Paper short abstract:

Traditional authorities played contradictory and controversial roles under colonialism and Apartheid. The paper will look at their present positions in some of the states of Southern Africa and develop a framework for comparative analysis on institutional pluralism.

Paper long abstract:

Against the backdrop of colonialism, indirect rule and Apartheid, the resurgence and re-legitimation traditional authorities have accomplished in most countries of Southern Africa may seem astounding. This entails clearly diverging trajectories as well as convergencies concerning constitutional provisions and legal instruments. At the same time, the legal and more broadly, institutional pluralism implied engenders a number of tensions and contradictions concerning in particular constitutional provisions and human rights. The paper will map a comparative perspective for the analysis of such issues.