Winners and losers: privatising the commons in Botswana

Reports/papers (non-specific)
, 33 pages
PDF (473.63 KB)
9529IIED.pdf
Language:
English
Published: January 2005
Area(s):
Securing the Commons
ISBN: 9781843695592
Product code:9529IIED

In recent years, the "Botswana model" of rangeland policy has been heralded by many as a successful example of government intervention to improve the performance of the livestock sector. The simplicity of the theoretical assumptions underpinning the "model" (the so-called "tragedy of the commons" theory) and of the policy implications that it entails (privatisation of common rangelands), make Botswana’s experience an appealing example for policy makers and donor agencies alike across Africa. However, research conducted in the 1980s and the 1990s has demonstrated the limits of tragedy-of-the-commons arguments, and has led to a shift in thinking on range ecology.This paper reviews Botswana’s experience with the privatisation of the commons, drawing on available literature. While several studies were carried out in the 1990s, there is very little up-to-date information on this issue. The paper also identifies key issues for further research on the ground. The paper is likely to be of interest not only for the citizens of Botswana, but also for those grappling with rangeland policy issues in Africa and elsewhere.

Cite this publication

Cullis, A. and Watson, C. (2005). Winners and losers: privatising the commons in Botswana. .
Available at https://www.iied.org/9529iied