Democracy @30
Abstract
The Democracy@30 project is a flagship project of the HSRC. The project is designed to draw in all interested researchers in the HSRC as well as outside the Council. The project aims to assess popular perceptions of the state of democracy in the country. As we approach the 30 years??? anniversary of South Africa???s democracy, it is befitting that as a country we reflect on the state of the democracy, and the events that have shaped it over these three decades. It is equally important that we celebrate key milestones that the country has achieved while also highlighting the challenges that remain; particularly those that relate to the triple challenges of inequality, poverty, and unemployment. The achievement of a constitutional democracy in 1994 was a historic moment for the country.
The HSRC, as the statutory council responsible for carrying out policy-oriented research or applied research through the humanities and social sciences lenses, seeks to organise a unique celebratory programme of South Africa???s democracy at 30 years. At the centre of these celebrations will be local communities whose voices and concerns matter the most and therefore need to be brought to the fore. This contribution will explore important questions and unpack ways in which democracy honoured the promise of a better life, particularly for those previously disenfranchisedand discriminated against simply because of the colour of their skin. It will bring together a coordinated series of activities and events focusing on selected (and or emerging) themes as identified by selected communities and experts in the field (via reference groups).
