Welcome to the Centre for the Study of Democracy 

The Centre for the Study of Democracy, is a joint initiative of the University of Johannesburg and Rhodes University

 

 

 

The struggle for democracy in South Africa inspired democrats around the world. But, while it is fifteen years since a democratic system was achieved here, there was, until last year, not a single institute dedicated to the study of democracy in South Africa. The Centre for the Study of Democracy, a joint initiative of the University of Johannesburg and Rhodes University, fills this gap.

The Centre is dedicated to an attempt to understand democracy and the specific forms it takes within South Africa and on the African continent. To this end, it has developed a substantial research programme which will be implemented if and when funding is available. The key component is a programme of research into relations between citizens and the state. Specific areas of focus are:

• an attempt to understand opportunities for and obstacles to citizen participation in democratic governance,

• the role of civil society organisations as vehicles for citizen voice.

• Ways in which citizens who do not participate in civil society organisations make their voice heard in South Africa and other African democracies, and

• the role of provincial and local government in the exercise of citizen voice.

Other intended focus of centre research should resources become available are:

• Urban democracy

• Religion and democracy and

• Democracy’s international dimension.

A key concern is a desire to build academic partnerships with colleagues and institutions elsewhere in Africa.


Core Principles

The Centre is guided by a commitment to intellectual independence, academic and intellectual rigour, and willingness to engage with the widest possible spectrum of ideas and experiences. These are not merely statements of high-sounding principle. They denote a particular approach to social research and to participation in intellectual life which can enable the Centre to fill a unique niche

• Most research institutes and centres in South Africa are associated with a particular party, interest group or perspective. This is entirely appropriate in a democracy and does not necessarily detract from their contribution. But this does mean that there are few institutes or centres clearly committed to intellectual independence. Our Centre is  committed to this independence as one of its guiding principles. We are fully aware that none of us is neutral and that we all hold values and perspectives which inform our work. But we believe – and our experience has shown – that the independence of an institution can be maintained by making vigorous intellectual diversity one of its operating principles. We are thus committed not only to respecting but also to encouraging debate and difference of opinion within the Centre. We believe that this commitment to enhancing our understanding through the clash of ideas and to allowing the institution to follow an  argument wherever it leads enables us to play a unique role in adding to knowledge on democracy in South Africa.

• Much social research in South Africa is devoted to producing immediately usable information or ideas for government, parties or private organisations: pressures to generate revenue and to demonstrate relevance ensure that a high premium is placed on immediate answers to current questions. Again, there is an important place in the society for quickly produced and immediately relevant research. However, we believe that if this is allowed to become the only type which is produced, the society will suffer: ironically, too great a stress on the ‘practical’ can become highly impractical because it blinds society to longer-term trends and deeper processes which are crucial to its future. It also ensures that problems do not receive the considered study often required to understand them. Exclusive concern for the short-term  can often divert attention from emerging issues of concern which might be missed by a purely short-term approach. Much of the most usable social research generated in South Africa over the last decade has been that which was not immediately focussed on current needs. But there is not nearly enough of it. The Centre seeks, therefore, to pursue projects which provide for considered research on issues and trends which will shape the future not only for months but for years and perhaps decades. It must be stressed that we are concerned about relevance - we want to contribute to the search for workable solutions to concrete problems. But we believe that this can only be achieved by encouraging more depth in our research and analysis and focussing on longer-term trends rather than purely on the events of the moment.

• There is still a need to broaden the range of voices, experiences and perspectives which are considered relevant to the South African debate. While the debate is often vigorous, it is often also narrow, both because a substantial section of the population tends to be excluded (especially grassroots citizens who are often beyond the reach of the debate) and because only a fairly narrow slice of international perspectives are included. We are committed to using research, analysis and exchange (in forums, seminars and conferences) to broaden the depth and range of South African and international voices which are heard in the debate about democracy, the way it is experienced, and how it can be strengthened.  We hope also that a fresh approach will enable us to examine issues which are excluded from the mainstream policy agenda but may be crucial to our future. An attempt to look beyond the fashionable will be a key aspect of our approach.   We are also aware that, while the debate is often vigorous, the tendency for social actors to talk mainly to the like-minded and not to those who see and experience democracy very differently suggests a need to open new avenues for exchange between the differing experiences and perspectives. An independent Centre is better able to fill this gap than is an institute committed to a particular position. This is a particularly appropriate role for a Centre committed to the study of democracy, a system which seeks to provide ways for all to be heard in institutions available to all.

• A further key element of a concern to broadening the range of voices heard in public debate on democracy is a commitment to changing the traditional demographic profile of social research in South Africa. Creating new opportunities for historically disadvantaged scholars is thus a core goal of the centre.  We are committed to more than creating opportunities for historically disadvantaged scholars to work at the centre, although this is a key goal. We seek also to confirm that there is no necessary contradiction between this goal and excellence in research and analysis by fostering the development of talent rather than simply hiring talented individuals who have already established themselves.

We believe that these principles enhance our ability to offer new perspectives on the theory and practice of democracy and further ensure that we fill a much-needed gap in South Africa’s evolving attempt to establish a non-racial democracy.