BRE·DE·RE (the Bremen Centre for Democratic Research gGmbH) is a public-benefit organisation based in Bremen, Germany. Its purposes are to advance science and research, education and learning, and international understanding - with a focus on democratic statecraft, liberal values, and civil rights in South Africa in particular, as well as in emerging, threatened, and established democracies, more generally.

James Myburgh is a writer, researcher and journalist. He is the founder editor of Politicsweb - a South Africa focused political website. He studied history and politics at the University of Cape Town between 1993 and 1997 graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1997. From 1997 to 2001 he worked as a parliamentary researcher for the Democratic Party (now the Democratic Alliance) where he developed early opposition critiques of the African National Congress’ policies, most notably of cadre deployment, the policy now generally accepted as the root cause of much of South Africa’s current state dysfunction. He completed a DPhil in politics (2007) at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University. His dissertation focused on the ideology and strategy of the African National Congress. 

Frans Cronje served as the CEO of the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) from 2013 to 2021, South Africa’s oldest and most storied liberal think tank. In 2021 he established the Social Research Foundation (SRF) a South African based non-profit organisation and think tank, which he serves as chairman of. The SRF promotes democracy and sound public policy, and does regular polling of public opinion. Its research has been quoted extensively in the local South Africa media as well as international publications like Bloomberg, The Washington Post and The Economist. He also consults to private clients through his firm Frans Cronje Private Clients Pty Ltd. 

He has a Batchelor of Arts and Masters degree (2001) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and a PhD from North-West University, Potchefstroom (2014). The title of his dissertation was “Beyond the High Road: A scenario analysis of the prospects for stability or instability on South Africa over the period to 2024”. He has published three books on South Africa’s possible futures: “A Time Traveller's Guide to Our Next Ten Years” (2014), “South Africa in 2030” (2017), and “The Rise or Fall of South Africa” (2021).