Question: What
sacrifices does a government need to make in order to ensure the development of
their country?
In the example of Botswana, the sacrifices a government may
make for the sake of the nation may include restraining itself from taking on
all benefits from the highs in the diamond industry in order to preserve Botswana’s
economy from the consequences of the lows, and distributing power and
compromising with other authorities in the nation to spread the rights to mineral
resources to minimize internal conflict (Chuhan-Pole & Angwafo, 2011) . Relying on foreign
companies to assist in promoting tourism for the nation may also be included.
This reliance on foreign companies assisted in building the
industry of wildlife-tourism and creating an image of sustainable tourism that
helps nation economically and environmentally. This would both appeal to
tourists to visit, give jobs to both local and foreign citizens, and help the
host nation’s economy, as well as promote the conservation of said resources
for the sake of the nation’s environment. However, because most of these
tourism companies are foreign-owned, in the long run this enclave tourism is
not as beneficial to Botswana itself, as its local workers and companies are not
as well-payed or draw in as much income as these foreign companies (Mbaiwa). Improper
taxation for these foreign tourism companies also contributes to this issue.
Strengthening the involvement of local communities in
policies involving issues such as equal representation of women and minorities,
the banning of hunting, and higher regard for populations of poverty to try and
close the gap between the foreign rich and the local poor may be issues that
assist in further boosting Botswana’s image (Chuhan-Pole & Angwafo) (Mbaiwa).
Despite these issues, however, Botswana has shown itself to exhibit
good governance through its integration of Tswana values and methods of
communication and leadership, which emphasized the preservation of morals and
respect toward property rights and contributed to the stability of the nation (Chuhan-Pole & Angwafo, 2011) . Also, focusing its
resources after independence on developing infrastructure, health, and education
for the people along with its methods of managing its finances had saved them
from the pitfalls and potential failures that other mineral-based economies
fall into, giving Botswana an image of integrity and stable government.
My Question: What
were some things that other mineral-based nations were successful in that
Botswana wasn’t, as a result of managing their nation differently?
Sources:
Chuhan-Pole,
P., & Angwafo, M. (2011). Yes Africa Can. In M. Lewin, Botswana’s
Success: Good Governance, Good Policies, and Good Luck (pp. 81-90).
Washington DC: The World Bank.
Mbaiwa, Joseph E. “Poverty or Riches: Who
Benefits from the Booming Tourism Industry in Botswana?” Journal of
Contemporary African Studies, vol. 35, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 93–112,
doi:10.1080/02589001.2016.1270424.
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