The state and the social : state formation in Botswana and Its Pre-Colonial and Colonial genealogies

Botswana has been portrayed as a major case of exception in Africa—as an oasis of peace and harmony with an enduring parliamentary democracy, blessed with remarkable diamond-driven economic growth. Whereas the “failure” of other states on the continent is often attributed to the prevalence of indigenous political ideas and structures, the author argues that Botswana’s apparent success is not the result of Western ideas and practices of government having __replaced__ indigenous ideas and structures. Rather, the postcolonial state of Botswana is best understood as a unique, complex formation, one that arose dialectically through the meeting of European ideas and practices with the symbolism and hierarchies of authority, rooted in the cosmologies of indigenous polities, and both have become integral to the formation of a strong state with a stable government. Yet there are destabilizing potentialities in progress due to emerging class conflict between all the poor sections of the population and the privileged modern elites born of the expansion of a beef and diamond-driven political economy, in addition to conflicts between dominant Tswana and vast other ethnic groups. These transformations of the modern state are viewed from the long-term perspectives of precolonial and colonial genealogies and the rise of structures of domination, propelled by changing global forces.

Botswana has been portrayed as a major case of exception in Africa-as an oasis of peace and harmony with an enduring parliamentary democracy, blessed with remarkable diamond-driven economic growth. Whereas the "failure" of other states on the continent is often attributed to the prevalence of indigenous political ideas and structures, the author argues that Botswana's apparent success is not the result of Western ideas and practices of government having replaced indigenous ideas and structures. Rather, the postcolonial state of Botswana is best understood as a unique, complex formation, one that arose dialectically through the meeting of European ideas and practices with the symbolism and hierarchies of authority, rooted in the cosmologies of indigenous polities, and both have become integral to the formation of a strong state with a stable government. Yet there are destabilizing potentialities in progress due to emerging class conflict between all the poor sections of the population and the privileged modern elites born of the expansion of a beef and diamond-driven political economy, in addition to conflicts between dominant Tswana and vast other ethnic groups. These transformations of the modern state are viewed from the long-term perspectives of precolonial and colonial genealogies and the rise of structures of domination, propelled by changing global forces.

CONTENTS MAPS ILLUSTRATIONS FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 THE DEVELOPMENT OF TSWANA MERAFE AND THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY AND COLONIALISM Chapter 2 TSWANA CONSOLIDATION WITHIN THE COLONIAL STATE Development of a Postcolonial State Embryo Chapter 3 CATTLE, DIAMONDS AND THE ‘GRAND COALITION’ Chapter 4 THE STATE AND INDIGENOUS AUTHORITY STRUCTURES Ambiguities of Co-optation and Confrontation Chapter 5 TSWANA DOMINATION, MINORITY PROTESTS AND THE DISCOURSE OF DEVELOPMENT Chapter 6 ANTIPOLITICS AND QUESTIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND DOMINATION Chapter 7 GOVERNMENTALIZATION OF THE STATE On State Interventions in the Population Chapter 8 ESCALATING INEQUALITY Popular Reactions to Political Leaders CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX The development of Tswana 'merafe' (kingdoms) and the arrival of Christianity and colonialism -- Tswana consolidation within the colonial State: development of a postcolonial State embryo -- Cattle, diamonds and the "grand coalition"--The State and indigenous authority structures : ambiguities of co-optation and confrontation -- Tswana domination, minority protests and the discourse of development -- Anti-politics and questions of democracy and domination -- Governmentalization of the State: on State interventions in the population -- Escalating inequality: popular reactions to political leaders The development of Tswana merafe and the arrival of colonialism Tswana consolidation within the colonial state: development of a postcolonial state embryo Cattle, diamonds and the 'grand coalition' Keeping the population in the societal fold: the state's capture of indigenous authority structures Tswana domination, minority protests and the discourse of development Anti-politics and issues of democracy and domination The governmentalization of the state: state interventions in the population Escalating social inequality: popular reactions to political leaders.