Democracy Works - We Just Need Better Leaders | Lindiwe Mazibuko | TED

South Africa transitioned to democracy in the 1990s with a visionary constitution, but the promises of that constitution are largely unfulfilled to this day. Public leader Lindiwe Mazibuko explores how poor leadership failed to deliver a better life for the country's citizens - and shares her mission to cultivate a new generation of ethical leaders who can revitalize democracy in South Africa and beyond.
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[@A_listener]

Democracy is not about leaders. It is about the people. Democracy works when people are well educated and have integrity. In contrast, dictators have argued that dictatorship works when having a good leader. Why Americans pick up old and tired dictatorship cliche and repackaged it as a new idea?

[@TheeJosephSantos]

Democracy is only about select people - the majority. That's why democracy turns people against each other.

[@Panasonicy0uth]

Just like socialism is an intermediary state to full-blown communism, capitalist democracy is just an intermediary state to full-blown fascism.

[@aeonokwap]

Because they are good at packaging and marketing, excellent at customer education and narratives

[@flok3n]

Both is true. Democracy works if it has great leaders. And people who are stupid and uneducated. Democracy works if is has stupid leaders but the people have integrity and are well educated. I think the both thinks work together, you can hardly have the one without the other one.

[@901Wes]

Haven’t watched yet, but I too think democracy can work well… if our leaders are beholden to the people and not corporations or outside influence.

[@b.6603]

And it is the tendency of capitalism to create monopolies, billionaires and to have them control governments Democracy can only exist if the means of production are democratically owned.

[@xMckingwill]

Thats why we can vote in different leaders ? The people need to be accoubtable for the leaders THEY pick.

[@erickmiranda3600]

Or just have compassionate, transparent emotionally intelligent humans in vital roles. Like how about dont hire incompetence in the first place? Idk must be a generational thing but gen z isnt in all that corrupt bs thats forsure

[@901Wes]

@@xMckingwill Yes, but media also plays a part. Unfortunately the news media has too often played lackey to whatever interest they serve. Throw in money in politics and the candidate with more money wins something like 90% of the time .

[@xMckingwill]

@@901Wes thats an excuse that would hold weight 20 - 30 years ago but with the internet. There is no reason for us not to do our research. In addition that doesnt explain why we KEEP voting the SAME people OVER AND OVER. Lets say someone gets voted in and performs poorly or doesnt not behave on behalf of the voters WHY DO WE VOTE THEN BACK IN!?

[@PascalBachmann]

Mazibuko's focus on ethical leadership is a vital step towards a brighter future.

[@madhatter113]

The problem is that who should lead are usually not interested in leading. Most people who pursuit a political career are psychopath

[@bryanfox6726]

In the present system psychopathy is a prerequisite for candidacy.

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

Ask yourself, does choosing the king and their lords make a democracy?

[@rian0xFFF]

Even in they were interested, they couldn't

[@CyrilNaicker]

Thank you Lindi for your voice and your work. It’s so needed, especially for a time such as this!

[@M1ke22]

🙄No my dear. As you know, in South Africa the overwhelming majority continue to vote for leaders that are hopelessly corrupt and downright incompetent. 'Better leaders' wont simply appear. In a democracy the voter is the ultimate decision maker of their own destiny. We get exactly what we vote for. 👍

[@bovasi]

Well, yes, but ”better leaders won’t appear”, you don’t know that. And you don’t know what future generations in South Africa will do, and what experiences, insights and knowledges might influence them to vote for ”better” more democratic leaders. I’m just saying that there are possibilites of more rapid social changes in a more democratic direction that are hard to foresee.

[@b.6603]

You are forgetting that public opinion is forged and not a free decision of the people There are mechanisms in place to keep the people voting against their interests

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

If you only get to vote for who makes the decisions for you, are you really getting to vote on the decisions themselves? Representative democracy is just an ugly facade of democracy, the bare minimum of choice is getting to choose who rules over you, but stop pretending that is a direct democracy.

