Democracy assistance for Botswana: maintaining the status quo in a peripheral capitalist country

Title: Democracy assistance for Botswana: maintaining the status quo in a peripheral capitalist country
Creator: Lotshwao, Kebapetse; Imre, Robert; Jose, Jim
Relation: Journal of Developing Societies Vol. 35, Issue 2, p. 205-229
Publisher Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0169796X19843361
Publisher: Sage
Resource Type: journal article
Date: 2019
Description: 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.
Subject: Botswana; democracy assistance; donors; hegemony; polyarchy; neo-liberal state; SDG 10; Sustainable Development Goals
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1461306
Identifier: uon:46164
Identifier: ISSN:0169-796X
Language: eng
Reviewed

Collections

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

		Thumbnail	File	Description	Size	Format