State Recognition and Democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa A New Dawn for Traditional Authorities?

"State Recognition and Democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa addresses one of the central challenges of contemporary democracy in Africa with seriousness and sophistication. Any simplistic notions that traditional leaders provide a panacea for democratic deficits are rendered invalid through rich empirical investigations, revealing the connections between the recognition of traditional authorities and global discourses and strategies of governance. Empirically rich and theoretically grounded, this excellent collection is a crucial reminder that the democratic potential of traditional structures cannot be taken for granted, but requires critical scrutiny." - Rita Abrahamsen, Professor of Postcolonial Studies, University of Wales, United Kingdom

"Buur s and Kyed s work offers a coherent and insightful analysis of all the complexities in the articulation of traditional chieftaincy and the state in Africa in the 1990 s. This book supersedes simplistic interpretations of the return of chieftaincy as being good or bad for democratisation. It shows that both local state and chiefs are re-shaping themselves in this articulation. Moreover, the book shows how this is further complicated by the intervention of neo-liberal donors with their novel and somewhat surprising love of tradition. A rich empirical collection with forceful analytic coherence." - Peter Geschiere, Professor of African anthropology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

"The book is valuable in its contribution to understanding post-1900 democratic development in Africa." - Joleen Steyn-Kotze, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University