Logistical challenges facing the 2023 elections remain huge given the number of political parties, the security environment and the number of contestants at various levels.
After 1994 efforts were made to embed democracy. The focus was on policy and institution-building. What was missing was ensuring all South Africans were on board.
In Uganda, young people’s knowledge of national political institutions, and on how they would claim and advocate for their rights as citizens, was remarkably low.
Young voters are important to the continuity of democracy because voting at a young age leads to continued voting throughout life. This year more than most, they’ll have a hard time getting started.
The idea that a small payment could motivate more people to vote resurfaces regularly, but this ignores evidence that monetary incentives to induce pro-social behaviour can be counterproductive.
South Africa’s universities are detached from society because of a waning public and civic sector that once fueled the anti-apartheid struggle. Here’s what can be done.
Results from the latest report into civics and citizenship education show by the time students hit year ten, the majority of them have little knowledge about Australian civics and democracy.
Only about 40-45 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds turned out to vote in the 2012 election. Civic education can improve youth turnout. But civic education itself remains neglected in US schools.
Ninety-seven percent of high school seniors have studied civics in school. While they can recall facts, they are unable to apply that knowledge to current politics. Why is that?
Chief Research Specialist in Democracy and Citizenship at the Human Science Research Council and a Research Fellow Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State
Assistant Professor, Educational Technology, Chair in Educational Leadership in the Innovative Pedagogical Practices in Digital Contexts - National Bank, Université Laval