Democracy

Democracy in Africa: digital voting technology and social media can be a force for good – and bad

Electoral agents test a voting machine ahead of the DRC’s 2023 elections. Patrick Meinhardt/AFP via Getty Images) By Maxwell Maseko, University of the Witwatersrand It’s a bumper year for elections on the continent: by the end of 2024, 20 countries ought to have gone to the polls to vote in national elections. A handful of others are also scheduled to conduct local-level elections. As is the case elsewhere […]

May 29, 2024 21

South Africa

Mayibuye! The 100-year-old slogan that’s stirred up divisions in South Africa’s elections

By Corinne Sandwith, University of Pretoria Political parties the world over use slogans, icons, colours, names and flags to establish their political and historical credentials. What happens when two political parties lay claim to the same history and the same symbolic capital? In South Africa, a conflict of this kind is being played out between the governing African National Congress (ANC) party led by […]

May 28, 2024 27

Africa

Belief in democracy is on the decline in Africa. Traditional institutions can help restore its importance

By Vladimir Chlouba, University of Richmond Democracy in Africa has not had a good year. Military juntas from Mali to Niger appear to have cemented their grip on power. Sudan’s democratic dreams were dashed when the country’s two most powerful strongmen opted for war. And there’s now evidence that ordinary Africans may be losing faith in democracy as the best form of government. Afrobarometer, an organisation […]

May 17, 2024 10

South Africa

South Africa’s public service is dysfunctional – the 5 main reasons why

By Marcel Nagar, University of Johannesburg A public policy works well if it’s a good policy and if it’s carried out well. Politicians make policy and specialist bureaucrats in the public service carry it out. These appointed officials are supposed to follow a strict professional and ethical code of conduct. Over the past 30 years, South Africa has not had this kind of public service. Public […]

May 17, 2024 16

Namibia

Electoral Commission of Namibia announces voter registration dates

Namibia is poised for a pivotal democratic moment as it prepares for presidential and National Assembly elections slated for November 27, 2024. Voter registration is set to take place between June 3 and August 1, with all eligible Namibians expected to register afresh to participate in the upcoming elections. The nomination of independent candidates is expected to take place on October 14, while the nomination court for political parties is […]

May 6, 2024 94

Africa

Opposition accuses Togo government of extending President’s rule

Tensions have risen in Togo as parliamentary and regional elections are underway amid controversy over a new constitution extending President Faure Gnassingbé's term. The BBC reports that opposition parties have accused the government of using the reform to extend Gnassingbé's family's 57-year rule, allowing him to potentially stay in power until 2031.

April 29, 2024 16

World

India’s election kicks off Friday with nearly 1 billion voters

It's the final countdown to the start of the world's largest election. Nearly 1 billion people are eligible to vote. Polling will be conducted in seven phases with a winner declared only on June 4th. A total of 970 million people are eligible to vote in the election – more than the populations of the US, European Union and Russia combined. There will be more than a million polling stations […]

April 18, 2024 22

Lifestyle

In the age of cancel culture, shaming can be healthy for online communities – a political scientist explains when and how

Public shaming can help uphold online community norms. bo feng/iStock via Getty Images By Jennifer Forestal, Loyola University Chicago “Cancel culture” has a bad reputation. There is growing anxiety over this practice of publicly shaming people online for violating social norms ranging from inappropriate jokes to controversial business practices. Online shaming can be a wildly disproportionate response that violates the privacy of the shamed while offering them no […]

April 17, 2024 17

Africa

Tanzanians go to the polls in 2025: President Samia has changed the landscape, but Magufuli’s legacy persists

By Nicodemus Minde, United States International University It’s been three years since the death of Tanzania’s president John Magufuli and the rise to power of current president Samia Suluhu Hassan. Magufuli was Tanzania’s fifth president. He came to power in 2015 and was re-elected in 2020 in a poll that was marred by controversy. Magufuli brought lasting changes to Tanzania’s political landscape during his six-year tenure. His […]

April 16, 2024 10