Why is Botswana so much more conervative than South Africa?

[Roger C]

Botswana (along with Lesotho and Swaziland) did not have to "struggle" for independence. They had a peaceful transition to self rule and independence. In the Cold War era African independence struggles were invariably supported by the Communist Bloc against the Western European colonial powers (all happen to be Nato members). In adition Botswana's population are overwelmingly from a single ethnic group with strong social cohesion and a long tradition of respect for (tribal based) governing structures. Starting a rebellion in such a stable society is almost impossible.