In a time of deep political and social changes in Central and Eastern Europe, which led to democracy and market economy, also Southern Africa is touched by this development. One country in this region shows no attempts for political or economic reforms: Malawi. The country, according to the ideological background, is named as an example tor a successful development, while others consider just an African despoty. Two perspectives of the Malawian way can be find. First: The national promotion of the agricultural sector is the realisation of a basic-needs-policy. Second: The autocracy of President Banda is the reason for poverty and underdevelopment. To answer the key question of Cui-bono: I analyse the agricultural sector, the ongoing labour migration, the political climate in the country and Malawis special part in Southern Africa, with its collaboration with the RSA and parallel integration in the SADCC.
