Governance Activism: A Framework for Meaningful Global Change
As we mark 30 years since the collapse of apartheid in South Africa this year, I find myself reflecting on the system that once dictated every aspect of my existence. From my first breath, I wasn't just a child. I was classified as "Indian," a designation that predetermined where I could live, what quality of education I could receive, and even whom I could love.
For those who haven't experienced such systematic oppression, imagine living in a world where the color of your skin strips you of your dignity and fundamental rights. The best beaches and parks were reserved for "whites only." The Group Areas Act confined my family to designated "Indian areas." The Mixed Marriages Act made it illegal to fall in love with someone of a different classification.
Yet today, I stand before you as a proud dual citizen of South Africa and the Netherlands, married to the love of my life (who happens to be a white male), and pursuing a career that would have been unimaginable under apartheid. This transformation didn't happen by chance. It happened because people who had the right to speak used that privilege to fight injustice.
The Challenge of Modern Activism
While apartheid has fallen, similar atrocities echo around the globe. What apartheid was to South Africa, oppression and occupation are to many communities today. But there's a critical difference in our contemporary landscape: many of us now have the right to speak freely, a powerful tool that we must learn to use effectively.
The problem is that we lack a coherent framework to guide this freedom of expression. Instead, we see chaotic protests and fragmented messages leading to stalemates and counterproductive behavior. This realization led me to develop a model I call "Governance Activism."
From Shouting to Structured Dialogue
Governance activism represents a fundamental shift from resistance and rebellion toward dialogue and engagement. It's inspired by leaders like Nelson Mandela, who, during his 27 years of unjust imprisonment, studied governance principles rather than harboring thoughts of revenge. When he emerged, he sought reconciliation because he understood that the most powerful voice isn't the loudest. It's the most thoughtful.
At its core, governance exists to ensure transparency, accountability, and responsibility. When we frame activism through this lens, we transform chaotic protest into coordinated, structured calls for change grounded in firm principles.
Understanding Our Roles
In this model, we can identify ourselves in one of three categories based on how we respond to global issues:
The Activist Engagers: Those moved by moral duty to express opinions publicly. Unfortunately, this category sometimes includes those who engage in disruptive behavior.
The Informed Observers: Those who make the effort to filter through information and develop opinions but choose not to express them publicly.
The Apathetic Bystanders: Those who remain deliberately ignorant of issues, often because they're overwhelmed by misinformation, believe their voices carry no weight, or have become desensitized.
Governance activism emphasizes that we all have roles to play, either as leaders charged with upholding governance principles or as stakeholders with the right and responsibility to call on leadership to maintain these standards.
A Real-World Application
Consider the recent protests at the University of Amsterdam, where students demonstrated against the university's associations with institutions perceived to be involved in human rights violations. Rather than adopting governance activism, students pursued a confrontational approach, entering meetings with face masks and demands, creating stalemates rather than dialogue.
When we make demands, we create confrontation and corner ourselves in negotiation. Instead, had the students framed their argument through governance principles, the conversation might have shifted: "We, the students, acting as stakeholders and within our duty, call on management to reflect on what we perceive to be a breach of governance principles."
This simple reframing would have shifted responsibility to management to publicly respond about how the issue would be addressed.
Scaling to Global Impact
Now imagine this approach at a global scale. Since governance exists between institutions, companies, and political entities, a global call for governance could transcend institutional boundaries and borders. In today's world of global technology, the ability to coordinate such action is unprecedented.
Instead of fragmented protests, we could create powerful mechanisms for change through unified action grounded in governance principles.
Finding Your Place in the Framework
Regardless of which category you identify with, governance activism offers guidance:
For Activist Engagers: Strip away emotion. Consider arguments in terms of governance principles. Understand the roles of all stakeholders before engaging. Welcome debate.
For Informed Observers: Continue developing informed opinions within the governance framework. This will aid in understanding all stakeholders and contributing to meaningful dialogue.
For Apathetic Bystanders: Make the effort to stay informed, filter through bias, and develop an opinion, regardless of what that may be.
A Personal Reflection
When I was a teenager, a white classmate told me he thought I was filthy because I couldn't "confirm that the dirt washed off my skin" after showering because my skin was brown. That hurt deeply. Yet today, just 30 years later, we can all agree how ludicrous that sounds.
I am profoundly grateful to those who had the right to speak and used it effectively. The life I live today, the person I love, the career I've built, exists because of those actions.
Even as I enjoy my freedom, I struggle when reflecting on today's global horrors. If one of the children surviving current atrocities has the opportunity to stand on a stage someday and ask us, "What did you do during these horrible periods?" I would say that I raised awareness where I could, and most importantly, used every platform to educate others.
As we approach this significant 30-year milestone since apartheid's fall, I ask you to consider:
What would your answer be?