ABSTRACT
The ascendancy of small states and the manner in which they have come to matter in International Relations discourse has traditionally been diluted by the rationalist orthodoxies of the discipline. The approach serves to analyse Botswana’s foreign policy in its ability to oftentimes transcend its political and economic status as a small state. Social constructivism is presented here as the most apposite response to the shortcomings of rationalist theories in explaining foreign policy. Literature on Botswana’s foreign policy was dominated by neo-realist perceptions which posited Botswana as a “client”, “captive” or “hostage” state to apartheid South Africa. The appearance of this apparent variance within Botswana’s long-established foreign policy record can be understood as “flexible and concrete actions by leaders who are pragmatic in responding to situations as they evolve”. Under changing conditions, the adherence to a principled stance is a key feature in the country’s foreign policy posture.
