Is Botswana still 'an African miracle'? Thanks to diamonds the country's growth rate was the highest in the world in the thirty years into the 1990s. Since the eve of independence in 1965 it has held regular parliamentary elections which were judged free on polling day. However a duopoly of presidentialism and ruling party preponderance has stimulated complacency among the country's rulers.
What is 'perpetual democracy'? There is no hope of change of government as the first-past-the-post system keeps the BDP in perpetual power. President Mogae has amended the constitution to ensure the automatic succession of the vice-President General Ian Khama, the son of Seretse and RuthKhama. A new Directorate of Intelligence Services provides closer control of power.
Why are Khoisan confined to 'a gulag of special settlements'? The expulsion of the San from central Kalahari Game Reserve was relentlesslyenforced. A multi-cultural coalition asserts that the government is implementing 'a philosophy of cultural genocide on the non-Tswana tribes'. A group asserts that by being put in camps '...we are about to lose our culture. The government is trying to destroy us. 'How can the gift of diamonds be turned to reform?
Professor Good gives an extensive list of constitutional and political reforms. He sees diversification as essential to reduce the dependency on diamonds. He urges the use of mineral wealth to reduce the gap between rich and poor; half of the population are at present in poverty in a rich country.
Kenneth Good was Professor of Politics at the University ofBotswana when he was expelled from the country
South Africa: Jacana
- ISBN10 1847013139
- ISBN13 9781847013132
- Publish Date 1 November 2008 (first published 1 January 2008)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 4 February 2022
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint James Currey
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 224
- Language English