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Indirect Colonial Rule Undermines Support for Democracy: Evidence From a Natural Experiment in Namibia

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  • Lechler, Marie
  • McNamee, Lachlan

Abstract

This article identifies indirect and direct colonial rule as causal factors in shaping support for democracy by exploiting a within-country natural experiment in Namibia. Throughout the colonial era, northern Namibia was indirectly ruled through a system of appointed indigenous traditional elites whereas colonial authorities directly ruled southern Namibia. This variation originally stems from where the progressive extension of direct German control was stopped after a rinderpest epidemic in the 1890s, and, thus, constitutes plausibly exogenous within-country variation in the form of colonial rule. Using this spatial discontinuity, we find that individuals in indirectly ruled areas are less likely to support democracy and turnout at elections. We explore potential mechanisms and find suggestive evidence that the greater influence of traditional leaders in indirectly ruled areas has socialized individuals to accept nonelectoral bases of political authority.

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  • Lechler, Marie & McNamee, Lachlan, 2018. "Indirect Colonial Rule Undermines Support for Democracy: Evidence From a Natural Experiment in Namibia," Munich Reprints in Economics 62825, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:62825
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    Cited by:

    1. McNamee, Lachlan, 2019. "Indirect colonial rule and the salience of ethnicity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 142-156.
    2. D. Layne Coppock & Lucas Crowley & Susan L. Durham & Dylan Groves & Julian C. Jamison & Dean Karlan & Brien E. Norton & R. Douglas Ramsey, 2021. "Cooperation in the commons: Community-based rangeland management in Namibia," Discussion Papers 2106, University of Exeter, Department of Economics.
    3. Stelios Michalopoulos & Elias Papaioannou, 2020. "Historical Legacies and African Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 58(1), pages 53-128, March.
    4. Ali, Merima & Fjeldstad, Odd‐Helge & Shifa, Abdulaziz B., 2020. "European colonization and the corruption of local elites: The case of chiefs in Africa," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 80-100.
    5. Bauer, Vincent & Platas, Melina R. & Weinstein, Jeremy M., 2022. "Legacies of Islamic Rule in Africa: Colonial Responses and Contemporary Development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).

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