Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section 1. Toward a new theory of chiefs. The paradox of chiefs -- Conceptualizing chiefs -- Traditional leaders and democracy -- Section 2. Chiefs, development and elections in Zambia. Introduction to Zambia -- Chiefs and local public goods provision -- Electoral king makers -- Chiefs and the voter's calculus. -- Section 3. Traditional leaders in Africa and beyond. Chiefs and government responsiveness across Africa -- Development brokers revisited. Appendix A. Construction of cross-national measures of chief's power -- Appendix B. List of interviews and interview protocols -- Appendix C. Data set on local public goods provision and absent chiefs -- Appendix D. Survey of chiefs and chiefdom level data set -- Appendix E. Household survey and experiment. Chiefs as development brokers.