and mechanisms of conflict resolution and allocation of resources, like the institutions of the centralized systems. Space opened up for African citizens and civil society movements, while incumbent regimes were no longer able to rely on assured support from erstwhile external partners. What sets Hoover apart from all other policy organizations is its status as a center of scholarly excellence, its locus as a forum of scholarly discussion of public policy, and its ability to bring the conclusions of this scholarship to a public audience. It is unlikely, however, that such harmony can be brought about by measures that aim to abolish the traditional system, as was attempted by some countries in the aftermath of decolonization. Table 1 shows the proportion of the population that operates under traditional economic systems in selected African countries. The reasons why rural communities adhere to the traditional institutions are many (Logan, 2011; Mengisteab & Hagg, 2017). In most African countries, constitutionally established authorities exercise the power of government alongside traditional authorities. Traditional leadership in South Africa pre-existed both the colonial and apartheid systems of governance and was the main known system of governance amongst indigenous people. Rule that is based on predation and political monopoly is unlikely to enjoy genuine popular legitimacy, but it can linger for decades unless there are effective countervailing institutions and power centers. However, they are not merely customs and norms; rather they are systems of governance, which were formal in precolonial times and continue to exist in a semiformal manner in some countries and in an informal manner in others. Examine the definitions, strengths, and weaknesses of several common governments: monarchy, theocracy . While this attribute of the traditional system may not be practical at the national level, it can be viable at local levels and help promote democratic values. A Functional Approach to define Government 2. In the postcolonial era, their roles changed again. In addition, they have traditional institutions of governance of various national entities, including those surrounding the Asantehene of the Ashanti in Ghana and the Kabaka of the Buganda in Uganda. Both can be identified as forms of governance. Many African countries, Ghana and Uganda, for example, have, like all other states, formal institutions of the state and informal institutions (societal norms, customs, and practices). Such post-electoral pacts reflect the conclusion that stability is more important than democracy. This article contends that postcolonial African traditional institutions lie in a continuum between the highly decentralized to the centralized systems and they all have resource allocation practices, conflict resolution and judicial systems, and decision-making practices, which are distinct from those of the state. This kind of offences that attract capital punishment is usually . But the context in which their choices are made is directly influenced by global political trends and the room for maneuver that these give to individual governments and their leaders. These partners, for their part, sometimes disengaged from close political ties and often brought new governance conditions into their assistance programs. 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. MyHoover delivers a personalized experience atHoover.org. The jury is still out on the merits of this practice. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a single article for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice). Department of Political Science, Pennsylvania State University, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Contentious Politics and Political Violence, Political Values, Beliefs, and Ideologies, Why African Traditional Institutions Endure, Authority Systems of Africas Traditional Institutions, Relevance and Paradox of Traditional Institutions, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1347, United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, Global Actors: Networks, Elites, and Institutions, Traditional Leaders and Development in Africa. African countries are characterized by fragmentation of various aspects of their political economy, including their institutions of governance. Another measure is recognition of customary law and traditional judicial systems by the state. 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. If African political elite opinion converges with that of major external voices in favoring stabilization over liberal peacebuilding agendas, the implications for governance are fairly clear.17. African states are by no means homogeneous in terms of governance standards: as the Mo Ibrahim index based on 14 governance categories reported in 2015, some 70 points on a scale of 100 separated the best and worst performers.16. More frequently, this form of rule operates at the sub-state level as in the case of the emir of Kano or the Sultan of Sokoto in Nigeria or the former royal establishments of the Baganda (Uganda) or the Ashanti (Ghana). Such adjustments, however, may require contextualization of the institutions of democracy by adjusting these institutions to reflect African realities. His dramatic tenure since April of 2018 appears to be shaking up the states creaky authoritarian services and creating the space for important adaptations such as ending a long-standing state of emergency, freeing political prisoners, reaching out to a wide range of foreign partners, and extending the olive branch to Eritrea with whom Ethiopia had fought a costly war. Government as a Structural Element of Society 2.2. 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). Since then, many more have been formulated, but the main themes and ideas have remained. At times, devolution has had major fiscal and governance consequences, including serving as a vehicle for co-option and corruption. Ethiopias monarchy ended in 1974 while the other three remain, with only the king of Swaziland enjoying absolute power. The term covers the expressed commands of f Basic Features cont. In any case, as . It is also highly unlikely that such broader aspects of traditional institutions can be eliminated without transforming the traditional modes of production that foster them. My intention in this chapter is to explore the traditional African ideas and values of politics with a view to pointing up what may be described as the democratic features of the indigenous system of government and to examine whether, and in what ways, such features can be said to be harmonious with the ethos of contemporary political culture and hence can be said to be relevant to . Poor leadership can result in acts of commission or omission that alienate or disenfranchise geographically distinct communities. The traditional Africa system of government is open and inclusive, where strangers, foreigners and even slaves could participate in the decision-making process. The same source concluded that 7 out of the 12 worst scores for political rights and civil liberties are African.11 As noted, the reasons vary: patrimonialism gone wrong (the big man problem), extreme state fragility and endemic conflict risks, the perverse mobilization of ethnicity by weak or threatened leaders. 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 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. Your current browser may not support copying via this button. Broadly speaking, indigenous systems of governance are those that were practiced by local populations in pre-colonial times. Most African countries are characterized by parallel institutions, one representing the formal laws of the state and the other representing the traditional institutions that are adhered to more commonly in rural areas. It should not be surprising that there is a weak social compact between state and society in many African states. Land privatization is, thus, unworkable in pastoral communities, as communal land ownership would be unworkable in a capitalist economy. Problems and Purpose. On the opposite side are the decentralized systems, led by a council of elders, that command little formal power. Most of the regions states were defined geographically by European cartographers at the start of the colonial period. The indigenous political system had some democratic features. Botswanas strategy has largely revolved around integrating parallel judicial systems. The Aqils (elders) of Somalia and the chiefs in Kenya are good examples. 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, As a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) study (2007) notes, traditional leaders often operate as custodians of customary law and communal assets, especially land. These consisted of monarchy, aristocracy and polity. Constitutions of postcolonial states have further limited the power of chiefs. In light of this discussion of types of inclusion, the implications for dealing with state fragility and building greater resilience can now be spelled out. 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. The parallel institutional systems often complement each other in the continents contemporary governance. This category of chiefs serves their communities in various and sometimes complex roles, which includes spiritual service. The result is transitory resilience of the regime, but shaky political stability, declining cohesion, and eventual conflict or violent change. Poor statesociety relations and weak state legitimacy: Another critical outcome of institutional fragmentation and institutional detachment of the state from the overwhelming majority of the population is weak legitimacy of the state (Englebert, 2000). For example, is it more effective to negotiate a power-sharing pact among key parties and social groups (as in Kenya) or is there possible merit in a periodic national dialogue to address issues that risk triggering conflict?