32 Dullah Omar Lane, Durban

Exploring Democracy in South Africa: A Scholar’s Journey with DDP

Amara Galileo - Ph.D. candidate from the University of Delaware Department of Political Science & International Relations in the U.S.

She was in South Africa conducting interviews for her dissertation project. Her aim is to speak with political figures, academics, and individuals working in civil society.

Her research question explores the extent to which democracy is eroding in South Africa and its possible causes, with a focus on the influence of the constitution, political corruption, and political party dynamics. This trip marks her third time in South Africa but her third time conducting research in Durban.

At one event, she stated, “I am here to probe whether democracy is eroding in the country and what factors are contributing to some of these democratic dynamics we see today. I am assessing things like the political party system, the constitution, civil society, and corruption, and my primary source of data is interviews. I interview individuals from various organizations about some of these dynamics.”

Regarding her motivation to connect with the Democracy Development Program (DDP), she explained, “Honestly, DDP is one of the preeminent civil society organizations in KZN that deals specifically with democracy and politics. What I love about the organization is that it is big on civic education. Civic education is vital for a functioning and healthy democracy, and DDP is clearly educating the citizenry through its events and disseminations. They are really engaging with South Africans and working to develop a more civically-minded and politically-educated electorate.”

She continued, “I also like that they cover a wide range of issues that are important to South Africans, such as migration, democracy education, civic leadership, and strengthening political parties. I also appreciate that they create an impact in communities. DDP intentionally engages with youth and women, and they are very hands-on with communities. They also liaise with MPs and politicians directly, which is a strength. I have attended a few informative programs by DDP, and the quality of attendees is really impressive to me. I have met different people from various parts of the country and the continent, from different backgrounds and age groups. There is diversity in that regard. Overall, it has been an honor to connect with DDP, and the work of DDP will surely help with my research.”

This year, Amara conducted her research with DDP and produced a paper on youth participation, further contributing to her comprehensive study on democracy in South Africa.