By Sikho Matiwane
South Africa is playing host to the 12th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy from November 20-22, 2024. This year marks 25 years since the first Global Assembly was held in Delhi, India. While the theme suggests that, the forum is about “Revitalising Democracy and building resilience and innovation, with narratives such as fighting for more free, just and inclusive societies;” the experiences of countries in the Global South tell a different reality. The democratic project has little to do with freedom of choice and diversity of ideas but the desire to dominate and manipulate the Global majority into submission under Western ideals and norms.
Democracy, once regarded as universal ideals of good governance, was hijacked by imperialist powers and weaponised by powerful interests to advance selfish neo-colonial domination of countries in the Global South. The admission by the founding president of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) that “a lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA” is an indictment of “Western democracy” and the role of state and non-state operatives advancing imperialism in the guise of democracy.
Democratic norms became synonymous with western interests selectively approved and applied in different parts of the world for selfish gain. Unpopular governments and systems were installed in the Global South to bring them under western influence eroding the legitimacy of democracy itself. For democracy to thrive, the relationship between states must be based on equality, mutual respect and non-interference. Countries should have the freedom and liberty to choose their development paths without interference and reference to other societies. Global values should represent the diversity of values, cultures and still leave room for innovation.
Despite the supposed triumph of democracy after the cold war, decades of western prescribed democratic ideals and models in the Global South have delivered little to celebrate about. They have failed to deliver justice, equality, development and human rights to the world majority. In fact, the supposed model has entrenched political corruption, polarized societies and caused social inequalities and political instability in many countries. In the same vein, countries like China have managed to prioritise economic growth and development paths outside of western liberal democratic principles with much success compared to the majority in the Global South who are trapped in underdevelopment in pursuit of the elusive and contradictory western prescribed democracy.
Developing countries in Africa can learn from the Asian tigers like Singapore who have combined state intervention with capitalist policies that serve the development interests of the country. Resource rich countries like Saudi Arabia have utilized their resources for national development outside of western democratic control. While political freedoms are paramount in any society, it must be a homegrown process borne out of legitimate concerns and needs of a particular society in context.
Therefore, as delegates gather in South Africa to consider the state of democracy, a critical assessment of what democracy entails, including non-western perspectives must be taken into consideration. There is no shortage of knowledge and ideas on how societies in the Global South want to be organised and what issues they prioritise. Non-western concepts of democracy often emphasise indigenous cultural values, economic justice and communal decision-making rather than the competitive and adversarial political processes advanced by western democracies.
Developing countries in the Global South should therefore reclaim their democratic space by prioritizing their autonomy and local contexts in the democratizing process. The process must be homegrown and inclusive and be separated by geopolitical interests. Devolving democratic power to local communities provides a strong foundation for democratic resilience where communal harmony and economic growth remain key priorities. Developing countries can learn from each other’s experiences to drive their own agenda and shed off foreign agenda’s from the democratic process. This can be done through active civic education and a bottom-up approach to establish and maintain democratic institutions.
South Africa should advance and play its role in the democratic movement by empowering grassroots and community groups and integrate them into the political structure by supporting and promoting patriotism and national values to safeguard against foreign manipulation in the name of democracy. Peer learning and exchanges could also advance African democratic processes as some countries have served as beacons of democracy in the African continent without heavy reliance on western influence. These include Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Cape Verde and Namibia. These countries, including South Africa, have shown that Democracy can be built from within, despite challenging contexts and geopolitical pressures.
The 12th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy therefore comes at a critical time in global history, as countries in the Global South have become aware of how global politics affects their livelihoods. The hypocrisy and double standards are glaring. The democratic movement falls short of African and Global South expectations. It calls for a new conversation on what interests are served by the existing actors. As the host of the latest forum, South Africa must speak against the politicisation of the democratic movement and play a leading role in advancing the interest of indigenous people and get rid of actors acting on the whims of imperialism.
* Sikho Matiwane is a seasoned entrepreneur and diplomatic commentator with a specialisation in international relations and geopolitics.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.