Men in Politics in Lesotho and Political Masculinity

Political men, that is, men active in politics, are sort of men who always want to be in governmental or state power. Whether they are in or out of that power, strong men among them have always had an enormous impact not only on their followers, but also on the shape their countries have taken. This chapter explores their ways of being political in the context of Lesotho. It explores why and how Lesotho has been thrown into political confusion and instability, crisis after crisis since independence because of their ways of being political. Three factors come into play in all the times of confusion and crisis Lesotho has experienced because of them—their competition over state/governmental power through coalitions, relations with the security agencies along partisan lines, and power struggle within their own political organizations. This is what this chapter is all about.