Elite interests and political participation in Botswana, 1966–2014

Makgala, Christian John; Botlhomilwe, Mokganedi Zara

doi:10.1080/02589001.2017.1285010

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In much of the quality of democracy literature, Botswana is usually heralded as a success case and, relative to other African countries, rightfully so. However, some scholars (Good 2017;Makgala & Botlhomilwe 2017;Mogalakwe & Nyamnjoh 2017) have recently questioned the country's democratic health. Criticisms of the more than five decades of electoral dominance by the BDP usually center around the consequences of a perpetually weak and fragmented opposition competing in an unequal electoral playing field, non-competitive districts, and the creeping elements of authoritarianism in the country's executive branch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More broadly, the 2019 election largely served as a fundamental rejection of Khama, his political allies, and his desire to continue wielding significant political influence. His tenure in office was plagued by an increase in governmental corruption, the persecution of political opponents, and malfeasance by close allies (Makgala & Botlhomilwe 2017;Mogalakwe & Nyamnjoh 2017), leading some scholars to label Botswana a "highly elitist and authoritarian democracy" (Good 2017:114). In the last few years, Masisi has moved decisively to strengthen his own political legacy and to undo many of his predecessor's policies and achievements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Botswana’s 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama

Seabo¹,

Nyenhuis²

2021

Afr. Stud. Rev.

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On October 23, 2019, Botswana held its twelfth free and fair election. For the first time in the history of Botswana’s electoral democracy, a former president (Ian Khama) defected from the ruling party and supported the opposition. The opposition coalition, working informally with Khama, mounted a spirited campaign against the well-oiled machine, the incumbent and long-ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Seabo and Nyenhuis reflect on the 2019 general election, analyze the outcome, and consider the implications for the future of Botswana’s electoral democracy. They argue that barring other factors, the BDP’s resounding victory was mainly a result of Batswana’s rejection of former president Ian Khama.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Botswana’s 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama

Seabo¹,

Nyenhuis²

2021

Afr. Stud. Rev.

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“…Rapid increases in diamond and other mining revenues concentrated economic opportunity in government tenders and intensified intra-party competition for political office. The political economy of contemporary Botswana continues to incentivize seeking elected office with the ruling party to obtain ministerial posts, privileged access to government tenders, and opportunities for contracting-related kickbacks (Makgala and Botlhomilwe, 2017;Molomo, 2012).…”

Section: Candidate Selection In the Botswana Democratic Partymentioning

confidence: 99%

Democratizing candidate selection: Controlled turnover in Botswana’s Bulela Ditswe primaries

Warren

2022

Party Politics

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Why do political parties implement primary elections? With multi-party elections firmly established, political parties in many young democracies have begun to democratize internally by adopting mass primaries. Previous work argues that parties institute primaries to select for high quality candidates, incentivize campaigning effort, and reduce intra-party conflict. In this paper, I theorize that parties also implement mass primaries to open up the political elite while protecting their most senior members. Consistent with this hypothesis, using original data from Botswana’s ruling party, I find that primaries facilitate a limited and controlled turnover, decreasing the likelihood of re-nomination of long-term incumbents in favor of political newcomers while still protecting senior ministers. Combined with qualitative and historical evidence, these results suggest that electorally successful political parties may implement mass primaries to replace unpopular and entrenched leaders.

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“…Much of the praise of Khama's conservation policy occurred alongside the growing scholarly criticisms of democratic backsliding during his tenure (Botlhomilwe et al, 2011; Mogalakwe and Nyamnjoh, 2017). Indeed, the criticism of the latter has its roots in the former, as his conservation approach highlighted the diminution of consultative processes (Author 1 fieldnotes; Mbaiwa and Hambira, 2021), the top-down style of governance derived from military institutions (Author 1 Interview, DWNP official, 28 March 2014; Good, 2010), and the merging of individual elite interests with public policy (Author 2 fieldnotes; Makgala and Botlhomilwe, 2017, Mbaiwa and Hambira, 2020). In some key ways, the policies of the green miracle state—predicated on a lack of consultation and heavy-handed state violence—undermined the central characteristics that constitute Botswana's domestic norms around democratic practice.…”

Section: Conservation and Democratic Legitimacy: A Fall From Grace Or...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fall from grace or back down to earth? Conservation and political conflict in Africa’s “miracle” state

LaRocco

Mogende

2022

Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space

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Since the publication of the influential text, An African Miracle, much scholarship has focused on Botswana's supposed “exceptionality” anchored in the country's economic growth and sustained democracy. Botswana's success story has proved enduring and versatile, being deployed in numerous contexts including in relation to Botswana’s status as a conservation “safe haven” in southern Africa. Many green plaudits are associated with the tenure of former president Ian Khama (2008–2018), who broke with longstanding tradition and actively campaigned against his own vice president and successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Their acrimonious relationship is multifaceted but in this article, we refer to disputes over wildlife conservation policy wherein Masisi rolled back his predecessor's signature conservation policies, focusing specifically on the reversal of the hunting ban, the disarming of some anti-poaching officers, and changes in Botswana's stance in international environmental diplomacy regarding ivory and the CITES regime. We contend that Khama's conservation decisions—underpinned by lack of consultation and green violence—made Botswana a “green miracle” to outside observers while contravening the central principles of local democratic practice such as therisanyo (consultation) cherished in the country. We argue that Masisi's reversal of Khama-era positions that were unpopular with conservation-adjacent communities represents not a “fall from grace,” but rather the bringing back down to earth of policies that had alienated the local population, thus indicating the potential to pursue inclusive governance that domestically Botswana acclaims.

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Elite interests and political participation in Botswana, 1966–2014

Cited by 16 publications

References 12 publications

Botswana’s 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama

Botswana’s 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama

Democratizing candidate selection: Controlled turnover in Botswana’s Bulela Ditswe primaries

Fall from grace or back down to earth? Conservation and political conflict in Africa’s “miracle” state

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