ANOTHER DEVELOPING DEMOCRACY... SOUTH AFRICA
Younger, More Immature... Facing More Basic Problems for Nations

It's really interesting how basic needs of people, cultural characteristics, economic development, and other factors affect the growth of a new or young democracy. It will be interesting to see how Iraqi develops as a democracy and how its prior political environment effects people's role and perception of their new government. Also how its regional and religious divides will shape the birth of Iraqi's democracy.


Free, but Crying

Tech Central Station
By Richard Tren
April 14, 2004

JOHANNESBURG -- Today South Africa goes to the polls in our third ever democratic election. The outcome is certain -- the African National Congress (ANC) will probably win at least 60% of the vote (perhaps even as much as 2/3rds). Thabo Mbeki will continue as President in his second and final term of office. Ten years after the first election, this has been a quiet and almost boring affair reflected perhaps in the reports of increased voter apathy. Yet this is an important election and, if we're fortunate, South Africa's voters will stop voting according to historic allegiances and will cast their ballot according to what matters to them now.

In so many ways, South Africa is immeasurably better off now than when I left the country shortly after I finished school in 1987. People are not arrested in the middle of the night and detained without trial because of their political beliefs. People are free to live wherever they can afford to live and are not confined to certain areas because of their skin colour. Black South Africans are free to go to the movies and restaurants without the fear of being thrown out. We have a press that is often highly critical of government and is free to express itself without fear of reprisals. We have also have a constitution which holds government to account. And of course every adult South African has the right to vote for the political party of his or her choice. It is because of these fundamental changes that I chose to move back here. (full article)