Going for Brokers

Abstract

Local chiefs and headmen frequently bear the brunt of interhierachical conflict in African nations, resulting in severe intrarole tensions. Many theorists consider this the natural outcome of an inherent incompatibility between traditional and modern political structures, with both making conflicting demands upon local officials. This article supports an alternative position, arguing that dynamic interaction between these structures may actually promote political cohesion. A case study from Ashanti is presented documenting how, at the local level, new positions are created to perform traditional functions while long-established leadership roles are coopted in the service of modernization. These local innovations are further assessed in the context of their articulation with “state” and national systems over the past century. Results of this analysis show that: (1) in complex sociopolitical structures discrete systemic levels may respond differently to “common” external stimuli, and (2) effective political cohesion need not be achieved at the expense of ethnic integrity.