[@WA_S_S_AW]

You do realize that when people are forced to vote a particular way that is not democracy. Democracy is not defined by voting. Look at Russia, they have elections as well. There is only one name on the ballots.

[@M1ke22]

@@WA_S_S_AW Sadly not the case in SA. We have 20+ parties on the ballot sheet and plenty to choose from. Elections are free and fair too. The country is imploding and sadly idiots still vote the same regardless.

[@mr.tskywalker8321]

Monarchy works - We Just need better kings | Me myself and I | TED

[@miikul]

you have confused democracy with a republic)

[@TheeJosephSantos]

Hahahaha

[@mr.tskywalker8321]

Autocracies work, you JUST need better autocrats

[@The6thelement9413]

In your country, not the US

[@user-bs5vt7dl8z]

Capitalism Works - We Just Need Better Billionaires

[@nokoolaid]

The problem with any political and economic system is who pursues leadership in those systems. Those people predominantly fall into the dark triad spectrum. This causes all sorts of problems, inequity and inequality being a couple of them. Democracy isn't immune to this. We need to choose different people for leadership in politics and companies. People that don't fall into the dark triad spectrum.

[@FaizZhofir]

What is the difference between leadership and dictatorship?

[@nokoolaid]

@@FaizZhofir It's one method of leadership, usually by force, although many start out as democratic processes and it goes downhill from there, at least in terms of politics. it's easy to recognize people on the dark triad spectrum when they are evil or authoritarian. Stalin the psychopath. Sometimes it's hard to see the psychopaths in democratic processes, like JFK, FDR, TR and Clinton.

[@FaizZhofir]

@@nokoolaid thanks ✌️

[@dameanvil]

01:11 🗳 South Africa's transition to democracy allowed millions of black South Africans, previously denied citizenship, to vote for the first time in a historic election. 02:58 📜 South Africa's unique constitution not only declares freedoms but also guarantees rights to healthcare, education, housing, and more, obligating the government to realize these rights. 04:49 🤝 Despite constitutional guarantees, poor leadership in South Africa has hindered citizens' access to these rights, leading to disillusionment with democracy among the country's most vulnerable. 06:25 🔍 Personal experience in politics drove the realization that the problem lies more with the quality of leaders than with the democratic system itself. 08:10 🌟 Initiatives like Future Elect aim to nurture capable, ethical, and diverse leaders in South Africa and across the continent to promote better governance and representation. 10:40 📚 Investing in active citizenship through accessible learning tools empowers the younger generation to engage between elections, demand accountability, and actively participate in governance. 11:23 🌍 Leaders of integrity, regardless of political affiliation, can collaborate to craft laws and systems that reflect and reinforce society's highest aspirations within a democratic framework.

[@alimurtaza98045]

is this summary?

[@rethabilethamae2240]

Democracy works, but how much Democracy should be given? I'm of the opinion that if Democracy is over-exercised then corruption is inevitable.

[@Feegles]

Please TED viewers, explain me what are the democracy guidelines, cause the meer existence of democracy is to be able to change laws and bills, whenever you please or someone pays enough. If a country constitution can be changed annually, just because it is democratic, and for some reason voters have elected a person with self interest, how is that gonna help ? Better leaders ? But, but, one of the democracy base demands is to have a political opposition or even a pletoria of it (look Europe). Democracy (how the west see it) is under risk, if a country doesn't allow 100ish foreign foundations, NPOs, companies on it soil. Which are not working for domestic purposes and that's why they came anyway. People can't save you, rules and regulations can. China wrote a plan for the next 50 years and is doing just fine. It doesn't matter if the leader is changed or whatever, the next one takes where the previous one left and the plan continue. Democracy is not a ruling system. Freedom doesn't need democracy to justify itself. And for what we saw during 20th and 21th century, democracy inevitably turns into a Feodalism, despotic capitalism and many other forms of torturing the freedom of people systems.

[@OneaeBlack]

If only the public service officials would just, yeah know, do their job that the public tax paid for, and on something useful to the public needs or concerns, If only.

