Across both South Africa and Kenya, democracy appears to be facing an increasing paradox.

Electoral institutions have become entrenched, constitutional norms have become more firmly anchored in society, and the processes and procedural rudiments involved in conducting elections have improved substantially over the past three decades.

Electoral commissions have become more professional, judicial oversight has expanded, and constitutional and legal protections have become more comprehensive, while political competition and contestation have become increasingly routine.

Yet, paradoxically, public confidence in democratic government has weakened significantly. People are expressing declining trust in political parties, legislatures, and governments, as well as in democracy as a set of practices in society and in democratic governments’ ability and capacity to exercise power and authority to improve material conditions in society.

Paper by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa