Social Closure in Lesotho: Forms and Manifestations

Using the Social Closure Theory by Parkin (1979), the article articulates social closure tendencies in Lesotho. It concentrates on the two main tenets of the theory which are exclusion and usurpation. The article looks at these forms in the realm of education, politics, religion, ethnicity and other social formations such as labour movements in Lesotho. It attempts to show how these forms of social closure manifest themselves in these public spheres of life in Lesotho. It also argues that social closure does not only happen in institutions but even amongst individual group members themselves. In addition, social closure is not treated as a static process but a dynamic process which also has elements of power relations and ideology as well.