Botswana is described as the “African miracle” (Samatar, 1999), as an “exception”
(Good, 1992), or as “a rare example of an African state that used its bonanza of
mineral riches wisely” (Meredith, 2006:285). However, critique verbalized by Taylor
(2003) and Good (1992) has shown that Botswana’s economic history is not a pure
success story; even it illustrates a positive example of African development
compared to almost all the other African countries. To analyze Botswana’s economic
history I will date back to the beginning of the 1900s. At this time, Botswana’s eight
main chiefdoms dominated regional African trade. The indigenous elite welcomed
trade with European settlers who arrived in this period. While Botswana’s neighbor
countries experienced the process of incorporation into the modern world-economy
already, Botswana started to shift into the external arena of the global economy. This
essay will show how Botswana is and has incorporated into the modern worldeconomy
referred to Immanuel Wallerstein’s modern world-system theory. I will start
with an overview about Botswana’s actual trade situation to be able to locate the
country within the global division of labor. Afterwards the paper analyses the history
of Botswana’s shift into the external arena of the modern world-system followed by its
incorporation. Furthermore, I will illustrate Botswana’s economic development since
the incorporation. A second part of Botswana’s history deals with the economy-based
class structure and how it shaped the political history since Botswana achieved
political independence in 1966. I will argue that the class structure, as already
indicated, has to be understood in the context of pre-colonial and colonial
development. After all, I will point out what important contemporary political-economic
features of Botswana are not accounted for in my world-systems-based analysis. The
essay will finish with a short conclusion to draw a statement about a world-system
based analysis about Botswana’s political-economy.
Table of Contents
0. Introduction
1. Botswana's Trade
2. Incorporation and Development
3. Botswana's Economy-Based Class-Structure
4. Further Arguments
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to analyze Botswana's economic and political history through the lens of Immanuel Wallerstein’s modern world-system theory, examining how the nation shifted into the global economy and how its class structure has shaped post-independence governance.
- The historical process of Botswana's incorporation into the capitalist world-economy.
- An evaluation of Botswana's trade balance and its position in the global division of labor.
- The influence of pre-colonial and colonial history on the contemporary economy-based class structure.
- The role of the "developmental state" and political leadership in maintaining national stability.
- Critical limitations of a world-systems approach in accounting for contemporary challenges like HIV/AIDS.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Botswana’s Economy-Based Class Structure
Botswana’s economy-based class structure has its roots in the nineteenth century.
“From the middle of the nineteenth century, […], the consolidation of power in a few hands coincided with, and was in large measure stimulated by, the insertion of European mercantile capital into the region. It was as a consequence of struggles to control commodity production for the newly created market….” (Wilmsen, 2002:827)
The poverty of the territory’s resource base, the persistent exploitation and manipulation of British politics, and the opportunity for the Tswana chiefdoms to gain profits from the commoditization process enabled the traditional elite to resist economic powerful until independence. “The Batswana chiefs and their junior associates were not only the wealthiest class in precolonial and colonial Botswana but also the political leaders of their communities (Samatar, 1999:7). In an absence of a domestic bourgeoisie, the small, dominant and relatively homogeneous class provided a basis for the takeover from the former British rule in 1966. The person of Seretse Khama, the first Botswana president, illustrates why this class could establish their predominance until today. According to Parson (1981) he was able to combine the whole country together:
For the peasants, he was a chief;
For the small group of educated Africans, he was one of them;
For the large cattle-owners, he was one of them;
For the chiefs, he was one of them;
For the Europeans, by dress, language, behavior and experience, he had much in common with them.
Summary of Chapters
0. Introduction: This chapter introduces Botswana as a case study for world-system theory, outlining the country's economic history from colonial beginnings to its status as an "African miracle" and establishing the central research approach.
1. Botswana's Trade: An analysis of Botswana's national trade statistics and employment data is provided to locate the country within the core-periphery division of labor, highlighting its heavy reliance on mineral exports.
2. Incorporation and Development: This section traces the historical shift of Botswana into the global economy, detailing how colonial-era commoditization of cattle and land integrated the nation into the world-system.
3. Botswana's Economy-Based Class-Structure: This chapter investigates the persistent influence of the traditional elite and the evolution of the class system since independence, emphasizing the role of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.
4. Further Arguments: The author discusses the limitations of the world-system theory, specifically its overemphasis on economic factors, and points to the significant impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis on Botswana's development.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, asserting that while Botswana is not a pure miracle, its political-economic management has proven more effective than many of its neighbors, despite ongoing structural inequalities.
Keywords
Botswana, Modern World-System Theory, Wallerstein, Periphery, Economic Development, Class Structure, Colonialism, Diamonds, Trade Balance, Developmental State, Seretse Khama, Labor Migration, Political Economy, Income Inequality, Botswana Democratic Party.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the economic and political development of Botswana through the theoretical framework of Immanuel Wallerstein’s modern world-system theory.
What are the central themes discussed?
The study focuses on the incorporation of Botswana into the global economy, the historical evolution of its class structure, and the role of the state in directing economic growth.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The primary goal is to determine how Botswana has functioned as a peripheral state within the global division of labor and how its internal class dynamics have shaped its governance since 1966.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author applies a world-systems analysis, utilizing historical data, trade statistics, and academic literature to evaluate Botswana's position in the capitalist world-economy.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the history of Botswana's trade, its incorporation into the global system, the stability of its economy-based class structure, and external political factors affecting its development.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Modern World-System Theory, Botswana, developmental state, economic periphery, class structure, and political-economic development.
How does the author characterize the role of the diamond industry?
The author notes that while diamonds are extremely profitable and fuel economic growth, the industry is capital-intensive rather than labor-intensive, thus failing to resolve high levels of unemployment and inequality.
What does the paper conclude regarding the "African miracle" narrative?
The conclusion suggests that while Botswana's development is impressive compared to other African nations, the "miracle" narrative is overly simplistic, as the country continues to face deep-seated inequalities and structural dependencies within the global system.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Jannis Mossmann (Autor:in), 2007, Botswana in the Modern World-System, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/80130
