Botswana is described as the “African miracle” (Samatar, 1999), as an “exception”
(Good, 1992), or as “a rare example of an African state that used its bonanza of
mineral riches wisely” (Meredith, 2006:285). However, critique verbalized by Taylor
(2003) and Good (1992) has shown that Botswana’s economic history is not a pure
success story; even it illustrates a positive example of African development
compared to almost all the other African countries. To analyze Botswana’s economic
history I will date back to the beginning of the 1900s. At this time, Botswana’s eight
main chiefdoms dominated regional African trade. The indigenous elite welcomed
trade with European settlers who arrived in this period. While Botswana’s neighbor
countries experienced the process of incorporation into the modern world-economy
already, Botswana started to shift into the external arena of the global economy. This
essay will show how Botswana is and has incorporated into the modern worldeconomy
referred to Immanuel Wallerstein’s modern world-system theory. I will start
with an overview about Botswana’s actual trade situation to be able to locate the
country within the global division of labor. Afterwards the paper analyses the history
of Botswana’s shift into the external arena of the modern world-system followed by its
incorporation. Furthermore, I will illustrate Botswana’s economic development since
the incorporation. A second part of Botswana’s history deals with the economy-based
class structure and how it shaped the political history since Botswana achieved
political independence in 1966. I will argue that the class structure, as already
indicated, has to be understood in the context of pre-colonial and colonial
development. After all, I will point out what important contemporary political-economic
features of Botswana are not accounted for in my world-systems-based analysis. The
essay will finish with a short conclusion to draw a statement about a world-system
based analysis about Botswana’s political-economy.
Table of Contents
- 0. Introduction
- 1. Botswana's Trade
- 2. Incorporation and Development
- 3. Botswana's Economy-Based Class-Structure
- 4. Further Arguments
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay analyzes Botswana's economic history within the framework of Immanuel Wallerstein's modern world-system theory. It aims to demonstrate how Botswana's incorporation into the global economy, its subsequent development, and its resulting class structure can be understood through this theoretical lens. The analysis traces Botswana's trajectory from its pre-colonial trade relations to its current position in the global division of labor.
- Botswana's integration into the modern world-system
- The role of trade in shaping Botswana's economic development
- The emergence of an economy-based class structure in Botswana
- Botswana's position within the global division of labor (core, periphery, semi-periphery)
- Limitations of a world-system analysis in explaining Botswana's political economy
Chapter Summaries
0. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by presenting Botswana as an “African miracle” with a complex economic history that defies simple narratives of success or failure. It introduces the main argument: to analyze Botswana's economic history from the beginning of the 1900s through the lens of Immanuel Wallerstein's modern world-system theory, tracing its incorporation into the global economy and the resulting class structure. The chapter outlines the essay's structure, highlighting the focus on trade, incorporation, development, and the economy-based class structure, ending with a preview of the limitations of the world-system approach.
1. Botswana's Trade: This chapter provides a detailed examination of Botswana's trade balance, highlighting its positive trade surplus and dependence on mineral exports (primarily diamonds) which constitute a significant portion of its total exports. It reveals a heavy reliance on the United Kingdom as its primary export market and a negative trade balance with South Africa, illustrating Botswana's peripheral position within the regional economy. The chapter also notes a lack of diversification in exports and a significant disparity between the agricultural sector (a major employer) and the mining sector (a major contributor to the economy) underscoring the uneven distribution of labor and wealth.
2. Incorporation and Development: [This section would contain a summary of Chapter 2. Since the provided text excerpt does not include Chapter 2's content, a summary cannot be generated.]
3. Botswana's Economy-Based Class-Structure: [This section would contain a summary of Chapter 3. Since the provided text excerpt does not include Chapter 3's content, a summary cannot be generated.]
4. Further Arguments: [This section would contain a summary of Chapter 4. Since the provided text excerpt does not include Chapter 4's content, a summary cannot be generated.]
Keywords
Botswana, modern world-system theory, political economy, trade, economic development, class structure, diamonds, mineral resources, South Africa, United Kingdom, periphery, global division of labor, unequal exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Botswana's Economic History
What is the main topic of this text?
This text analyzes Botswana's economic history through the lens of Immanuel Wallerstein's modern world-system theory. It examines Botswana's integration into the global economy, its development, and the resulting class structure, focusing on the role of trade and its position within the global division of labor.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include Botswana's integration into the modern world-system, the influence of trade on its economic development, the emergence of an economy-based class structure, Botswana's position within the core-periphery-semi-periphery framework, and the limitations of a world-system analysis in fully explaining Botswana's political economy.
What is the structure of the text?
The text is structured into five chapters: an introduction, a chapter on Botswana's trade, a chapter on incorporation and development, a chapter on Botswana's economy-based class structure, a chapter with further arguments, and a conclusion. It also includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What does the introduction chapter cover?
The introduction presents Botswana as an "African miracle" with a complex economic history. It introduces the main argument – analyzing Botswana's economic history from the early 1900s using Wallerstein's world-system theory – and outlines the essay's structure, focusing on trade, incorporation, development, and class structure. It also previews the limitations of the world-system approach.
What are the key findings regarding Botswana's trade?
The chapter on Botswana's trade highlights a positive trade surplus, dependence on mineral exports (especially diamonds), a heavy reliance on the UK as an export market, and a negative trade balance with South Africa. It notes a lack of export diversification and a significant disparity between the agricultural and mining sectors, indicating an uneven distribution of labor and wealth.
What are the limitations of the world-system analysis as applied to Botswana?
While the text doesn't explicitly detail the limitations in the provided excerpt, it does mention that the limitations of applying a world-system approach to Botswana's political economy will be discussed. This suggests that the analysis acknowledges potential shortcomings of this theoretical framework in fully explaining Botswana's unique economic trajectory.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Botswana, modern world-system theory, political economy, trade, economic development, class structure, diamonds, mineral resources, South Africa, United Kingdom, periphery, global division of labor, and unequal exchange.
What is the overall conclusion (as far as can be determined from the provided excerpt)?
The overall conclusion is not fully provided in the excerpt. However, based on the introduction and chapter summaries, the conclusion is expected to summarize the findings of the analysis of Botswana's economic history within the framework of world-system theory, likely addressing the success and limitations of this theoretical application in explaining Botswana's development.
- Citation du texte
- Jannis Mossmann (Auteur), 2007, Botswana in the Modern World-System, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80130
