Against the Tide by Steven Friedman

Protests against the Israeli government look at first glance like a people's movement to defend democracy. In reality, they are about the right of some people who are dominating Palestinians to live a 'Western' lifestyle. The protestors are not alone in their belief that being 'Western' is also being democrat.  Most of this country's political debate assumes this too. The people who decide what is best for us in this country are often more eager to make us more 'Western' than to make us more democratic.  

This is the view of my weekly Against the Tide column which was sent to subscribers this morning. To subscribe, please visit the Against the Tide website. If you can't afford a subscription, please contact us at Info@againstthetide.co.za to discuss a reduced fee or a free subscription.

Steven Friedman is a public commentator and an academic, currently employed as a Research Professor at the University of Johannesburg. He has been writing on South African politics for the entire democratic period both as a scholar and public commentator. He has published books on South Africa’s transition to democracy, the role of the trade union movement, and current South African politics. He has also written columns and articles for several South African newspapers. His writing seeks to use academic research to shed light on current politics but to ensure that this is conveyed in a way easily understood by people who have no academic training.