Regional Focus I: Africa

1. Regional Focus I: Africa

2. Africa: Social structure • Hans-Peter Müller et. al. (1999): „Atlas of pre-colonial societies“ strong impact of pre-colonial traditions +structures today • Differences to Asia: Smaller communities, political integration not beyond local community • Small urban modern elite, traditional rural population, economic stagnation • Absence of state in larger areas of the continent • Limited resources of the state

3. Africa: Models of co-operation • Often informal acceptance without formal, legal or institutional arrangements • Non-institutional forms of local governance • Various countries with formal arrangements: • House of chiefs at national, local, regional level: e.g. Botswana, Namibia, Ghana • Dual stuctures (Zaire/Congo) • Recognition without clear function (Uganda)

4. Africa: Perspectives • Potential for further collaboration through stronger inclusion of traditional authorities • State-building in post-conflict societies (Sudan and Angola) • Effective local governance with limited government resources (Mozambique) • Increasing recognition by ruling elites • Implementation of some policies not possible without support of traditional authorities (e.g. health) • Risks of further ethnic divide

5. Regional Focus II: Asia

6. Asia: Social structure • More complex and larger societies than Africa • Large differences • Former Sow jet States: traditional local structure survived in some cases (e.g. Tajikistan) • Islamic states: e.g. Middle East, Pakistan, Indonesia, Afghanistan • States with larger communities (compared to Africa): China and India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia. • Variety of norms and structures overlapping • Communist/Socialist influence (China, Vietnam, Cambodia) • India, Nepal: Countries with cast system • Nepal: strong traditional structures at the local level • Pacific: similar to Africa, chiefs and bigmen

7. Asia: Perspectives • Large variation • Possibility of stronger integration (Tajikistan, East Timor) • Integration and transformation (Afghanistan) • Separation movements (Indonesia, Sri Lanka) • Minority protection: Australia/New Zealand (Aborigines) • Social exclusion of some traditions: • Cast system in India, Nepal. • Islamic countries • Traditional law (sharia) versus modern laws • Islamic movements, conservative ideas of tradition (Taliban in Afghanistan)

8. Regional Focus III: Latin America

9. Latin America: Social structure • Indigenous communities often in a minority position • Traditionally poor protection of indigenous rights and cultures • Various mobilization of indigenous people since 1960s, grassroot movements • UN Convention on social and cultural rights • E.g. Chiappas with great international attention • As a consequence: Legal recognition now in almost every state

10. Latin America: Models of co-operation • Pre-dominant: parallel structures (traditional court system and local traditional power structure) • Programs to strengthen traditional organizations, hardly and initiatives to formally integrate indigenous people in the national political system • No claim for independence but for better recognition/participation within the existing political system • Autonomy of regions with majority of indigenous people

11. Latin America: Perspectives • Minority position limits formal institutional arrangements and integration • Strengthening of indigenous communities and their rights / Increase participation /Protection • Establishment of systems of legal pluralism • Acceptance of traditional land tenure system • Traditional system of conflict settlement