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

翻译人员: Alvin Lee 校对人员: Laixi Kang

I was 14 years old in 1994

1994 年，我 14 岁，

when my country, South Africa,

我的国家南非

held its historic first democratic elections.

举行了历史性的首次民主选举。

I can vividly remember my mother taking me with her to the voting station,

我清楚地记得， 母亲带我去了投票站，

which was near the clinic where she worked,

投票站就在她工作的诊所附近，

and where she would cast her vote for the very first time

她将在 45 岁时第一次

in a general election at the age of 45 years old.

在大选中投票。

That's two years older than I am today, standing in front of you.

今天站在你们面前的我， 比当年的她小两岁。

By then, my mother was a taxpayer and a home owner,

那时，我的母亲是纳税人和房主，

and she was a mother of four children.

是 4 个孩子的母亲。

She was a university graduate

她大学毕业，

who had a long and storied career behind her

在南非公共卫生服务领域 有着漫长而多彩的职业生涯。

in South Africa's public health service.

She had raised us and educated us

她抚养我们，教育我们，

and imbued in all of us the religious and cultural traditions of our ancestors.

用祖先的宗教和文化传统熏陶我们。

In other words, she was a fully-fledged adult woman of 45 years old.

换句话说，她是一名 45 岁的成熟成年女性。

But she had never been allowed to vote in an election before

但她以前从未被允许在选举中投票，

because she was also Black.

因为她同时也是一名黑人。

Take a moment to think about what that day

花点时间想一想，那一天

and that election must have meant for her

和那次选举，对于她

and for the millions of Black South Africans

对于数百万第一次投票的南非黑人，

who were voting for the very first time.

一定有着深远的意义。

People who were previously not even considered legitimate citizens

以前，这些人在自己出生的国家

in the country of their birth.

甚至不被认为是合法公民。

It took five long years of negotiations

历经 5 年长时间谈判，

for the multiracial, multiparty Convention for a Democratic South Africa,

才诞生了民主南非的 多种族、多党派公约，

and later for the first democratic parliament,

之后的第一届民主议会，

to negotiate, draft and pass

谈判、起草并通过了

one of the world’s most respected and celebrated constitutions.

世界上最受尊重 和最富盛名的宪法之一。

For years, that negotiation process was marred by sabotage, assassinations,

多年来，这一谈判进程因破坏、暗杀、

boycotts and bloodshed.

抵制和流血事件而屡屡遭到破坏。

And yet, despite these many challenges,

然而，尽管面临许多挑战，

it also delivered a functioning electoral process

它也为南非的社会转型

and a visionary blueprint

提供了一个可运作的选举进程

for a transformed society in South Africa.

和富有远见的蓝图。

This blueprint contained not just a bill of rights,

这份蓝图不仅包含人权法案，

but a bill of public goods,

还包括公共物品法案，

a promissory note and a commitment to deliver a demonstrably better life

承诺和保证为全体南非人民

for all of South Africa's people.

提供更好生活。

In the decades since, however,

但是，在此后的几十年中，

that promise has not adequately been kept,

这一承诺并未充分实现，

largely because of the failure of our political leaders

主要原因是 我们政治领导人的失败，

to live up to the promise of the country's hard-won transition.

他们没有实现来之不易的 对于国家转型的承诺。

These failures have led many young people today to express their preference

这些失败导致当今许多年轻人表示，

for an authoritarian path,

更偏爱专制主义道路，

believing that gaining access to their most basic needs

认为满足最基本的需求

is worth sacrificing the right to vote

值得牺牲投票权，

and to participate in democratic governance.

值得牺牲参与民主管理的权利。

But history and research have shown us that democracy is still worth fighting for

但是历史和研究表明， 民主是值得为之奋斗的，

despite the inadequacies of its leaders.

尽管领导人是不称职的。

And so, to get South Africa to a place where democracy can thrive,

因此，为了使南非的民主蓬勃发展，

we need a revolution in political leadership.

我们需要在政治领导方面 进行一场革命。

This has become my life's work.

这成为了我的毕生事业。

South Africa's constitution is widely considered

南非的宪法被广泛认为

to be one of the most unique constitutions around the world.

