MISTRA Monthly Briefing #5
2012/05/11
In MISTRA Monthly Briefin#5 we provide the full text of the MISTRA Inaugural Annual Lecture presented by Prof Thandika Mkandawire, and a brief report on the MISTRA skaftin (brown bag session) with Prof Mkandawire. The skaftin session provided an opportunity for people who were unable to attend our Inaugural Annual Lecture - as well as those who had attended - but who had not had an opportunity to engage with him, to have a more in-depth interaction on the topic of the role of social compacts.
| Can humiliation spur Africa on? By Fumani Mthembi
2012/04/15
The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) recently hosted its inaugural lecture at Wits University. The topic was “Building the African state in the age of globalisation – the role of social compacts and lessons for South Africa”.
The keynote speaker, Professor Thandika Mkandawire, rose to the occasion with a most graceful handling of this complex theme and its sub-parts.
Professor Mkandawire, a native of Malawi, is the current chair of African Development at the London School of Economics. He is perhaps most widely recognised for his previous position as Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.
Having attended both the inaugural lecture and subsequent seminar [or MISTRA skaftin], I was most impressed by the comfortable manner in which he straddled the worlds of “high intellectualism” and everyday practicality.
|
Stop quibbling, fix unemployment, by Joel Netshitenzhe
2012/04/23
In a biting critique on contemporary India, Ranjani Iyer Mohanty draws from the epic fable of a blind King Dhritarashtra to argue that Indian authorities are ignoring problems and pretending they don’t exist.
“In 2010, when the Commonwealth Games were held in New Delhi, rather than using them as an opportunity to improve conditions, they temporarily moved the homeless out of the city and put up advertisement hoardings around the slums to hide them… instead of fighting poverty, the planning commission lowered the poverty line and announced a reduction in the number of poor.” (Financial Times, April 3)
The criticism may be exaggerated and unfair.
But it does strike a chord in relation to the current debate in SA on employment statistics. The spectre of denialism has elicited howls of outrage and incredulity about the Adcorp Employment Index (AEI), which places the rate of unemployment at about 10 percent compared to the official 24 percent.
| “Building the African state in the age of globalisation: The role of social compacts and lessons for
2012/05/02
Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection Inaugural Annual Lecture
"Building the African state in the age of globalisation: the role of social compacts and lessons for South Africa"
Presented by
Prof Thandika Mkandawire
Chair in African Development at the London School of Economics
|
Mapungubwe: A Living Legacy
2011/08/04
The attached booklet is the Mapungubwe Institute's first publication based on the initial research work of the Institute's team working on its research project on 'The Rise and Decline of the Mapungubwe Civilisation'. A hard copy of the booklet is available from MISTRA at a cost to cover postage and admin of R50 for postage within South Africa and R100 for postage outside South Africa. Please place your orders with Funeka Brukwe at funekab@mistra.org.za.
| |
