À/ma, LU, ), 1997, pp 317 342 AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP IN SURMA SOCIETY (ETHIOPIA) by Jon Abbink(*) 1. Introduction In the past decade, Africa bas seen contradictory processes of politica! change in thé post-colonial polity. on the one hand, efforts at 'démocratisation' and populär participation in politics, and on thé other, delegitimization or breakdown of central state power and adaptive transformations of autocratie elite rule. The first development was often followed by the second. Within both these processes, there has been a résurgence of local traditions of "chieftaincy". Local chiefs have often taken the chance to secure a rôle within the new political space, or have stepped into a vacuüm of power left behind by a retreating central government. In many countries, the administrative compétence and the legitimacy of these newly emerging chiefs are disputed, because they are not always the hereditary or chosen standard-bearers of cultural traditions and democratie ideals, but power brokers and political entrepreneurs of recent origin, and with a degree of opportunism. Some owe their position to the colonial state structure retained after independence. Others are new civil servants appointed by the central government to bypass 'traditional' or customary chiefs. The diversity of local leadership in Africa is gréât, but its potential seems limited. A comparative study suggests that the 'résurgence of chiefs' as democratie counterpoints is most likely a temporary phenomenon. Their résurgence does not in itself reflect an ongoing démocratisation, and can also easily relapse into new forms of local despotism. This article makes the général point that fof an understanding of