Good Governance and Development in Botswana – The Democracy Conundrum

Abstract

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.