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LEHLOGONOLO MOLOKOMME
14M3152
How democracy is realised in Brazil and South Africa though comparison?
1. Introduction
Through comparison one may gain a better understanding of the world,
namely through Comparative Politics. The aim of Comparative Politics is to identify
and describe major similarities and differences in political phenomena (Msomi,
2014a). This essay will discuss the political phenomena known throughout the world
as democracy. Using two countries to compare the same aspects, the essay will give
evidence of how similar and different Brazil and South Africa are. The comparisons
should lead to the conclusion of which of the two countries is more democratic.

2. Defining democracy
Democracy looks different from country to country and this may be because it
is realised differently. If democracy is realised because of difference circumstance or
history, then there needs to be a different definition for democracy. Democracy can be
defined in respect to the source of authority, the governments purpose and the
procedure for electing leaders (Huntington, 1990: 94). There are two main definitions
of democracy that will be discussed and their implications.
The first definition is represented by two authors, Huntington and Schumpeter,
who believe in a minimal or procedural definition of democracy (Huntington, 1990:
97). According to Huntington, a country is only democratic when the leaders of a
government are selected through fair, honest and period elections where most adults
are allowed to vote (Huntington, 1990: 95). Civil and political rights, such as, the
freedom to speak, publish, assemble and organize must be present (Huntington, 1990:
95). Huntington quotes Schumpeter to support his view on democracy. Democracy,
essentially, gives citizens the opportunity of either accepting or rejecting the leaders
who are to rule or govern them (Huntington, 1990).
Huntington argues that political democracy usually means that there is greater
individual freedom; an essential component of political democracy is some measure
of individual liberty (Huntington, 1990: 114). People should care about democracy as
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the world is interdependent, democratic governments tend to be less violent towards
their own citizens and they rarely go to war with each other (Huntington, 1990: 115).
There are some implications that come with this definition. All that matters is
the electoral process, once leaders have been elected then nothing else should be of
concern (Huntington, 1990: 98). This means that the government that the people have
elected may be inefficient, corrupt or are incapable of administrating policies that are
needed by the public; but ultimately the country is still democratic (Huntington, 1990:
98). It also justifies the idea of Western democratic countries as a model or starting
point, this assumes that Western countries are normal while non-Western countries
are abnormal or backward (Said, 1978: 74).
The second definition is represented by Abrahamsen who believes in
substantive democracy and who critiques Huntington. Elections are important but
democracy should not only be concerned with civil and political rights, social and
economic rights should also be given as much attention (Abrahamsen, 2000: 127).
Electoral democracy is limited in terms of its ability to address issues of social justice
in highly unequal societies; such is the case in many African and South American
countries (Abrahamsen, 2000:122). The purpose of democracy should be where the
government improves the lives of people and the leaders that have been chosen should
be held accountable by the people who put them in power (Msomi, 2014b).
Socio economic inequality seems to undermine Huntingtons definition of
democracy. This could be as a result of the less privileged lacking resources and in
turn there is limited political participation. The more privileged have more resources
to influence the government to pass policies that would benefit them (Abrahamsen,
2000: 130). Political equality cannot be gained without some measure of economic
equality (Abrahamsen, 2000: 131). There seems to be an ambiguous relationship
between democracy and capitalism; this could result in political instability and
jeopardise the survival of democracy (Abrahamsen, 2000: 134).
The definition of democracy that seems more suitable is substantive
democracy. It makes people question the possibility that democracies look different in
different countries as a result of circumstances or context that are not the same. A
substantive approach may be able to deal with existing inequalities which are
amplified by capitalism (Abrahamsen, 2000: 133-134).


