Traditional Authorities : Blog Specials

In light of the many interesting discussions we continue to have on cultural related issues , I plan to do a couple of blogs in the coming weeks on the issue of traditional authorities in Zambia. These blogs will be a mixture of historic and economic perspectives. Chiefs are essentially an historic institution, so we probably need to spend a short time on how we got here before we dig deeper on where things are and should be going. I hope to keep the blogs short to stimulate discussion, but one never knows. I have suggested a number of issues we may discuss (thanks to MrK for prompting this) :

1. Chiefs in Colonial Zambia
2. Chiefs and the Law in Modern Zambia
3. Chiefs and Politics (1) – The rise of political chiefs?
4. Chiefs and politics (2) – Are political chiefs welcome?
5. Chiefs and Politics (3) – Constraints facing political chiefs
6. Chiefs and the economy (1) - The rise of economic chiefs?
7. Chiefs and the economy (2) - Are economic chiefs welcome?
8. Chiefs and the economy (2) - Constraints facing entreprenueral chiefs
9. Chiefs and social development
10. Pathway to reform?
11. Conclusions

Its no secret that I picture a strong Zambia as a tripod society, supported by three poles . These poles are democratic government, properly functioning markets, and strong religious and cultural institutions. Hopefully these blog specials will ignite some interesting discussion on how we can move towards more perfect cultural institutions, that works within a stronger democratic and market based society. I make no prior assumptions about what that "perfection" may entail :) Is it a privatised traditional authority? A public funded one ? A more educated one? Or perhaps I have it wrong, and the third tripod is not necessary at all? We shall see...