Report Ranks Botswana a Global Leader

REPORT RANKS BOTSWANA A GLOBAL LEADER

The Bertelsmann Foundation, which is based in the Federal Republic of Germany, has released Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) for 2006. The report, which is released on a biannual basis, is intended to provide a comprehensive view of the status of democracy and socially responsible market economics, as well as the overall quality of political management, in non-OECD countries. The latest study ranks 119 countries on all continents.
Notwithstanding the latest study’s having taken detailed and critical note of a wide range of domestic controversies, including the deportation of Kenneth Good and the debate surrounding the CKGR relocation exercise, Botswana, along with Mauritius, was once more ranked in top position among African nations.
As in the past the 2006 BTI is divided into two sections with separate indexes. The “Status Index” combines a number of variables to measure in detail the status of democracy and the market economy, while the “Management Index” focuses more specifically on the quality of governance.
With respect to the Management Index, Botswana has now risen to number three position in the world.
The Index is a composite measure of the efficacy of political and public institutions. Focus areas falling under the Index include: steering capability, effective use of resources, and the reliable pursuit of goals, consensus building, reform management, and international cooperation.
The Management Index’s top ten (with their scores) were: Mauritius (7.57), Chile (7.51), Botswana (7.44), Slovenia (7.41), Taiwan (7.37), Slovakia (7.32), Estonia (7.29), South Korea (7.25), Lithuania (7.00) and the Czech Republic (6.95).In the BTI “Status Index” Botswana was ranked number one “on the African continent” (albeit again just below Mauritius among Africa Union states), number seven outside of Europe, and number sixteen in the overall global ranking.Botswana’s overall score in the 2006 Status Index is 8 (7.98).
Qualities underscored in the BTI Status Index include under a sub-index for “Democratic Development”, which incorporates such variables as popular identification with the state, freedom of political participation, the rule of law, stability of democratic institutions, political and social integration and the strength of civic culture.

Source: The Voice Newspaper