Public Sphere and Democracy

PUBLIC SPHERE AND DEMOCRACY

1 INTRODUCTION

Democracy as it is understood today found its origin in the sixteenth century revolt against autocratic rule in Europe. This revolt culminated in the French Revolution of 1789, when the bourgeoisie had had enough of being ruled by the king or queen. The hierarchical order of these autocratic societies epitomised by absolutist monarchies of European feudalism, meant that the king or queen held all the power, and the right to rule was divinely ordained by God and they were only answerable to Him. This was followed by the aristocratic class who were lording the lower classes in society. Subordinate classes such as the peasantry and artisans were subjected to this order, and had no political rights whatsoever. The institutions of the state were primarily directed at the maintenance of this hierarchical system and to the suppression of dissent, from wherever it came (McNair, 2007:15)

This autocratic system was overthrown by the emergence of the bourgeoisie as the dominant class in Europe and later America. This new class advocated civil liberties, freedom of though and association so that capitalism could adequately develop. For the bourgeois rejecting autocratic rule, the extension of citizen rights was also a necessary stage in the legitimation of its own political power, as a dominant class a new type of social formation (McNair, 2007: 15). By formally requesting the consent of citizens to govern, political leaders could then demand respect and loyalty even from those that didn’t vote for them. Equally, citizens could also resist the prevailing system if they felt it did not meet their expectations and would express their views at the ballot box by way of elections at said intervals.

The purpose of this discussion is to indicate whether or not South Africa is a democracy as well as to analyse democracy in the country. The essay will also discuss the importance of public sphere in South Africa.

2 POLITICAL...