Introduction
Steven Eli Friedman (born 31 March 1953) is a South African academic, newspaper columnist, widely quoted public intellectual, activist, former trade unionist and journalist. He holds a doctorate in Literature from Rhodes University (2007) and directs the Centre for the Study of Democracy, a joint project by Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg. His book Building Tomorrow Today: African Workers in Trade Unions 1970-1984 has been described as a classic South African text. He has written regular opinion pieces for Thought Leader and The New Age and currently writes a weekly column for Business Day.
He is also a strong supporter of rights for Palestinians and a proponent of a one state solution in Israel and Palestine. He was appointed the National Head of the Independent Electoral Commission's Information Analysis Department during preparations for South Africa's 1994 election.
He is the father of Daniel Friedman, a musical comedian known on stage as Deep Fried Man.
Books
- Friedman, Steven (1987). Building tomorrow today : African workers in trade unions, 1970-1984 (1. publ. ed.). Johannesburg: Ravan Press. ISBN 9780869752876.
- Centre for Policy Studies (1993).Steven Friedman (ed.). The long journey : South Africa's quest for a negotiated settlement. Braamfontein, South Africa: Ravan Press. ISBN 9780869754443.
- Steven Friedman, ed. (2014). Race, Class and Power: Harold Wolpe and the Radical Critique of Apartheid. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: UKZN Press. ISBN 978 1 86914 286 5.
- Friedman, Steven (2019). Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice. South Africa: NYU Press. ISBN 9781776143023.