Why does local democracy succeed in some contexts but not others? How does African democracy work in practice? To answer these questions I examine the process of local-level democratization in African slums. I argue that quality democracy depends on three factors relating to the initial settlement of the slum: 1) whether the slum was originally illegally inhabited (illegal), 2) whether it was legally purchased and settled (purchased settler), or 3) whether residents make indigenous claims to the land (indigenous). Specifically, these informal institutions of settlement structure the type of leadership, the norms of reciprocity, and the official status of the community. It explains why some local leaders have the incentive to serve the broader community interest while others serve their narrower ethnic and group interests; why ethnic identity is a salient political identity in some slums but not others, and; why and when residents make individual and collective claims on the government, political party, tribal leaders, or non-state actors. The study uncovers the different ways that residents hold their leaders to account in the context of daily life. It moves beyond conventional political science theories of electoral accountability and voting behavior to suggest that face-to-face mechanisms like sharing, claim-making, and public shame and honor are important aspects of local citizenship. I conclude that daily life is an important and necessary site of democratic practice. The dissertation combines ethnography, focus groups, and an original household survey in urban Ghana.
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