This book presents a holistic perspective and analysis of democratic practice, processes, and governance in South Africa. It examines the development in the South African governing system and its response to the challenges of the crisis of governance under the influence of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While doing so, the book's central objective is to examine the progress of the South African government in strengthening democracy and political governance. Each of the contributions follows a similar structure and addresses the following thematic issues: (1) Assessment of the implementation of the core APRM-related programs; (2) Identification of areas of excellence and prognosis for further improvement; (3) Identification of the weak areas of each and how to make the future implementation better, (4) Identification areas to improve democracy and political governance.
A self-assessment strategy initiated by the African Union (AU) in 2002 and adoptedin 2003, the APRM is a voluntary mechanism adopted by countries in the African continent to improve governance in general. As a specialized AU agency, APRM monitors the peer review activities of each African country. It serves as a tool for sharing experiences, reinforcing best practices, identifying deficiencies, and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards, and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development, and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.
This book will be useful for and appeal to scholars and researchers in political science, public administration, and the social sciences in general, as well as policy-makers interested in a better understanding of democratic practice and processes, governance, public policy, and the African Peer Review Mechanism.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Introduction. - Chapter 1. Democracy and Political Governance in South Africa. - Chapter 2. A critique of South Africa s progress towards accountable and efficient public office holders. - Chapter 3. Evaluating the Commitment of South Africa to the Principles of Separation of Powers. - Chapter 4. A rural perspective on the African Peer Review Mechanism: views on socio-economic development and public service delivery in rural South Africa. - Chapter 5. South Africa s Democracy, Peace and Stability:
The Struggle Continues
. - Chapter 6. South Africa s political commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. - Chapter 7. Evaluating the rights of children and young people in Africa: The policies and practices in South Africa. - Chapter 8. Promotion and protection of the Rights of Citizens in South Africa: A Review. - Chapter 9. The voice of the voiceless: The state of Civil and Political Rights in South Africa. - Chapter 10. An assessment of Government Commitment to the Promotion and Protection of women s rights in South Africa. - Chapter 11. Deepening Leadership Accountability in South Africa.
