Chieftainship And Democratic Governance: Pattern and Relationship

Abstract

Democratic governance and chieftainship governance are two distinctive types of governance with few similarities and follows different set of rules and traditions. The traditional political institution of chieftainship functions under the purview of democracy. Understanding the roots of chieftainship and its characteristics largely help in shaping ways and means to bring about harmonious relationship between democratic governance and chieftainship governance. The study clearly shows the impact of democratic governance on Kuki chieftainship and the role perceived and played by the Chiefs. The traditional political institution of Kuki chieftainship is more inclined towards democratisation as it had been influenced by democracy and the need of the society. The continuity and change of the Kuki chieftainship bring about two main types of chieftainships, the former is the traditional chieftainship in which the Chief is the sole authority and owner of the entire land whereas the latter is of recent origin in which the authority and ownership of land in not entirely in the purview of the Chief. They can be termed as traditional chieftainship and modern chieftainship respectively. In addition to these, the study unearthed the major institutional constraints to chieftainship in achieving efficient governance. The traditional chieftainship lack democracy as compared to modern chieftainship, but every governance had its negative as well as positive aspect but governance in which people can participate freely and their view are considered, could harnessed the potentiality of the society and bring about effective and efficient governance as well as it is beneficial for all stakeholders.