Where the Contract Begins or Unravels

The text examines the state of democracy in Africa during a period of significant electoral activity, warning that elections can become a 'cloak of legitimacy' for power-seeking leaders. It asserts that the true goal of freedom struggles was universal suffrage, and that violating the right to vote betrays the public trust and undermines the contract between the governing and the governed.

• While many African countries have transitioned from civil war and despotic rule to democratic processes, elections alone do not guarantee a flourishing democracy, as they are sometimes used as a facade for the pursuit of power.
• A tension exists between the claim to rule based on historical liberation struggles and the principle of universal suffrage; the author contends that prioritizing the pursuit of power over suffrage leads to stolen elections and restrictive laws.
• The right to vote is described as the essential cornerstone of public trust, and its disregard by those in power is viewed as a betrayal of the past and a sacrifice of the future.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). Where the Contract Begins or Unravels. https://saiia.org.za/research/editorial-where-the-contract-begins-or-unravels/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Where the Contract Begins or Unravels. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/research/editorial-where-the-contract-begins-or-unravels/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Where the Contract Begins or Unravels |date=28 April 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/editorial-where-the-contract-begins-or-unravels/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008where, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Where the Contract Begins or Unravels}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/editorial-where-the-contract-begins-or-unravels/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }