Do executive orders lead to better policy outputs than the traditional policy process? the case of Botswana

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of Presidential Directives in comparison to the traditional policy process in Botswana. More precisely, the study determines whether the use of Presidential Directives is a more efficient and effective means of achieving policy outputs, as compared to the traditional policy process. To achieve this, the study conducted a comprehensive analysis of policies and Presidential Directives in Botswana, examining the processes through which they were formulated, implemented, and evaluated. The methodological approach adopted includes an intrepretivist research paradigm as well as a qualitative research approach for both data collection and analysis. Results reveals that Presidential directives achieve outputs faster and more effectively than the traditional policy process, Presidential Directives may have some advantages in terms of speed and flexibility, but they are not necessarily more effective than the traditional policy process in achieving their planned outcomes, policy process, which involves stakeholder consultation, evidence-based decision-making and comprehensive analysis of the policy context, is a more reliable and effective means of policy-making in the long term. However, the study also found that there are some areas where Presidential Directives may be more appropriate, such as in emergency situations or when quick decisions are required. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of different approaches to policy-making in Botswana, and its findings have important implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in the field of public policy. The study recommends transparency and accountability; stakeholder engagement; evidence-based policy-making and comprehensive policy evaluation.

Keywords: {'name': 'Executive Orders, Policy Process, presidential directives, effectiveness, policy makers'}

Authors & affiliations

Thekiso Molokwane
Affiliation not supplied

Kgosi Radipodi
Affiliation not supplied

Keratilwe Bodilenyane
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

Al-Jabri, I. M. (2017). The Impact of Executive Orders on Policy Effectiveness: A Comparative Study. International Journal of Public Administration, 40(10), 830-843.

Bardach, E., & Patashnik, E. M. (2019). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving. CQ Press.

Brynard, P., Cloette F and de Conning, C. (2011). Policy Implementation, in Cloette, F & de Coning, C. (Eds.) Improving Public Policy, 3rd Edition: 87.

DOI: 10.1007/978-0-230-35699-3

Chabaesele, O., & Kebapetse, N. (2020). Botswana's response to COVID-19 pandemic: A case study. International Journal of Health Governance, 25(3), 289-299. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHG-07-2020 0065.

Cloette, F & Meyer, I. (2011). Policy dynamics, change, failure and success, in Cloette, F & de Coning, C. (Eds.) Improving Public Policy, 3rd Edition: 87.

Dahl, R. A. (1956). A preface to democratic theory. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

DOI: 10.1177/106591299905200405

Domhoff, G. W. (2010). Who rules America: Challenges to corporate and class dominance (6th Ed.)? New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Gerhardt, M. J. (2006). The Presidential Power of Unilateral Action. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 36(2), 181-199.

Guest, G., MacQueen, K. M., & Namey, E. E. (2021). Applied Thematic Analysis. SAGE Publications.

DOI: 10.4337/9781785364358.00009

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13895-0_95-1

DOI: 10.1080/25741292.2018.1540378

Hyden, G. (2002). Theorising Public Policy in Africa, in Onyango, G (Ed.) Routledge Handbook of Public Policy in Africa, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 46.

Institute of Development Studies. (2006). Understanding policy processes A review of IDS research on the environment. University of Sussex. Available at: https://steps-centre.org/wp-content/uploads/IDS-Understanding-policy-processes.pdf (accessed 4, November 2023).

DOI: 10.1017/S0022278X01003755

Kelso, S., & Kohler-Hausmann, I. (2018). Executive power and the American political order. Polity.

Knill, C & Tosun, J. (2008). Policy making. Also published in: Comparative Politics / Daniele Caramani (Ed.). - Oxford: Oxford Univ. Pr., 2008, pp. 495-519.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13895-0_67-1

DOI: 10.2307/2647511

Mazmanian, D. and Sabatier, P., (1981). Effective policy implementation. Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books.

Meyer, I and Cloette, F. (2011). Policy Agenda Setting, in Cloette, F & de Coning, C. (Eds.) Improving Public Policy, 3rd Edition: 224.

Mills, C. W. (1956). The power elite. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Mills, C. W. (1965). Power Political and People. New York: Oxford University Press.

Moeti, M. R., & Seipone, K. (2020). Botswana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Global Health, Vol. 8(9), e991-e992. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X (20)30309-0.

Mwesige, P. G. (2016). The Use of Executive Orders in Uganda: A Threat to Good Governance? Journal of African Law, Vol. 60(2), 221-240.

Ndikumana, L. (2020). The Use of Executive Orders in Rwanda: A Threat to Good Governance? Journal of African Political Economy, Vol. 48(3), 456-475.

Obasi, I. & Lekorwe, H. M. (2014). Citizen Involvement in Public Policy Making Process in Africa: the case of Botswana. Public Administration Research, 3(4):1-11.

Okeke, C. N. (2011). African Law in Comparative Law: Does Comparativism Have Worth? Roger Williams University Law Review, Vol. 16(1). Symposium: Methodological Approaches to Comparative Law.

Oluyede, B., & Adebanwi, W. (2018). Presidential Directives and Executive Orders in Nigeria: A Threat to Good Governance? African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, Vol. 12(1), 1-12.

DOI: 10.5129/001041518824414610

Ostrom, E., Gardner, R., Walker, J., & Agrawal, A. (2008). Rules, games, and common-pool resources. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22316

Republic of Botswana. (2003). National Strategic Framework for HIV, Ministry of Health – Republic of Botswana. Government Printers.

Republic of Botswana. (2009a). Money Laundering, Ministry of Finance, Government of Botswana.

Republic of Botswana. (2009b). Financial Intelligence Agency. Republic of Botswana. (2009c). Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act. Available at:https://botswanalaws.com/alphabetical-list-of-statutes/declaration-of-assets-and-liabilities-act (Accessed January 13, 2023).

Republic of Botswana. (2020). Declaration of Assets and Liabilities. Available at: https://www.botswanalaws.com/Botswana2019Pdf/12of2019.pdf (Accessed January 13, 2023).

Rudalevige, A. (2013). The New Imperial Presidency? Presidential Directives in the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 43(1), 69-98.

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach. Wiley.

Seretse, O. J. (2016). Public officers’ declaration of assets in Botswana: An analysis of implementation challenges. African Journal of Public Affairs, 9(1), 60-72.

Thompson, E. P. (1975). Whigs and hunters: The origin of the Black Act. London, England: Allen Lane.

Tien, C. (2001). The Use of Executive Orders by U.S. Presidents: A Historical Perspective. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 31(1), 73-91.

Tlale, L., & Willems, J. (2021). An evaluation of Botswana's COVID-19 pandemic response: From a centralized to a decentralized approach. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 13(1), e1-e7. Https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.3019.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlcj.2017.11.004

DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199596751.001.0001

DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199596751.003.0004

Tshombe, L. M & Molokwane, T. (2022). Public Policy Making in Africa, in Onyango, G. (Ed.) Routledge Handbook of Public Policy in Africa, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 179-190.

DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226515465.001.0001