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3. Similarities and differences through comparison.
Brazil and South Africa are both similar and different. They are the same in
respect to the fact that they come from colonial rule and had the transition from some
form of dictation to democracy. Both have fairly new democracies with Brazil having
had political democracy for nearly thirty years and South Africa celebrating twenty
years of democracy. Even though both countries have political democracy there is still
persistence of inequality, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy that affects majority of
the population of both countries (Murilo de Carvalho, 2000; 16). There is an
appalling level of social inequality found in Brazil and inequality has remained at a
constant for the last twenty years (Murilo de Carvalho, 2000: 6). There seems to be a
relationship between income inequality and low political participation. People have
limited ability to participate in politics due to inequalities in income and wealth.
The Gini coefficient or the Gini Index is the measure of income of inequality.
According to the World Bank, Brazils Gini Index in 1995 was 0.63 which was the
highest in the world (Murilo de Carvalho, 2000: 6). This inequality was made worse
by regional and racial differences which also affected economic equality. White
people had on an average of 4.9 minimum salaries while blacks had 2.4 and pardos
those who are of mixed blood had 2.2 (Murilo de Carvalho, 2000: 6). South Africas
Gini Index around 2012 was approximately 63. According to Bill Rawson (2012) this
was the worst Gini Index in the world. The difference in wealth distribution was
massive, 10% of the population earns more than 50% of the household income in the
country while the poorest 20% accounting for less than 1.5% of the income in South
Africa (Rawson, 2012). With such clear evidence of inequality citizens may feel
discouraged about the effectiveness of the democratic governance and might
withdraw from elections (Jacobs, 2004: 231).
The illiteracy rate in Brazil is still 10.2%, making sure that everyone has
access to quality education to sustain development has not been given priority
(Beghin, 2008: 261). Although there are signs of improvement, the quality of
education is not the best it can be. Racial differences is also an important factor in
educational inequality as education is very poorly distributed (Murilo de Carvalho,
2000: 6). South Africas adult illiteracy level is way behind than that of other
developing countries. The countrys adult literacy rate stands at 89% with the
governments public education spending as in proportion of the total of government
spending amounting to 18% in 2009/10 (Mail and Guardian, 2012). In comparison
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Brazils adult literacy rate stands at 90% but only spend less with 16% of the total
government spending (Mail and Guardian, 2014). Educational inequality seems to
influence political participation as the less advantaged citizens would not take part in
the electoral process as they lack the skills whereas citizens with higher level
education take part in politics (Jacobs, 2004: 237). With that said political parties
focus their resources on those who are more likely to be political active (Jacobs, 2004:
238).
One of the essentials to a democracy is that everyone is equal before the law,
regardless of race, gender or social class this includes officials in government. In
Brazil there is no basic equality before the law, the privileged are above the law and
they are virtually untouchable by the local police (Garton Ash, 2007). In the end the
poor suffer the most as the local police have immunity for anything that they might do
to the poor who happen to be mainly black (Garton Ash, 2007). The South African
well-known Oscar Pistorius case has exposed the true picture of class justice. It has
shown that with financial resources the justice system is capable of producing quality
criminal procedure (Hopkins, 2014). Ordinary South African citizens have to battle a
dysfunctional court system where bail application is denied for no reason or there is
no deep analysis of evidence for them in court (Hopkins, 2014).

4. Where can democracy be strengthened?
The Gini coefficient has dropped by no more than 6% which indicates that
Brazil is doing something right in reducing the level of inequality (Beghin, 2008:
264). With South Africas Gini coefficient so high it can do with improving; this
could be with an increase of job creation, higher level of education and skills training.
The Gini coefficient would drastically if citizens of the lowest income group become
house owners through low cost housing (Rawson, 2012). South Africa also needs to
improve the adult literacy rate in order to be on the same level as Brazil making it
more democratic. Both South Africa and Brazil need drastic improvement in terms of
fair treatment within the justice system; this could be through the increase of funding
for defence services, through juvenile reforms. An important note may be through the
study and elimination of racial and social class disparities (American Bar Association,
2008: 1).


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5. Which country is more democratic?
When comparing the two countries there are similarities that affect the concept and
realisation of democracy. Brazil has a low Gini Index which means its level of inequality
is not as high as that of South Africa which is 63, making South Africa the most unequal.
The same can be said for Brazils adult literacy rate being higher than that of South Africa
and spending less on public education. Brazils realisation of democracy is more in line
with democracy and more importantly with Abrahamsens substantive definition of
democracy. For citizens to be more involved in politics there needs to be some action
taken against the inequalities in the society.

6. Conclusion.
There is evidence in both South Africa and Brazil that democracy does not look the
same due to different circumstances and context, Brazil seems to be more democratic of
the two. Each country has pit falls that it can learn from the other that is more advanced in
the particular area.





WORD COUNT: 1700.
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