Botswana's National Development and Geopolitical Situation: A Politico-Geographical Study of an Ideological Frontier

Abstract

<p> The concept of ideological frontier and boundary, fami liar in the context of ' Cold War ' politics, is appl ied to Botswana , as a case study in political geogr aphy . The study works from two basi c assumptions . Firstly, that there is an inverse relationship between economic dependence and political independence (which in this study is further related to the hostility in the ideological conflict). Secondly, that in a confli ct bet ween riational interest and ideology a stat e gives pri ority to the former . These assumptions are used in the context of Botswana's national development and that state ' s contemporary geopoliticai situation in southern Africa . This situation is characterised by the ideological conflict of racial confrontation. The development of Botswana as a strategically i mportant state is trace d by reference to past political and economic dependencies on other states . An evaluation of the present day dependencies and their effect on Botswana's national goals depends in part on understanding that state's geopolitical situation along an ideological frontier. </p>