Against the Tide by Steven Friedman

This year, around 4 billion people will vote in elections around the world - more than half the planet's population. But, while more and more people can vote to choose their leaders, democracy is under threat in many countries from elites who are threatened by the idea that we should all enjoy equal rights. Most citizens seem willing to leave democracy to its enemies. The reason is that the democracy on offer these past 30 years ignored the needs and voices of the people, allowing them only to choose those who decide for them.

That is the view of this week's Against the Tide Column mailed to subscribers this morning. To subscribe, visit the Against the Tide website and use the subscription option. To request a free or reduced subscription, contact info@againstthetide.co.za

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.