The democraticness of traditional political systems in Africa

Democratization • Vol/Iss. N/A • Informa UK • London • Published In • Pages: 1-24 •
By Neupert-Wentz, Clara, Kromrey, Daniela, Bayer, Axel

Hypothesis

Specific political institutions and leadership positions will be correlated with the democraticness of traditional political systems in Africa.

Note

The variables presence of a chief (-0.79, p<0.01), king (-0.53, p<0.05), elders (0.58, p<0.05), and segmentary lineages (-0.47, p<0.1) were all significantly correlated with democraticness. Presence of important elders (and, negatively, councils of elders) were significantly and positively correlated with democraticness.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Multivariate regressionPartially supportedMultipleMultipleTwo-tailed

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
ChiefIndependentDistricts, Chief Executive
KingIndependentChief Executive
EldersIndependentCommunity Heads
SegmentIndependentLineages, Bilineal Kin Groups
KinshipIndependentRules Of Descent
Age-setIndependentAge Stratification
LineageIndependentLineages
CouncilIndependentCommunity Councils, Towns, Deliberative Councils
HouseIndependentDeliberative Councils
CourtIndependentJustice
DemocraticnessDependentCommunity Councils, Community Heads, Districts, Form And Rules Of Government, Provinces, Towns