ABSTRACT
Competitive elections in most African states take place intermittently, are often accompanied by violence. Botswana stands in distinct contrast to this pattern, and thus offers an excellent opportunity to explore the extent to which elections have a significant impact on an emerging African political system. This analysis seeks to examine competitive electoral politics focusing on elections in Botswana. Three themes are developed: (1) the Botswana political elite has established a system of elections which generally follows democratic procedures but does so in a highly paternalistic form; (2) this elite uses the electoral system to provide legitimation for critical aspects of its policies and mode of operation; and (3) the broad and solid coalition base of the present ruling party renders it unlikely that the opposition could obtain power through an electoral victory in the foreseeable future. Each of these themes supports an overall argument that the ruling elite is gradually institutionalizing democratic politics in the country.
