1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910779175003321

Autore

Gulbrandsen Ørnulf

Titolo

The state and the social [[electronic resource] ] : state formation in Botswana and its pre-colonial and colonial genealogies / / Ørnulf Gulbrandsen

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : Berghahn Books, 2012

ISBN

1-78238-326-3

1-280-49677-0

9786613592002

0-85745-298-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (364 p.)

Classificazione

LB 52575

Disciplina

968.83/01

Soggetti

Chiefdoms - Botswana - History

Power (Social sciences) - Botswana - History

Botswana Politics and government

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p.[318]-334) and index.

Nota di contenuto

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.

Sommario/riassunto

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 forma