Democratic Legacies of Colonialism: The Role of Elected Local Elites

Colonialism’s legacy still influences democracy in former colonies. This article examines how elected local elites during colonial rule shaped democratic development after independence. We argue that expanded suffrage helped these elites grow and pressured colonial regimes to grant autonomy, easing the transition to democracy. Without such elites, colonial powers often retained control until the last moment, creating power vacuums and weaker democratic foundations. Using path analysis, we empirically found that colonial autonomy mediates the relationship between elected local elites and democracy while highlighting the direct effects of elected local elites on post-independence democracy. Our findings highlight the role of historical continuity in shaping postcolonial institutions.