Against the Tide by Steven Friedman

What is left of democracy in America may not survive if, as is seeming more likely, Donald Trump is elected this year. Democracy is also under pressure in Europe as the far right makes gains. If the West ditches democracy , will it also die outside the West? Probably not. To the contrary - the decline of democracy in the West could even strengthen it in this country and in others outside the West.

That is the view of my weekly Against the Tide column sent to subscribers this morning. To subscribe, visit the Against the Tide website. 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.