Fragmented societies in the context of both globalization and democratic reforms are under considerable stress. International opening up of markets and increased mobility and communication create many opportunities. Unfortunately, those groups with considerable assets in terms of physical, human and social capital benefit more. These economic elites are thriving but might be minority groups in a fragmented society. Combined with an increase of democratic reforms in fragmented societies, these tendencies may lead to different backlashes for democracy. The conference is about how we can deepen democracy in such contexts and of course more in particular in South Africa, where the issue of closing the income and entitlements gap is of critical importance. Experiences in deepening democracies within fragmented societies will be looked into from a comparative perspective. Deeper insights in policy options aimed at including the most vulnerable social groups in low and middle income countries, such as basic income measures, social funds or other safety nets will stem from these analyses. Through this focus, the conference will provide a forum where practitioners of public administration and scholars can discuss concrete measures to improve service delivery to the poor in Cape Town’s Western Cape province.

Comparative approaches to deepening democracy in fragmented societies
Policy-makers in post-conflict or post-transitional societies often have to cope with surviving internal tensions, pressure to refuel their economies and the obligation to ameliorate the lives of formerly disadvantaged social groups. These imperatives seem sometimes difficult to combine, and different development paths attempting at reconciling them have been followed in different contexts. Which lessons can be learned from a comparison between international (best) practices?

Inclusion of vulnerable groups in low and middle income countries
Fragmented societies are often rife with inequalities and characterised by large groups of the population living in absolute or relative poverty. Papers should analyse different policy options pursued to relieve this poverty. Measures seeking to include those previously or currently excluded from social gains can range from the highly debated basic income grant, over social funds, to the free provision of basic services such as water. Debates regarding these measures, analyses of the devising and implementing of suitable policies to answer the needs of deprived groups obviously gain urgency in low and middle income countries, hence our geographical focus.

The conference has the intention to be an interface between practitioners of public administration and scholars, aiming at the improvement of (now often unsatisfactory) service delivery to the poor in South Africa’s Western Cape province. Public services seem to be a primary means to improve the livelihoods of the poor, thus substantiating the social benefits they can draw from democratisation. Papers should question if this assumption is corroborated by the South African and international experiences, what the obstacles are to a more deepened democracy and what can be done to ensure that services and social benefits reach even the most destitute.