The world of development as experienced and perceived by the San through the RADP: the case of Khwee and Sehunong settlements

Molosi, Keneilwe (2015) The world of development as experienced and perceived by the San through the RADP: the case of Khwee and Sehunong settlements. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Poverty and underdevelopment are long standing concerns that characterise San communities in Botswana. Several policies and programmes have been put in place to address these concerns one of which is the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP), in place since 1974. Whereas past studies have reported on the failure of the RADP, this study employs it as a vehicle to understand the San’s development landscape. The main purpose of the study was to explore and describe the San’s perceptions and experiences of development
A qualitative multiple-case study approach using semi structured interviews and focus groups were adopted to capture the experiences and perceptions of the San as they evolve within their environment. Critical social theory, which argues that all social relations are power relations and those who are dominant use their power to (re)produce their position of privilege, was used to construct the theoretical framework for the study. Data analysis produced three key findings. Key finding one was that development is a politicised concept interlocked within the politics of power. While the San are on the periphery of power as objects of the development process, the dominant Tswana speaking groups are located within the centre of power where they are privileged to control the development process, by deciding who gets access to resources. This creates a ‘virtuous cycle of self-reinforcing development’ for the dominant Tswana groups and a ‘vicious cycle of poverty’ for the powerless San. Key finding two was that poverty is a by-product of processes seated in unequal social relationships of power. Key finding three presents the politics of participation. Participation becomes evidence of the power and control of each group in the development process. This study thus concluded that poverty and underdevelopment are not economic in their mutation, but are by-products of unequal power relations embedded in a struggle of class interests.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: San, Poverty, Development, Remote Area Development Programme
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology; H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Social Justice Place and Lifelong Education
• Supervisor's Name: Osborne, Professor Mike
• Date of Award: 2015
• Depositing User: Keneilwe Molosi
• Unique ID: glathesis:2015-6563
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 06 Aug 2015 12:26
• Last Modified: 12 Aug 2015 16:26
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/6563