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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Limited freedom and intolerance in Botswana |
Authors: | Botlhomilwe, Mokganedi Zara Sebudubudu, David Maripe, Bugalo |
Year: | 2011 |
Periodical: | Journal of Contemporary African Studies (ISSN 0258-9001) |
Volume: | 29 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 331-348 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Botswana |
Subjects: | democracy freedom of information freedom of speech |
External link: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589001.2011.581501 |
Abstract: | Botswana has held ten successive formal elections without fail since independence in 1966. The country has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries at independence to an upper middle income one. On the basis of these figures, Botswana has been regarded as a political and economic model that has been praised for the resilience of its democratic institutions, respect for civil liberties, a high degree of political tolerance and an economic success story by African standards. To this extent, Botswana has been perceived as exceptional compared to most African countries. This paper argues that despite having won international acclaim as an African 'success miracle', freedom and tolerance in the country exist only within the limits set by the State. It is argued that there is limited freedom and growing intolerance of dissenting views by the political leadership. The Botswana State therefore perfectly fits the model of 'authoritarian liberalism' (K. Good, 1996). Bibliogr., ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |