Asian and South African Liberals Forge Closer Ties

Asia and Africa are two continents which appear to reflect each other’s issues and problems.  From the role of money in politics to the violation of the principle of checks and balances to expand executive power, these regions in the so-called “Global South” seem to be more connected than what people usually think.

For this reason, and in the spirit of “South-South Cooperation”, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) organized a high-level executive mission to South Africa last 29 September to 5 October 2018.  The CALD delegation was led no less than by CALD Chairperson Abhisit Vejjajiva and CALD Secretary General Kiat Sittheeamorn, who both recognized the mutual benefis of learning from the two regions’ best practices and experiences.

The Asian delegation, composed of representatives from member-parties in Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Hong Kong, was particularly interested to learn from the journey of the Democratic Alliance (DA), on how it has risen from having only 1.6% popular support to being South Africa’s main opposition party.

The process that DA underwent, it appears, was a difficult but not impossible one. Portrayed by the government as the party that “wants to bring apartheid back”, the DA countered the divisive politics of race by professionalizing the organization and making good governance the core of the party.

The DA invested on setting up its research infrastructure and on organizational/people development so it can deliver its message effectively. “The party has a strong messaging component based on message discipline, emotional connection and micro-targeting”, said DA Chief Strategist and Campaigns Director Jonathan Moakes.  “We also believe in the principle of repetition and delivering the message over and over again to a target audience.”

Associating the DA with good governance is another key strategy.  Hence, when the party won Western Cape, the objective was to make the province “a springboard for what the DA can do.”  The party also emphasized the role that it plays as political opposition in ensuring government accountability.  Paraphrasing Nelson Mandela, DA Chairperson of the Federal Executive James Selfe said: “The opposition should not be despised because it is the mirror where we see ourselves.”

Reflecting on the outcome of the mission, CALD Chairperson Abhisit Vejjajiva observed: “The CALD delegation learned a lot. We have seen how the party values professionalism and innovation in its daily operations. We are elated to learn about the robocalls, nationwide polling, door-to-door campaigning and the science that the party places in data and information. Indeed, we are not surprised why the party has gone from strength to strength.”

The Asian and South African concluded the mission convinced that “the liberal project remains as relevant in our countries today as ever before”, as John Steenhuisen, DA Chief Whip in the Parliament, eloquently pointed out.  He added:   “It is only the liberal democratic solutions, policies and approaches that offer a future of hope and prosperity and a ladder of opportunity for our citizens.”