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Good Governance and Development in Botswana – The Democracy Conundrum

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  • Ghebremusse Sara

    (Assistant Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada)

Abstract

Unlike many of its African neighbours, Botswana achieved levels of socio-economic development in spite of its abundant mineral wealth. Botswana’s effective management of its mineral resources also aided in its avoidance of the resource curse and corresponding weak institutions. The contribution of Botswana’s mineral wealth to its development best characterizes the country as a “resource-rich developmental state.” However, the correlation between democratic principles and institutions to Botswana’s developmental success was unclear. This paper examines the connection between democracy and development in Botswana by relying on the “thin” versus “thick” spectrum of democratic institutions expounded by Mariana Prado, Mario Schapiro, and Diogo Coutinho. The paper argues that Botswana’s institutions are not democratically “thick”; therefore, democracy and “good” governance, as its conceived neoliberally, do not explain Botswana’s development outcomes. Instead, this paper contends that David Trubek, Diogo Coutinho, and Mario Schapiro’s “legal functionalities” framework, which credits the success of development policies to four roles the legal system could play: (i) safeguarding flexibility, (ii) stimulating orchestration, (iii) framing synergy, and (iv) ensuring legitimacy, is better suited to explain the success of Botswana’s resource-rich developmental state.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghebremusse Sara, 2018. "Good Governance and Development in Botswana – The Democracy Conundrum," The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter, vol. 11(2), pages 913-938, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:lawdev:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:913-938:n:23
    DOI: 10.1515/ldr-2018-0041
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sachs, J-D & Warner, A-M, 1995. "Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth," Papers 517a, Harvard - Institute for International Development.
    2. Mkandawire, Thandika, 2001. "Thinking about Developmental States in Africa," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 25(3), pages 289-313, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Grivas Chiyaba & Carl Singleton, 2022. "Do natural resources and FDI tend to erode or support the development of national institutions?," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2022-02, Department of Economics, University of Reading, revised 30 May 2023.

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