[@federico___]

The iron law of oligarchy says that any democracy will turn into oligarchy! Democracy already lasted for too long, we need to move toward better alternatives. And authoritarian governments are not the only alternative, I just make this clear because any time I oppose to democracy people says I defend dictatorship, No! If I don't like chocolate ice cream it doesn't mean I must like vainilla ice cream, maybe I like strawberry ice cream.

[@erickmiranda3600]

We are a long journey to reaching collective competence and compassion without drawbacks

[@asmosisyup2557]

You can say the same thing about any form of government. If the leaders are acting in the best interests of the people, it works. The problem with all of them is when you let the most wealthy make the rules to benefit themselves, everyone else suffers. You see that in Russia, you see that in the US, you see that in China. The form of government is almost irrelevant compared to the wealthy elite in control of it.

[@turnt0ff]

We need smarter voters/people…ain’t gonna happen.

[@The6thelement9413]

Yes, voters are too lazy to do research in general. In the US, Trump would not have won if we prevented Russian propaganda and the 80 million citizens who think he’s funny would have done their due diligence

[@DonkeyKong992]

If life was fair… Lindi should be the current President of South Africa

[@estebanllano4514]

All we need is to teach the complete lesson. When Democracy was conceived if by any chance the leaders elected liked to take advantage of the institutions the Democratic system is formed by, the people was more than allowed to do whatever it took to thrown the bad leader away in order to preserve the system. The actual system seem not to work because we are actually using half the system.

[@photographicfission7181]

@estebanllano YES! I completely agree! At this point when people ask why I don't vote I say show me someone I can wholeheartedly support. Because a majority of the leaders I see in the political side of America is worth it. How do we have better leaders and icons in KZbin like Mr Beast but not in politics?

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

If you have leaders, do you really have a democracy? Why can’t the people decide for themselves? Why should power be consolidated into the hands of the few?

[@importantname]

The flaw is that the voters get what they deserve. For better leaders, the voters have to work harder at keeping their elected representatives actually doing what they said they would.... And that you should not vote for liars, cheats, frauds, or people you think are funny.

[@alestevez950]

We don’t have democracies - we have republics.

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

A republic is a form of democracy. Read a book. Albeit, I think republics are a sad and hollowed out form of democracy that preserves the power of the ruling class, but it is a broken and corrupted version of democracy.

[@franciscotrindade4949]

Mas que ingenuidade!...😂😂😂 Mais vale rir do que chorar!...

[@user-zx8qq1so7j]

It has to do with honesty and integrity even the most polished system fails when the information is skewed and dishonest you would be agreeing to something that doesn't exist and is a work of fiction used to gain an unfair advantage over those who assume they are being told the truth but in fact, are deciding on something that is the complete opposite of what was propositioned and therefore a myth..

[@DMviewerguy]

my girl didnt even need the ted talk this title on its own was already heat

[@garagepie]

We need you back in SA, come and join ActionSA or Rise Mzansi! Come and join the fight to bring good change to our government!

[@miriamnightingale]

Allways nice to have someone to blame. If you only blame leaders you will never have democracy.

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

Rule by the ignorant selfish mob will never work, it always ends up being conrolled by a shadow elite from behind the scenes.

[@alonbinyamin]

My opinion before watching the video: democracy *barely* work. It's point above failure. We stopped trying to improve and just accepted that this is the best we can do. After watching the video: I didn't get any new insight. Asking for better people to do better is meaningless. Good people can do more with a problematic system. It doesn't mean the system is not problematic.

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

I would argue that it’s representative democracy that barely works. The ruling class hasn’t turned its power over to a direct democracy as of yet, because they don’t want to give up their power to the people.

[@user-bb7zv9ut8q]

Лекции о том что нам нужно чтобы всё было хорошо можно и на десятки часов растягивать. Впрочем демократия это хорошо разве что никто кроме пишущих здесь комментарии не знает что такое демос и кратос, и чем должны заниматься лидеры.

