South Africa's first ever non-racial and multi-party election was perhaps the most significant global event of 1994. From the ashes of a repressive, segregated and racist state emerged - miraculously and relatively free from bloodshed - a new, multi-racial nation, led by one of the political icons of the late twentieth century, Nelson Mandela.

Based on a large-scale and non-partisan public information project, this book is the definitive account of the process of democratisation in South Africa. The Launching Democracy project mounted teams of observers and monitored the campaign, party organisation, the media and voter education efforts throughout the crucial and populous areas of the Western Cape, Natal and the Reef.

The result is an unparalleled source of information about the way the election really worked and the political sociology of South Africa in general. Written by a team of distinguished experts, the book analyses the results of the election in detail (and publishes them in full for the first time). It examines the intricacies of the disputed electoral process and the drama of the count, revealing irregularities, rivalry and widespread fear and intimidation.

In a highly readable final section, the book carries the story into the post-election reality, exploring popular opinion and the demands now facing the Mandela government.