非洲風情：博茨瓦納─非洲民主實驗室（上）

學者列舉促進民主因素，包括自主行政體制、活躍公民社會，及強大經濟表現。然而改革與否，亦須計算鎮壓和改革成本。國家若有足夠天然資源，拉攏各派勢力，加上無須依賴國際援助，便會傾向鎮壓，反之亦然。事實上，近四分之一撒哈拉以南國家，被視為自由國家。

其中一個就是南非的博茨瓦納。首任總統塞雷茨・卡馬生於貴族之家，本是一名律師。他在1962年成立博茨瓦納民主黨，設法建立廣泛的聯盟，包括爭取酋長、農民和公務員支持。做法使他在1965年大選中取得壓倒性勝利，力撼反對黨博茨瓦納人民黨。

博茨瓦納種族單一，階級觀念深厚，人民多數傾向跟隨領袖，大多不願公開批評政府。當局在酋長的協助下，定期舉行稱為kgotlas的公眾諮詢會議。政府亦維持官僚機構的專業形象，把每年30億美元的鑽石收入，投放於惠民經濟政策上，成功逃避資源詛咒。

當然，博茨瓦納的發展亦非一帆風順。公眾諮詢會議被指由男性精英壟斷，討論議題亦由政府主導。另外，當地人類發展指數只有0.155，反映要改善國內生活指數，仍然漫漫長路。民主並非一切的解決方案，不過在良好政治基礎下，成功治理國家或指日可待。

Botswana - The Democratic Experiments in Africa (I)

In fact, about a quarter of sub-Saharan African countries are considered as “free”. The element of democracy is still compatible with this second-largest continent.

Political scientists suggested a wishing list of democratisation, such as an independent political system, vibrant civil society, and promising economic performances.

To democratise or not, the cost of reform and repression are calculated. If the regime owns sufficient resources, and relies less on foreign assistance, the cost of repression decreases.

Born in one of the royal families, the first Botswana president Seretse Khama was a well-educated lawyer. He founded the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in 1962.

BDP managed to bring a broad coalition that included chiefs, rural commoners, as well as civil servants, which made him a landslide election victory in 1965.

Due to the ethnic homogeneity and the hierarchical social structure, most Botswana tend to follow the leaders and are unwilling to criticise the government.

In addition to respecting the opposition, such as Botswana People’s Party (BPP), regular meetings were held in a public consultation, known as “kgotlas”.

Khama also maintained the professional bureaucracy, which allowed him to invest $3 billion diamond revenues in the economy, and managed to avoid the resource curse.

It is undeniable that the development of Botswana is not perfect. For example, the public consultation was dominated by elite male and controlled by the government.

The Human Development Index of 0.155 further implied an unsettling truth. After all, multipartyism is not the only antidote. How democracy dealing with poverty matters.

名稱：非洲民主：成功、失敗與政治改革的鬥爭 (暫譯) (Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform)

作者：Nic Cheeseman

年份：2015

出版地：美國

出版社：劍橋大學出版社

類別：非洲政治

評分：7/10

IMG: https://globalshakers.com/the-amazing-life-of-seretse-khama-the-man-who-transformed-botswana/