是世界上最独特的宪法之一。

This is primarily because we have a bill of rights,

主要原因是我们有人权法案，

which both declares our freedoms

它既宣告了我们的自由，

and guarantees our right to access things

又保障了我们的权利，

such as health care, water, education, housing,

让我们可以获得医疗、水、教育、住房、

a protected and sustainable environment,

受保护且可持续发展的环境，

and nutrition and shelter for children.

以及给儿童营养和庇护。

Not many states have codified the right to access specific government services

没有多少国家 将获得特定政府服务的权利

into their supreme law.

编入其最高法律。

Some of these rights are absolute,

其中一些权利是绝对的，

including the rights to basic education,

包括接受基础教育的权利，

while others, such as the right to housing, water, food,

而另一些权利， 例如住房、水、食物、

health care and social security,

医疗和社会保障，

are considered progressively realizable rights.

被视为可逐步实现的权利。

This means that the constitution places an obligation on all governments,

这意味着，宪法 将上述责任交给了政府，

regardless of political affiliation

无论其政治派别，

and regardless of the promises contained in their political manifestos,

无论其政治宣言中做何承诺，

to implement measures that will lead to the full realization of these rights.

都有义务采取措施， 使这些权利得到充分实现。

This is why I say our bill of rights is also a bill of public goods.

这就是为什么我说我们的人权法案 也是一份公共物品法案。

But the South Africa that young people live in today

但是，当今年轻人生活的南非

is also one of the most unequal societies on Earth.

也是世界上最不平等的社会之一。

The South Africa of young people today is one of prolonged energy

当今年轻人的南非是一个长期能源

and water shortages

和水资源短缺的国家，

that render life undignified and intolerable.

这使生活变得 没有尊严和难以容忍。

It is a country mired in institutionalized corruption

这个国家深陷制度化腐败，

上至政府最高级别。

at the very highest levels.

It is a country whose education outcomes are so poor

这个国家的教育成果非常差，

that our fourth-grade learners have the worst reading ability

以至于我们四年级学生的阅读能力

in the world:

是世界上最差的：

81 percent are incapable of reading for meaning.

81% 的学生无法通过阅读达成理解。

Our constitution may guarantee our rights,

我们的宪法 也许保障了我们的权利，

but poor leadership has hindered our ability to access those rights.

但领导不力阻碍了 我们获得这些权利的能力。

And as a result, the country’s most vulnerable citizens

结果，最脆弱的公民们

have lost faith in the promise of South African democracy.

对南非民主的前景失去了信心。

So much so that in a 2021 study by the Pan-African,

以至于在 2021 年，由“非洲晴雨表(Afrobarometer)”

non-partisan research network Afrobarometer,

这一泛非洲非党派研究网络的 一项研究显示，

two-thirds of South Africans said

有三分之二的南非人表示，

that they would be willing to give up elections

如果一个非选举产生的政府，

if a non-elected government could provide them

能为他们提供 保障的安全、住房和工作，

with guaranteed security, housing and jobs.

他们愿意放弃选举。

46 percent of the survey respondents

有 46％ 的受访者表示，

said that they would be very willing to do so.

他们这样做的意愿非常高。

That’s nearly half.

这几乎是一半的人。

And the highest levels of support for this proposal

而最支持这一提案的，

were amongst younger and more educated respondents.

是那些更年轻、 受教育程度更高的受访者。

The disillusionment with democracy in South Africa

南非对于民主的失望，

is also borne out by statistics from our electoral commission,

也可以从选举委员会的 统计数据看出来，

which point to a sustained decline in voter participation numbers,

数据显示，参选人数持续下降，

particularly amongst young people in South Africa.

尤其是在南非的年轻人中间。

Part of that may be because anybody under the age of 35

部分原因可能是 南非任何 35 岁以下的人，

in South Africa has only ever experienced life in a democratic society.

都只经历过民主社会的生活。

And to them, that society is simply not that visionary nation

对他们而言，这个社会 根本就不是那个富有远见的国家，

of ethical leaders

有富有道德的领袖，

致力于建成一个基于社会公正

delivering a society based on social justice

and fundamental human rights.

和基本人权的社会。

And so they feel no motivation to fight for a democracy

因此，他们没有动力去为民主而战，

that doesn't actually deliver on its promises.

因为这所谓的民主 并不能实现它的承诺。

I desperately want that to change

我迫切希望改变这一现状，

before South Africa slips into an authoritarian trap.

