African Democracy Essay Award (South Africa)

Award Information

• Final submissions are followed by a rigorous assessment by CREDO’s panel of judges, after which three winning essays are chosen. Each of the three winners receives a honorarium (R5 000, R3 000 or R2 000 respectively) for the publication of their essay on a partnering platform, as well as an invaluable addition to their CV.

Essay Topic

• All submitted essays must be written on the topic provided below.
• 2024 has been dubbed a super election year as approximately 2 billion voters in 46 countries head to the polls to participate in the electoral process. The state of democracy across the globe is being revealed with the changing influence of parties, political institutions, legitimacy, ideology, rule of law among others. Of the 46 countries holding general elections in 2024, 19 are African nations. Select a case study of one African country that has held general or presidential elections in 2024. Evaluate what the election has revealed about the state of democracy in that nation and explain the further implications of the electoral outcome.
• Aim to write objectively and read widely in order to sufficiently make your argument. It is advisable to use an approach that fits somewhat with your academic background (i.e. history, law) however this is not mandatory.

Eligibility Criteria 

• The African Democracy Essay Award is open to undergraduate students studying at any South African university, including foreign nationals. Participation is the ideal opportunity for those studying in the humanities, the social sciences (including economics), or law.
• All essays submitted to the competition must meet certain requirements:
  • All essays should be written in English.
  • Each essay must address the topic provided.
  • A written length of between 1,500 – 2,000 words is required, excluding table of contents, and references.
  • Table of contents, reference list, and page numbers should be included.
  • A cover page must not be included. Fill your details in this form during your final submission. These details should include the essay title, student’s name, email address, phone number, university they attend, year of study, and field of study.
  • The various sections of the essay should be separated using numbered headings.
  • These headings would then make up your table of contents.
  • Essays should be formatted in 12-point font, Times New Roman, with justified text and 1.5 line spacing.
  • Essays should be properly referenced according to the Harvard Referencing Style.
  • The use of ChatGPT or similar tools is not permitted.

For more information, visit Stellenbosch University.