Oversight services that increase transparency and accountability strengthen the rule of law that extends beyond commercial codes to cover the rights of individuals and groups, regardless of their sector of activity. Modes and structures of participation make these developments possible. To borrow a thought from C. Wright Mills, democracy and the other concepts discussed above are sponge terms . Instead, democracy programs typically have ends that are valued in their own right. Perhaps it is time for new concepts and terms for them.
Ethnic groups differ in how tightly they are organized.
For example, the Fula and Mandinga ethnic groups in Guinea-Bissau have fairly strong lineages allocating considerable legitimate authority to lineage leaders. Balanta diffuse authority much more widely. An acephalous, more pluralistic structure might be considered more democratic. National governments typically attempt to strengthen themselves in ways that weaken these centrifugal forces. South Africa's decentralization of government powers is an interesting exception, one similar to Italy's that Robert Putnam studied over time.