Wellbeing and happiness inequality in South Africa: the happiness gap

Abstract

South Africa will celebrate three decades of democracy in 2024. This comes at a time when democracy is under threat globally. Since 2019 scholars have noted an increase in democratic erosion around the world, highlighting rising levels of distrust in electoral processes, the use of social media to weaken political trust through disinformation, and widespread corruption that undermines trust in politicians and governments (IDEA 2019). Political and social polarisation is on the increase in an age of rising misinformation (V-Dem Institute 2022). The V-Dem Institute describes the phenomenon of declining respect for legitimate opposition and pluralism, and the consequent reduction in sociopolitical participation in society, as 'toxic polarisation' (2022: 16).