The Ambivalent Role of Chiefs

Rural Decentralization Initiatives in Malawi

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23680228
AutoresAsiyati Lorraine Chiweza (autor correspondente)
Ano2007
Páginas53-78
Data de publicação2007-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoCHAPTER
PeriódicoState Recognition and Democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa (SOURCE_BOOK)
EditoraPalgrave Macmillan US (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1057/9780230609716_3
OpenAlexW2395932944
ISBN9780230609716
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas20
Referências citadas13

The role and relevance of chiefs remains a contested terrain in political discourse in Malawi, as is the case in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (Englebert 2002; Ntsebeza 2004; Ribot 2002). 1 In Malawi, chieftaincy represents an institutionalized form of traditional rule with the cardinal characteristics of prescribed kinship, lineage succession to office, and significant influence, particularly in rural areas. Debate over the role of the chiefs and the extent to which their rule embodies democratic principles has increased in recent years due to the country’s transition toward democracy in 1994 and the subsequent adoption of democratic decentralization in 1998. Primarily, democratic decentralization is aimed at creating opportunities for competitive local-level electoral politics and local-level institutions that are “downwardly accountable to local populations” (Agrawal and Ribot 1999: 478). Such reforms entail a system of governance in which citizens possess the right to hold local public officials to account through elections, collective action, and other democratic means (Johnson 2001). These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Collective action · Corporate governance · Decentralization · Democracy · Economics · Kinship · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Land Rights and Reforms · Law · Legal Issues in South Africa · Public Administration