[@user-bs5vt7dl8z]

USA, in an attempt to seize African markets, decided to get rid of a strong regional competitor in South Africa and asked the CIA to release Nelson Mandela, who was already old at that time and had spent 30 years in prison, into which the US CIA had sent him. Just for reference how democracy works.

[@user-ii8iz5df7z]

Lol that is Pudge

[@xMckingwill]

Huh the title is flipping stupid in a democracy we havr bad leaders because the people PICK baf leader. Wtf does she not know how democracy works ?? Rather a democratic republic

[@LeeXtremist]

At the leadership level it wil be difficult to reach those who are already drunk with power but at the grass-roots its far from too late. Gen Z is not as rigid or closed midned to new ways of thinking as some of the baby boomers and planting the right knowledge in tomorrow's budding saplings maybe the very fertilizer we should be grooming in today's populus. You can blame the mechanic if your old democracy vehicle is performing in a manner that shows a lack of meeting service demands but you cannot blame the inventor if the vehicle has to some degree showed it that it can meet your needs and the publics. It sounds to me like building the people is your vehicle of choice, and in that there is a big deal of responsibility that comes with nurturing humane values that will cover the much needed issues that certain political orgs sweep under the carpet (as if power lackes electricity in some instances). The challenges in SA require a lot of holding those in seats of power accountable, in the ideal rendition we could legislate political orgnaisations and enumerate all issues and ensure that in a term government is made to meet specific targets that will speak solely to the peoples needs, so when we have a feedback sessions the goals are clear without people siting and listening to budget speech campaigns and doctrines that aim to thieve their coffers of hope while delivering old and tired power hungry leaders that have loooooong winded explanations about how capital didn't accomplish the goals of their own selfish and outdated dreams. To invest in the future is what I think you aim to accomplish and that is the long game but it makes a lot more sense then aiming to topple those who have grown fat in their efforts to feed without sating. I hope you plant your intents in minds that can learn to look beyond ..."chowing". Thank you Lindi.

[@KrazeDiamond]

The core of "Democracy" is a Government that takes the country in direction according to the will of the people; where policy-making/policy-reforms are all done according to the will of the people. When you have Oligarchic-Capitalism, there is no "Democracy" for as long as the Capitalist Oligarchs can endorse politicians and lobby legislators, and multi-party Electoral System factually makes it worse. Having better leaders do absolutely nothing because the cadidates with the most endorsements will win, votes are literally swayed by manipulation. If you think we have "Democracy", then you're completely clueless. Endorsement and Lobbying are legalized corruption.

[@god.s_night_pot]

不是说民主制度不管谁当选都可以自我纠错吗？

[@pegpopken]

It takes a voter involved citizenship to get better government.

[@Mitjitsu]

Dictatorship works, we just need better leaders.

[@irwinbender718]

We're deeply suffering for a leader for minimum democracy in Bangladesh. We got a dictator lady Sheik Hasina. We totally lost our all right n getting huge torture by no voting system in Bangladesh. 🇧🇩Thanks a lot to display a important topic in this democratic Crisis Management in the world developing countries.

[@XenobiaF]

I wish you success in achieving your goals.

[@maciejkulesza2920]

well, guess who chooses leaders

[@OskarAK907]

But we do not live in a democracy... We live in an oligarchy...

[@cash_burner]

We need to get rid of rich people as leaders

[@mariaantoniettamontella9173]

applausi

[@carsten2751]

What you call democracy I call Idiocracy.

[@paulskiye6930]

Anything works with a better leader😅

[@l01230123]

What a great speech! Multiple (relevant) citations and an overall well reasoned argument for a better functioning democracy. We need more people thinking like her in politics 💯

[@wishpunk9188]

We dont live in a democracy. And changing out the figure heads wont help. Nor will maintaining your party line. You cant drain half of a swamp.

[@bryanfox6726]

Amen! As Bob Dylan & Jimi Hendrix said, "Let us Stop Talking Falsley Now -- the Hour's Getting Late, yeah!!!

