Ensuring each other’s post? : Exploring Personal Ties between Politicians and Traditional Leaders

Abstract

In my dissertation “Ensuring each other’s post? Exploring Personal Ties between Politi-cians and Traditional Leaders” I examine the role of traditional leaders in modern states relying on a cross-sectional study, a quasi-experiment, and a comparative case study. As heads of ethnic groups, traditional leaders take on important governance func-tions within their communities, some of which are primarily state tasks. While almost two billion people worldwide live in dual polities, the relation of state and traditional sphere differ tremendously across states. Using country level and group level data, I show that many traditional leaders aim for a formally acknowledged role in the modern state that limits the legal means of aboli-tion. In states with limited capacity, developing democratic regime, and a significant share of population under traditional governance, politicians have incentives to accommodate these wishes, although they limit their own governance space and consolidate traditional leaders as potential political antagonists. Yet, politicians hope to win the political support of traditional leaders in return. Using their authority among their ethnic group, traditional leaders can substantially influence electoral results in favour of their allies. With good state-traditional relations, traditional leaders can prevent unfavourable legislation and achieve to legally safeguard their role. In this way, both politicians and traditional leaders profit by ensuring each other’s post.