Dreams for Lesotho: Independence, Foreign Assistance, and Development

by John Aerni-Flessner

In Dreams for Independence, Foreign Assistance, and Development , John Aerni-Flessner studies the post-independence emergence of Lesotho as an example of the uneven ways in which people experienced development at the end of colonialism in Africa. The book posits that development became the language through which Basotho (the people of Lesotho) conceived of the dream of independence, both before and after the 1966 transfer of power. While many studies of development have focused on the perspectives of funding governments and agencies, Aerni-Flessner approaches development as an African-driven process in Lesotho. The book examines why both political leaders and ordinary people put their faith in development, even when projects regularly failed to alleviate poverty. He argues that the potential promise of development helped make independence real for Africans. The book utilizes government archives in four countries, but also relies heavily on newspapers, oral histories, and the archives of multilateral organizations like the World Bank. It will interest scholars of decolonization, development, empire, and African and South African history.

306 pages, Hardcover

Published May 30, 2018

Reviews

[Drew Whitley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a good read as a capstone to my experience these last two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho. It did a good job contextualizing the history and politics of development in this country. This added context has deepened my understanding of the relationship that my village has with development projects and foreign aid. It is troubling to realize that many of the challenges still hindering development now were present 70 years ago. It is troubling how little progress has been made to improve the lives of people in rural communities, given the volume of aid this country has received. There must be a better way forward for Lesotho.

4 stars because the book felt overly dense and detailed for its relatively limited scope (politics of development in Lesotho in relation to conceptions of independence, 1950s-1970s). I appreciated the depth of the research and the volume of examples, but I think the thesis could’ve have been successfully argued in half the length.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did a really good job outlining the importance of development projects and foreign aid around the time of Lesotho's independence. The first half of the book threw shade at the colonial government for underestimating the Basotho people and the potential for Lesotho to be more than just a labor reserve. I learned more from the later half that outlined the political party infighting that shaped the years around independence and the centrality of development. His combination of archival sources and interviews melded well.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent interplay between broader historical and political movements and individual stories. Very readable.

[Palash Sanyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two months ago, I did not have any idea that a country called Lesotho exists. This was deep learning for me, and I was able to draw a contrast between Bangladesh and Lesotho. Why things worked and why they did not? Where blames for the project went and how people kept on dreaming even after 50 years.
I took many notes from the book and hopefully, will write an analysis in a year, but now, I plan to read more about Lesotho.