Testing Democracy

This book was conceptualised as a follow up to Idasa's 2005 book 'Democracy in the Time of Mbeki'. The previous title focused on the first fifteen years of South African democracy looking at the state of individual rights, attempts to secure these rights for citizens as well as how South Africa's young democracy tried to balance the guarantee of individual rights, delivery of basic services and the inherited historical role of various political and economic groups, in ensuring the establishment of democracy. Thus, if the first period post-1994 was about establishing democracy, this second period of democratic advancement is by contrast defined by the need for progressive movement towards enriching and securing a sustainable democracy and ensuring that gains made are not reversed. Having established a broad rubric of rights that protect citizens, capital, the formation of civil society, political opposition, and institutions that allow the state of function effectively South Africa is now facing the challenge of putting these rights and goals into action by delivering their intended benefits. Furthermore, we are mindful of the fact that our young democracy must remain vigilant to avoid the fate of many new democracies across the world that have abandoned democratic transformation and slid into authoritarian forms of governance. "Testing democracy: Which way is South Africa going?" is an assessment by democracy institute Idasa of the state of democracy in South Africa today. It draws on Idasa's democracy index -- a unique barometer of 100 questions that measure progress in socio-economic delivery and the realization of the political rights of citizens. The title also interrogates the relationship between democracy and development and how underdevelopment prevents citizens from participating in democracy.