Strange bed fellows or a match made in heaven?: the basis of Botswana’s foreign policy toward the USA 1966 - 2014

Abstract

This study investigates the basis of Botswana’s Foreign Policy towards the United States of America (USA). It traces Botswana’s foreign policy behaviour and decisions made in its interactions and dealings with the USA. The study is based on the fact that the USA is the current hegemonic power in the unilateral world order of the day while Botswana is a small Southern African state with little clout on the international stage. As such the research strives to unpack the nature of relationship these unlikely bed fellows share as well as its foundations. The study also obtains at a time when US popularity around the world has waned for various reasons, leaving unanswered the question of whether those countries who remain the US’s close circle of friends are not adversely affected by the unpopularity. The study covers Botswana’s foreign policy toward the USA from independence in 1966 – 2014. It adopts qualitative research methods and Neo-Realism as its theoretical framework. It further employs the Input-Output model in the analysis in an effort to gauge the extent to which there has been dynamism and feedback in the bilateral relationship where the outcome of certain decisions and actions of both parties are also considered. In its findings the study concludes that it is the smallness of the Botswana state, U.S hegemonic power, regional geo – strategic considerations, national values, strategic national interests, Democracy, national security considerations, the need for HIV/AIDS/ health assistance, trade, aid (official development assistance and technical assistance), education, tourism, diamonds, conservation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC), the Cold War, the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), international and continental organisations (UN, AU, SADC) and the personalities of the various presidencies which have shaped the basis of Botswana’s foreign policy toward the USA.