Persistence and decline of traditional authority in modern Botswana politics

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Periodical article

Title:	Persistence and decline of traditional authority in modern Botswana politics
Authors:	Holm, John D. Botlhale, Emmanuel
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Botswana Notes and Records (ISSN 0525-5090)
Volume:	40
Pages:	74-87
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Botswana
Subjects:	chieftaincy government
Abstract:	This paper explores the role traditional authorities have played in postindependence Botswana and their likely future impact. Three overarching themes run through the analysis. First, this illiberal institution is facilitating the integration of traditional political morality and interests within Botswana's emerging modern, semi-democratic, polity. Second, the chiefs and the headmen keep local party organizations, which often have little opposition competition and are subject to manipulation periodically by national party leaders, attentive to local development concerns. Finally, while traditional authorities find themselves marginalized in terms of legal authority, they may, if they choose, remain a significant force in their communities through the use of their symbolic authority. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]