赶在南非跌入专制独裁的陷阱之前。

I first ran for elected political office in 2008,

我第一次参选是在 2008 年，

at the age of 28,

当时我 28 岁，

hoping to right these very wrongs.

希望能纠正这些错误。

I wanted to contribute to the high-minded

我想为南非那些崇高的

and constitutionally enshrined idea of South Africa.

符合宪法的理念做出贡献。

A country of triumph over diversity,

南非，一个在多样性中取胜的国家，

a place which had put the injustices of the past so far behind it,

一个已经把过去的不公平 远远抛在身后的地方，

that education, health care, water and safety

在这里，教育、 医疗保健、供水和安全

were considered basic human rights.

被视为基本人权。

In 2009, I was elected into a national assembly

2009 年，我当选为 国民议会议员，

and to which I was one of the youngest members of parliament.

是最年轻的国会议员之一。

但是在那时，蔓延的腐败

But by then the contagion of corruption

had already begun to infiltrate the political class,

已经开始渗透到政治阶层，

and its consequences --

其后果——

the declining quality of service delivery,

公共服务质量下降、

the rapid decay of public infrastructure,

公共基础设施迅速老化、

the communities neglected

社区被忽视，

and the tensions inflamed -- were increasingly visible in daily life.

紧张气氛不断蔓延—— 这些在日常生活中越来越常见。

I resigned from active politics at the beginning of my second term,

我在第二个任期开始时辞去了职务，

burned out, frustrated and disillusioned by how easily hubris,

我感到筋疲力尽、沮丧和幻灭，

corruption and incompetence could stifle the country's socioeconomic progress.

因为志得意满、腐败和无能 扼杀了这个国家的社会经济进步。

But even at my most jaded,

但是，即使在我最疲倦的时候，

I understood that the challenge lay

我也明白问题的关键取决于

with the quality of leaders in political office,

政治职位领导人的素质，

not with the system in which they were duty bound to serve.

而不是那规定他们 有义务服务的制度。

And so today,

因此，今天，

my work is focused on building capacity in the right leaders,

我的工作重点是培养合适的领导者，

people of integrity, community mindedness,

培养诚信、有社区意识、

skill, self awareness,

有能力、有自我意识的人，

and to help them to make the transition

并帮助他们过渡到

into political and government leadership roles in South Africa

政治和政府领导的角色， 不仅在南非，

and also throughout the African continent.

而是在整个非洲大陆。

I started an organization called Futurelect to do just this,

我成立了一个 名为 Futurelect 的组织来达成这一点，

with a special emphasis on programs that support women

特别强调支持女性

to run for elected political office and occupy senior,

竞选政治职位， 并在我们的民主国家中

influential and impactful roles in our democracies.

担任更高级别、更有影响力的角色。

We do this not only because it's fair and just

我们这么做不仅仅因为 让女性能平等参与政治生活

for women to have equal representation in political life,

这件事是公平正义的，

but also because countless studies about diversity and leadership have shown

还因为无数关于多元化 和领导力的研究表明，

that when more women are around the decision-making table,

当女性更多地参与决策时，

progress towards objectives improves dramatically.

结果会更加客观公正。

The very same is true of political leadership.

政治领导力也是如此。

So at Futurelect, we bring together classes of young people

因此，在 Futurelect， 我们将来自不同政治传统，

and women leaders who come from a range of political and ideological traditions,

不同意识形态传统 的年轻人和女性领导人聚集在一起，

some having no political affiliation at all,

他们中有些人根本没有政治背景，

以帮助塑造非洲大陆 未来的领导素质。

to help shape the quality of leadership on the continent for the future.

My experience in politics strengthened my belief that values,

我的政治经历增强了我的信念，

character and purpose in our leaders matter far more than the ideology

即领导人的价值观、品格和目标 远比意识形态

和政治说服力更重要。

and political persuasion.

So the values that we amplify at Futurelect,

因此，我们在 Futurelect 推广的价值观，

the ones we expect our fellows to embody,

期望我的伙伴们践行的价值观，

include a commitment to democratic governance,

包括对民主治理的承诺、

a belief in the equality and legitimacy of all people,

对所有人的平等和合法性的信念、

the pursuit of policy based on evidence, not prejudice,

追求基于证据而不是偏见的政策，

and a keen awareness that political leadership is, first and foremost,

以及敏锐地意识到， 政治领导力最重要的

about people, not prestige or position.

