The objective of the present work is through the case of Botswana to discuss the creation of poverty in the period of transition from tribal to modern society in the Third World today. This is done by an analysis focusing at the peasantry. The recently renewed fashion of blaming the peasants for lack of improved food production and thus for poverty at local and national levels is questioned.
CONTENTS: PART I: INTRODUCTION -- 1. Development and geography -- 2. Research objectives -- PART II: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE -- 3. Peasant and related concepts -- 4. Societal evolution and agrarian transition -- 5. Agricultural development and rural settlement pattern -- 5. The peasant concept, question and hypotheses -- PART III: BOTSWANA -- 7. Approach and data -- 8. Societal evolution -- 9. Agrarian transition -- 10. Inequality and poverty -- 11. Agricultural development -- 12. Rural settlement pattern -- 13. The peasant controversy – summary and conclusion