Democracy Assistance for Botswana: Maintaining the Status Quo in a Peripheral Capitalist Country

Kebapetse Lotshwao, Robert Imre and Jim Jose
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Kebapetse Lotshwao: Senior Lecturer in Politics in the Department of Political & Administrative Studies, University of Botswana
Robert Imre: Senior Research Fellow at the Tampere Peace Research Institute, University of Tampere
Jim Jose: Professor of Politics and International Relations in the Business School at the University of Newcastle, Callaghan

Journal of Developing Societies, 2019, vol. 35, issue 2, 205-229

Abstract: Given that Botswana is considered a stable democracy, the need for democracy assistance does not at first glance seem necessary. Yet, democracy assistance is an important feature of Botswana’s political regime. The rationale for democracy assistance is couched in terms of strengthening the country’s democratic institutions, enhancing the state’s capacity, and bolstering Botswana’s civil society. However, contrary to these stated objectives, this article reveals that democracy assistance serves the agenda of Western donor countries and certain multilateral institutions—an agenda concerned with keeping Botswana politically stable and its state institutions efficient so that the country is attractive to investors. This agenda is pursued at the cost of not making certain long overdue political reforms.

Keywords: Botswana; democracy assistance; donors; hegemony; polyarchy; neo-liberal state (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jodeso:v:35:y:2019:i:2:p:205-229

DOI: 10.1177/0169796X19843361

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