This paper, drawing on historical data, looks at how African societies in general and Botswana in particular, have prepared their youths for participation in the political process. It argues that their involvement in politics is rooted in the traditional culture that limits the youth's participation in public affairs. This culture is reproduced by the main socializing agents in society such as family, school, political parties and the media.

Since the 1960s, Africa has been a witness to three major political transformations. First was the process of decolonization which brought independence and nationhood to much of the continent. This brought with it the new constitutions that were modelled after those of the colonizing power. In case of British colonies, it became the Westminister model which were democratic and provided regular, free and fair elections. Second was the one-party state system that reversed the democratic gains of the immediate post-colonial period. Last was the re-democratization process that ushered in a new period of political pluralism and optimism. Southern Africa has been no exception to these. Most of the subcontinents experienced both decolonization and one-party system and more recently re-democratization. All the three processes have changed the political values, beliefs and practices or more generally, the political culture. The question that often arises is whether these societies have adequately prepared their citizenry in general and the young in particular for their roles in the evolving political dispensation. Is the citizenry, especially its young, acquiring the appropriate political culture?

A political culture in general and a democratic one in particular, as is true of all norms, values, beliefs and attitudes held by a society, are a product of a complex process of socialization. The human infant is born as a 'political tabula rasa' and acquires the necessary political values, beliefs and attitudes through political socialization. The young are thus not born with their society's political norms, values, beliefs and mannerisms. Somewhere between the years of early childhood and late adolescence, the youth are expected to learn the skills and values which prepare them for adulthood. Key in this are social institutions such as family, school, media and political parties.

International Relations Journal, Democracy, Political Process, Political Transformations, Westminister Model, Political Culture, Political Socialization, Political Parties, Democratic Culture, Botswana Democratic Party, Sociocultural Phenomenon, European Advisory Council, Political Marginalization, Multiparty Electoral System, Botswana Congress Party, Democracy Research Project, Commercial Press.