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What are the fundamental principles of democratic governance?
There are clearly many different forms of democratic governance. Democratic societies vary a great deal in terms of the institutions and procedures that characterise their specific governance systems. Academic debate around the meaning of democratic governance shows increasing awareness of the multiple ways in which different societies give shape to democracy. As such, the meaning of democracy cannot be derived from dominant Western models: it is a concept that is evolving over time as societies grapple with its implementation and practice.
On the other hand, it does not seem useful to suggest that democratic governance has no identifiable underlying principles. Adopting a position that ‘anything goes’ under democratic governance will not necessarily advance the evolution of the concept, nor its practice in different contexts. What then, if any, could be considered as fundamental principles of democratic governance? In developing a Democracy Index, Robert Mattes and Richard Calland (Idasa 2002) suggest the following principles:
• Consensus on the need for democratic governance: agreeing to ‘the rules of the game’
• Participation in popular self-government
• Popular selection of decision-makers
• Popular control over decision-makers
• Protecting citizens’ equality and their ability to control representatives
• An ability to influence the process of addressing economic and social inequality.
For a more detailed discussion of these principles, see Chapter 1of the Idasa publication:
Paul Graham & Alice Coetzee (Eds) (2002) In the Balance: Debating the State of Democracy in South Africa. Cape Town: Idasa.
Country Work
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Seeds for Growth: Financing smallholder farming in southern Africa
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Idasa responds to Land Bank announcement
19 Aug 2011The Public Expenditure and Smallholder Agriculture Project in African democracy institute, Idasa, has welcomed the Land Bank’s commitment to spend 1 billion rands on emerging farmers in the next two years as a move to unlock the long-term potential growth of agriculture as one of the pillars of South Africa’s economic development. Please read attached [...]
Highlighted Programme
Accountability (ANSA)
The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA)-Africa is a leading African advocate of citizen involvement in demand-side governance initiatives. ANSA-Africa Secretariat is hosted by Idasa.
African Charter on Democracy
The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance was adopted by the African Union in January 2007. Idasa is working with the African Development Forum to promote the Charter which encourages sustainable democracies in Africa, and has recently launched a project to build constituencies of support for the Charter in ...
Economic Governance Programme
Idasa's Economic Governance Programme (EGP)aims to put the politics back into economics – to address the current democratic deficit in the way that decisions are made about economic policy.
Electricity Governance
Idasa leads a consortium of South African civil society organisations and research institutes in the local chapter of the Electricity Governance Initiative (EGI). The consortium aims to improve governance of the electricity sector in South Africa.
Global Transparency
Idasa’s Economic Governance Programme (EGP) is part of the Global Transparency Initiative (GTI) - a network of civil society organisations promoting openness in International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank, the IMF, the European Investment Bank and Regional Development Banks.
Governance and AIDS Programme
Idasa's Governance and AIDS Programme aims to strengthen good governance to counter the effects of HIV/AIDS by instituting evidence-based advocacy, skills building and active citizenship, targeting intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and relevant regional non-state actors.
Leadership and Democracy in Africa
iLEDA - the initiative for Leadership and Democracy - is a democracy training programme for political and citizen leaders from across Africa.
Political Governance Programme
The Political Governance Programme (PGP) aims to build and strengthen democratic institutions and relationships between elected representatives, appointed officials and citizens in order to enhance meaningful engagement between governments and citizens.
Political Information and Monitoring Service
The Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) provides insights into the South African legislative process in order to promote an open and accountable executive and strong, independent parliament.
Private Funding for Political Parties
In South Africa, there is currently no regulation of private funding to political parties. What this means is that donors can give as much as they want, in secret, to the political party of their choice. This lack of regulation of party funding may allow efforts of the wealthy to ...
Right to Know campaign
The proposed Protection of Information Bill, being debated in South African parliament has generated much discussion among the public and the media, as people fear for media freedoms and their right to access information.
Safety and Security Programme
This programme aims to promote citizen safety, largely by researching and promoting crime interventions at local level.
Southern African Migration Programme
The Southern African Migration Project (SAMP) provides information regarding cross-border population migration, and promotes public awareness of the role, status and contribution of foreign immigrants of African origin in South Africa.
Special Projects
In addition to its main programme areas, Idasa also has special projects.
States in Transition
The States in Transition Observatory (SITO) facilitates understanding of challenges faced by African countries experiencing a democratic deficit, by providing analysis of political developments in countries in transition.
USA Office
"Friends of Idasa" is Idasa's US office and builds support in the United States for Idasa and its programmes. As with Idasa's other offices, our US office aims to influence the discussion surrounding democracy and governance in Africa in order to raise awareness of Idasa’s work and help to mobilize ...
Youth Zones
Youth Zones is a project that uses soccer to make a difference in the lives of young people living in vulnerable communities in Southern Africa
