Traditional leaders in a democratic South Africa : a comparative political perspective

Abstract

Provides a comparative political perspective on how other countries accommodate the institution of traditional leadership within democratic constitutions. The question is whether traditional leadership is needed in South Africa's democracy. Traditional leadership insists that it is part of the democratic culture. The institution is, however, viewed as undemocratic by the new political elite. A comparative and descriptive research of political developments in Botswana, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and Zimbabwe has been conducted. These states provide a better example of the complex problem in South Africa. The focus is on the formative process that has delivered a particular constitution in every case. The data that has been used in the research comes from published sources as well as interviews that have been conducted with strategic informants.