Does land quality increase the power of traditional leaders in contemporary Africa?

The Journal of Politics • Vol/Iss. 85(1) • The University of Chicago Press • • Published In • Pages: 334-339 •
By Baldwin, Kate, Ricart-Huguet, Joan

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of traditional leaders, or "chiefs," in sub-Saharan Africa, and how their power varies within and among 19 African countries. The authors argue that the power of traditional chiefs is influenced not only by state policies of indirect rule, as previous research has suggested, but also by local factors such as land quality. They find that traditional chiefs have more power in areas with higher agricultural potential and land quality, likely because citizens in these areas rely on traditional chiefs to define and defend their land rights beyond the protections provided by state institutions. The authors suggest that while land quality may not have been an important factor in state formation in the pre-colonial period, it has become increasingly important in the past half century as population densities have increased and agriculture has become more intensive. Controls are also introduced.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Afrobarometer SurveyResearchers' ownOpinions about leaders
Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Agro-Ecological ZonesOther researchersProvides data on agricultural suitability

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
Higher land quality will predict more influence by traditional leaders in Sub-Saharan African countries.Supported
Higher land quality will predict more influence by traditional leaders in Sub-Saharan African countries when population density is greater than 50 people/square km.Supported
Higher land quality will predict more influence by traditional leaders within Sub-Saharan African ethnic groups.Supported (2 of 3 measures)
Higher land quality will predict more power for pre-colonial non-African political leaders, but will not predict any relationship in sub-Saharan Africa.Support Claimed
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: danielle.russell  jacob.kalodner