If you wake up each morning with a sense of gloom, despair and anxiety about the state of the world, you are not alone. Studies show a surge in hopelessness and societal discontent as governments have failed to meet the public’s aspirations for a sustainable and prosperous future.
This discontent has translated into antigovernment votes in multiple elections this year as people everywhere grapple with impending technological upheaval, deepening political divisions and relentless negative news.
Yet, even as we feel society teetering on the edge, there ’s a remarkable resilience in people’s belief that we shouldn’t give up on working together to tackle our shared challenges. Studies such as the 2023 Global Solidarity Report reveal that people worldwide, including in South Africa, still believe in solidarity, global citizenship and co-operation as the way forward. As long as there are individuals eager to support collective action and collaborate on solutions, we haven’t reached the point of no return.
Leaders across all sectors — government, business, philanthropy and nonprofits — still have a crucial opportunity to rebuild trust and social cohesion. By implementing effective local and global policies and investments, they can meet people’s expectations and restore faith in institutions. Achieving consensus on these measures will demand a spirit of pragmatic idealism, a virtue Nelson Mandela exemplified repeatedly throughout his life.
Mandela was a global citizen, statesman, and a master of pragmatic idealism. He didn’t wake up aiming to win arguments, but to change the world. He knew real change required give and take, and meeting people in the middle.
Such savviness did not hold him back from pursuing bold, audacious ideas; it enabled him to translate those dreams into real-world impact. His record of achievements speaks for itself.
Some argue that pragmatic idealism is impossible in today’s polarised world, where immense pressure exists to show unwavering loyalty to one’s tribe. We’re often bound by “purity tests”, judging potential policies and partnerships through the prism of strict moral codes. If something falls short, even slightly, we ’re told to reject it or be seen as traitors.
However, recent electoral results — from South Africa to India to France — suggest people are tired of such binary thinking. South Africa’s government of national unity, the first coalition government in 30 years, is a prime example.
The people have spoken, delivering a result that will require parties to come together to creatively tackle challenges, deliver competent policy implementation and ensure effective service delivery. This will necessitate trade-offs, clear communication, radical transparency and managed expectations. But the opportunities to make a positive impact are within reach, provided stakeholders of all types can harness Mandela ’s spirit of pragmatic idealism.
Consider the state of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, initially celebrated at the 2021 UN climate talks as a groundbreaking effort to help coaldependent countries such as South Africa transition to greener energy. Now, it’s bogged down in blame and acrimony. Successful implementation without abandoning coal-dependent communities will require meticulous planning and collaboration between the new government in South Africa and its international partners.
For its part, the South African government must establish transparent and reliable timelines for shifting to alternative energy sources, allowing workers in mining communities adequate time to plan for their future.
The international community must prioritise partnership over righteous lecturing, ensuring that climate action supports livelihoods by providing affordable and reliable capital. Above all, patience and understanding will be essential.
The good news is that innovative solutions are already emerging for this transition. New start-ups in South Africa are exploring ways to convert potential coal-mining sites into nature sanctuaries, capable of
issuing credible carbon credits.
These credits can be bought by international businesses and governments, recognising the global benefit of locking up future coal mines and providing a significant ongoing revenue source for the country. Establishing the policy frameworks to bring these entrepreneurial ideas to fruition presents an exciting
opportunity for the government.
The government also has a chance to develop a policy framework that unleashes the power of South Africa ’s creative industry. Implemented correctly, this will enable local creatives, especially the nation’s promising talent and youth, to capture a significant share of the industry’s revenue rather than losing it overseas.
In 2023, according to the latest IFPI Global Music Report, the African music industry saw a revenue growth of 24.7% , making Africa the fastest-growing region for music revenues for the second year running.
South Africa itself was the largest market in the region, capturing 77.0% of regional music revenues. Proper policy implementation, including appropriate copyright laws that are in line with international best practice, is crucial for South Africa’s talented musicians and the economy to share in this boom.
Finally, South Africa has a significant opportunity to address hunger and poverty in the next 18 months as it prepares to assume the G20 presidency from Brazil later this year.
Brazil should be lauded for putting hunger and poverty at the top of the G20 agenda and pushing for practical policies such as direct cash transfers, school meals, and government procurement from smallholder farmers. Its new Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty aims to mobilise resources to implement these initiatives. South Africa should build on this momentum, positioning itself as a pragmatic idealist on the global stage. By forging meaningful partnerships and prioritising impact over ideology, South Africa can deliver tangible results for people in need worldwide, echoing Mandela’s approach to foreign policy — from nuclear disarmament to peace in Northern Ireland.
Today, people worldwide demand delivery. As the new government begins its work, let our leaders recall
Mandela ’s spirit of collaboration and pragmatic idealism to tackle our era’s greatest challenges. While there is a public willingness to pursue collaboration, this window of opportunity won’t remain open indefinitely.
But seizing it and delivering results could help turn the page on our current age of despair and usher in a new era of hope. After all, action remains the best antidote to apathy and indifference. There’s zero time to waste.
Originally published on Sunday Times with co-author Tshepo Mahloele.