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

Welcome to the corporatocracy…

[@bumpsangrimez]

Nope. Better citizens. Less democracy and more actual leadership

[@The6thelement9413]

Well presented and thank you. I do hope both sides worldwide watch this presentation and if they have good reasoning skills, they will reevaluate their political choices. ❤

[@andycordy5190]

Give us an army of women like this❤️❤️❤️ People who can energise their peers to believe in a better way. People who are committed to improve the lives of the poor and under educated. Nobody in British politics is offering this. Both sides of our house of commons filled with professional politicians who only aim is power. Most thinking more about how they can feather their own nest, shin up that greasy pole, how they look on camera rather than what the role of democracy has become and why nobody bothers when a series of Prime ministers are elected not by the people but by a right wing cabal, one of whom tried to overturn the rule of parliament the moment he took office.

[@user-bs5vt7dl8z]

Capitalism Works - We Just Need Better Billionaires

[@meanderinoranges]

Her heart's in the right place, but her plan is flawed. You can't have a lack of corruption without severely limited government. Because South Africa'government is so vast, it's inevitably corrupt.

[@metalpunkthrash2288]

Democracy works - we just need no gods, no masters Ⓐ

[@petertattersall6419]

This makes me laugh... Before I waste 12mins of my life... We need better leaders... Democracy is run on greed... Not what is politically right. Your best off having green peace in power than any of the major 3... At least their goal is to protect the environment, may actually be one for the people rather than milking a non existent debt that we owe but cannot ever repay 👍

[@barcidstudios]

Lmao DemOcRAcy

[@devilevil8075]

What I think is "Fitness works, you just good trainer and mental strength"

[@miriamnightingale]

No, thats not true.

[@Sumatiiii]

STOP THE CAP

[@BruceKarrde]

Except that when your side loses, you go on a tantrum.

[@KrwiomoczBogurodzicy]

No, you’re thinking of technocracy. We need better voters. There was a relatively good candidate for POTUS in 2020-Andrew Yang. Possibly the best candidate for a president ever (anywhere) as of today.

[@leviefrauim1425]

Yang was just another socialist. He was (and remains) a terrible public speaker, couldn't deliver his leftist message effectively. He had no idea how to lead a federal government because his ideas were so naive.

[@watchomotoki2301]

Nigeria is dying

[@Horstveratu]

🤡💩

[@piku5637]

Representative democracy has failed time and time again. But I like Democratic confederalism and anarchism.

[@poppadan4270]

We DON'T live in a DEMOCRACY we live in a constitutional REPUBLIC.

[@YourMom-cu8yt]

A republic is a form of democracy smarty pants, read a book.

[@l01230123]

So it's a gerrymandered democracy. (Based off an antiquated mail voting system)

[@TheeJosephSantos]

​@@YourMom-cu8yt Wrong. Representative democracy is just a feature within a republic. Democracy means the vote rules. We have a constitution here which comes first.

[@Gobbldeegoo1]

@@TheeJosephSantos”A republic, based on the Latin phrase res publica ("public affair"), is a state in which political power rests with the public and their representatives-in contrast to a monarchy.[1][2] Representation in a republic may or may not be freely elected by the general citizenry. In many historical republics, representation has been based on personal status and the role of elections has been limited. This remains true today; among the 159 states that use the word "republic" in their official names as of 2017, and other states formally constituted as republics, are states that narrowly constrain both the right of representation and the process of election.” - stay mad and uninformed if you would like. Looking foolish suits you…

[@Gobbldeegoo1]

@@TheeJosephSantosa republic is a limited form of democracy… rage against the facts all you want.

[@EvO357]

The zoo is looking for her, She escaped & they need to put it in it's cage.

[@lynnrolaf7422]

I am surprised by the stupidity of this comment section. Democracies are supposed to allow all people to vote. And that is the point. We need to vote for better people! We HAVE that ability!!

[@kaanmn]

yeah lynn except transnational corporations hold more power than whoever is elected but thats great