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9781776143023

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This is Steven Friedman at his best, combining an implicit passion for democratic change with considered analysis and judgement... Friedman's book makes a critical and timely contribution to an urgent debate-timely because there may not be much time left. -Stephan Chan, Professor of World Politics, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London

I very much like the message Power in Action is sending out: We cannot and should not do without liberal democracy, or believe the narrative that South Africa's constitution is a sham. What we need is to go far beyond electoral and other institutions and established practices to make democracy really work. - Roger Southall, Emeritus Professor in Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and author of The New Black Middle Class (2016)

Intellectually superb. Friedman exposes the ideological zealotry of mainstream democratic transition theorists, exposing both their philosophical weaknesses and political hypocrisy. In the process he returns democratic Studies to what should be its core purpose: citizen participation and collective action. This magnificent book also provides a better framework to understand the democratic struggles underway in Africa and South Africa. An essential read for all those interested in the future of democracy in Africa and the rest of our politically polarized world.-Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand This is Steven Friedman at his best, combining an implicit passion for democratic change with considered analysis and judgement. By democratic change Friedman means going beyond electoral choice. He means that those who are poor must be able to shape and construct their own lives, structures of living and life choices. This is hardly simple and Friedman argues it is a long project in the making - but that it needs to be made. His argument forms an intellectually considered backdrop to unrest in today's South Africa. It is a quarter century since majority rule elections were meant to transform South Africa - yet everywhere there is poverty, and there are the preludes to a great clash between elite views of what democracy entails, and what the economically disenfranchised will demand. Friedman's book makes a critical and timely contribution to an urgent debate - timely because there may not be much time left.-Stephan Chan, Professor of World Politics, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London

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Steven Friedman is Research Professor attached to the Department of Politics in the Humanities Faculty, University of Johannesburg. He is a political scientist who specialises in the study of democracy; a public commentator; newspaper columnist and a former trade unionist.

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