As a doyenne of International Relations thought in South Africa, Professor Schoeman’s legacy extends far beyond her own research and scholarship. She was a generous mentor who guided countless students at the University of Pretoria and beyond, shaping the next generation of scholars.
SAIIA was honoured to welcome Maxi onto the International Advisory Board of the South African Journal of International Affairs in the early 2000s. We consistently benefited from her wise counsel in peer review as well as her outstanding article contributions.
More recently, she was instrumental in organising a book launch for renowned Global IR scholar Amitav Acharya of American University at SAIIA’s head offices in May 2025. She was unable to attend that gathering, however, as she was (as was typical of her) to rather go to the graduation of one of her doctoral students that day. When we thanked her for her efforts in organising the launch, she replied: ‘I simply help to make things happen.’ Indeed, Maxi could make things happen!
She will be sorely missed by all who worked with her, sought her counsel and applauded her insightful and incisive – and often brave – analysis. South Africa has lost a strong proponent for Africa, and a gracious though insistent voice for accountability and equality of standing in international affairs.
Hamba kakuhle, Prof Schoeman.
