The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa ISSN: (Online) 2415-2005, (Print) 1817-4434 Page 1 of 9 Original Research Citizenship education for Lesotho’s context: Towards a stable democracy Author: This article represents a contextual analysis that seeks a lasting solution to Lesotho’s current 1 Rasebate I. Mokotso democratic instability, which has typified its political landscape since independence. This Affiliation: article analyses the literature to argue that the optimised political and institutional reforms 1Department of Religion that have recently raised people’s hopes are not likely to bring about a lasting solution of Studies, University of the democratic stability. They are likely to suffer the same fate as those that came before, which Free State, Bloemfontein, only managed to provide a temporary solution. This article contends that the sustainability South Africa of democracy in Lesotho can ideally be achieved through the cultivation of the ‘spirit of Corresponding author: democracy’, which can be nurtured through citizenship education. The article concludes by Rasebate Mokotso, exploring possibilities for the introduction of citizenship education in Lesotho.
[email protected] Keywords: Citizenship education; democracy; Lesotho; politics; stability. Dates: Received: 10 Feb. 2018 Accepted: 19 Oct. 2018 Published: 13 May 2019 Introduction Ever since Lesotho gained political independence from British colonial rule, followed by the How to cite this article: Mokotso, R.I., 2019, ushering in of democratic dispensation in 1966, the country has never enjoyed stable democratic rule. ‘Citizenship education for It suffered a series of coups and attempted coups, political murders and high-profile assassinations, Lesotho’s context: Towards forcing a continued Southern African Development Community (SADC) intervention.