Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 October 2005
Botswana is frequently depicted as a major success story on acontinent where political and economic success stories areunfortunately few and far between (Acemoglu,Johnson, and Robinson 2001; Leith2005; Samatar 1999; Sarraf and Jiwanji 2001). In many ways, itis. In contrast to many resource-dependent countries, Botswana hasavoided civil war, held regular elections, and produced some of thefastest sustained economic growth in the world. Yet, on February 18,2005, President Festus Mogae declared the country's most famouspolitical scientist, Kenneth Good, a Prohibited Immigrant and gavehim 48 hours to leave the country. On May 31, 2005, after losing alegal appeal against this order, Good was held in a police cell fortwo hours, given 30 minutes to pack, and put on a flight toJohannesburg, South Africa (see timeline below). This articleexplores the background to Good's deportation and addresses some ofthe fundamental questions it raises about academic freedom.