This article considers Lesotho’s political history and culture, a political history characterised by
rebellious chiefs who had rejected Christianity and who were heavily armed and fought numerous wars
against their black and white neighbours. Its argument is that the state’s dysfunctionality in small
Lesotho is a result of a political culture and history of armed resistance, producing rebellious political
elites who feuded between themselves, against the colonial establishment and against the postcolonial
government. It was also a political culture that rejected Christianity, accepted old leaders to die in office
and encouraged factionalism. The political parties that emerged from such a political culture were
traditionally oriented, radical, dominated by old leaders and were factionalised. Such a society was not
easily open to renewal through fresh leaders and borrowed ideas. The article suggests that Lesotho
need to come to terms with its political history and to come up with a cultural re-orientation away from
traditionalism, rebellion and factionalism.
Key words: Lesotho, Christianity, cultural re-orientation, traditionalism.

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