是关乎人，而不是声望或地位。

We're building a community of ethical leaders from around the country,

我们正在建立一个由道德领袖 组成的社区，他们来自全国各地、

the region and the continent.

区域内其他国家和整个非洲大陆。

Young people and women who can hold each other accountable

这些年轻人和妇女能够对彼此负责，

based on shared values,

因为他们有共同的价值观，

and who can model a different kind of leadership

能树立一种不同的领导力榜样，

in a world which is drunk with polarization

在这个充满极化

and hopelessly entrenched political views.

和无望陷入僵化的 政治观点的世界里。

The time that our fellows spend developing their leadership abilities

伙伴们花在 发展领导能力上的时间

also enables them to stress-test their positions

也使他们能够在拥有相同价值观

amongst people who share their values

但可能拥有不同政治立场的人群中，

but may not share their politics.

对自己的立场进行压力测试。

And also to articulate a vision for their leadership in government

还要阐明他们在政府和公共部门的

and the public sector.

领导力愿景。

Our graduates have run for office in elections,

我们的毕业生竞选公职，

some successfully and some not.

有些人成功，有些人失败。

Those who have been unsuccessful are retooling their strategies

那些没有成功的人正在调整策略

and preparing to contest again.

准备再次参选。

Their resilience inspires me.

他们的韧性激励着我。

Our graduates are also political appointees in local, state-level

我们的毕业生也在地方政府、州政府

and national-level administrations.

和国家政府中任职。

他们与内阁部长、市长、

They work with cabinet ministers, mayors,

governors and one in their country's presidency.

州长共事，还有一位 进入了他们国家的总统府。

At the same time,

同时，

I'm also committed to fortifying young South Africans' belief

我还致力于强化南非年轻人

in democracy's power and potential.

对民主力量和潜力的信念。

So we are also investing in active citizenship

因此，我们还通过创建 免费的在线学习工具

by creating freely available online learning tools

来投资积极的公民意识，

to support new generations of young citizens

以支持新一代年轻公民

and young voters to show up in between elections,

和年轻选民在选举之间露面，

demand accountability from their public representatives,

要求公众代表承担责任，

participate robustly in the governance of their country,

坚定参与国家治理，

and ultimately to see themselves as part of the fabric of our democratic system.

并最终将自己视为 民主制度结构的一部分。

Autocratic political entrepreneurs are very fond of claiming

专制政治企业家非常喜欢说一句话，

that you cannot eat a constitution

宪法不能当饭吃，

or that democracy does not put food on the table.

或者说民主不能喂饱人民群众。

This has been proven time and time again to be untrue.

这已被反复证明是错误的。

But our ability to demonstrate that is tragically diminished

但是，当我们选举 不守承诺、缺乏诚信、

when we elect leaders who lack the commitment,

没能力发挥民主政府 巨大潜力的领导人时，

the integrity and the ability

我们证明它们错了的说服力

to deliver on the massive potential of democratic government.

就会大大减弱。

When we recognize that no political leader or party in any democracy

当我们认识到任何民主国家的 政治领袖或政党

has a monopoly on good governance,

都不可能垄断善治时，

we can hold all leaders accountable for the values-based fundamentals

我们就可以要求所有领导人 对基于价值观的基本原则负责，

that ensure all governments truly represent

确保所有政府真正代表

the interests of the people who elected them.

选举他们的人民的利益。

And when leaders of integrity and purpose

而且，当具有正直和目标的领导人

come together across political lines,

跨越政治界限走到一起时，

even in the most heightened and dangerous of circumstances,

即使在最紧张和最危险的情况下，

we know that they are capable of crafting laws and building systems

我们也知道他们有能力制定法律，

that reflect and reinforce our very highest aspirations.

建立反映和加强 我们最高理想的制度。

Constitutions can feed us.

宪法可以养活我们。

Democracies can provide us with shelter and safety,

民主可以为我们 提供庇护和安全，

but only if we take active responsibility for them

但前提是我们要为他们 承担积极责任，

and elect leaders who can deliver on democracy's extraordinary potential.

选出能够发挥民主 非凡潜力的领导人。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）