Steven Friedman

Steven Friedman is a Professor of Political Studies at the University of Johannesburg, with a distinguished career focused on democratic theory and post-apartheid governance. As director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at both the University of Johannesburg and Rhodes University, his work interrogates the interplay between democracy, social inequality, and economic development in South Africa.

His research traces back to the pre-1994 democratic transition, including firsthand involvement with the Independent Electoral Commission during the tense elections. Recent projects analyze how citizen agency can reinforce democratic institutions and reduce inequality. Through comparative lenses, he critiques global responses to crises like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, exposing biases in Western scientific and political discourse.

Key Contributions

• Authored Building Tomorrow Today (trade unions and democracy)
• Co-edited The Long Journey and The Small Miracle (post-apartheid transitions)
• Active public commentator on democratic consolidation and institutional design