Politics is Dead: Embrace Technocratic Governance

Posted by Roger Dickinson on 29 May 2024, 09:05 SAST

It is now a week after South Africa voted in its general election. The elections revealed many things, including that the only constant is change.

Apart from every thing else, I had the honour of voting next to my son, who at 19 years old, voted for the first time.

But now that we have voted,maybe it is time for a rethink!

On the whole thing!

How we choose our leaders.

How we elect or select them.

What kind of government we want to have.

In an age where political disillusionment runs high, maybe we should seriously consider a shift from traditional political structures to technocratic governance.

In many ways it is clear that "politics is dead"!

Every day we are confronted with politics and politicians that reveal  inefficiencies, corruption, and self-serving Narcissists intent only on prolonging their time in power. 

As South Africa, along with many other countries, grapples with these issues, the idea of replacing politician-led governance with technocratic leadership offers a promising and more hopeful alternative.

How Technocratic Governance could/should work.

Technocratic governance emphasizes the appointment of experts and professionals to leadership positions based on their technical knowledge and competence rather than political affiliation or populist appeal. This model argues for decision-making driven by data, evidence, and specialized expertise to solve complex socio-economic issues more effectively.

This could mean that senior government officials such as Portfolio Minsters or at the very least Director Generals,be appointed because of quaifications rather than be political appointees. 

Imagine that. Having somone heading up critical portfolios such as Health, Education, Infrastructure and Economic policy - who was steeped in the complexities of the issue and had a track record of tackling them!

Why Traditional Politics is Dead!

Corruption and Scandals:

Political corruption remains a pervasive issue worldwide, eroding public trust. In South Africa, scandals like the state capture under Jacob Zuma's presidency have highlighted the severe impacts of corrupt leadership on governance and public welfare.

Inefficiency and Bureaucracy:

Traditional political systems often suffer from inefficiencies and bureaucratic red tape, delaying essential services and development projects. This inefficiency frustrates citizens and stifles economic growth.

Populism Over Practicality:

Politicians frequently prioritize populist measures to win votes rather than implementing practical, long-term solutions. This short-sightedness can hinder sustainable development and effective governance.

The negative results of these can be seen in most countries across the world.

Examples of Technocratic Governance (or lack thereof)

The big problem howver is the lack of real examples. Both Singapore and Rwanda are given as examples of having technocratic governments. Under Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore transformed from a developing country into a global economic powerhouse 

Similar Rwanda,under Paul Kagame, is held up as an example of a place where 'things work!"

Of course the glaring problem with both those examples are that they are and were dictatorships. 

This should never be the trade off! Having things work while restricting or negating human rights!

Sure we can have both effecient governance while respecting people's right to be human!

And surely we can led go of the current elections charade we put up with every 4 or 5 years of politicians promising things we know thay can't and have no real intention of delivering.

The journey towards some for our Technocratic governance may be unclear and idealistic - but maybe the idea could be given a chance to grow!

#SELAH