Archives: Publications

Photo © James Cridland/ flickr

Dividend or disaster: Africa’s growing population

Since its institution in 1989, World Population Day on 11 July has drawn attention to the Earth’s rising population, and the demographic and social trends accompanying it. These serious and complex matters address the opportunities and hurdles confronting countries’ development aspirations. Nowhere is this of more profound – even existential – importance than in Africa.

Photo © Philippe Put/ flickr

Lessons from Cuba: eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Cuba has officially become the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child. Margaret Chan, director-general for the World Health Organisation (WHO), described the small Caribbean island’s achievement as ‘one of the greatest public health achievements possible.’

Photo © South African Government

South Africa needs a concrete BRICS strategy

Heads of state of the BRICS countries will gather in Ufa, Russia, this week for the grouping’s seventh summit, which comes at a particularly challenging time for Russian diplomacy. Precipitated by the conflict in Ukraine, Russia is barred from Group of Seven/Group of Eight processes and increasingly estranged from the West.

Photo © quattrostagioni / flickr

Marikana Commission’s findings cast light on urgency of labour law reform

Following the tragic killing of striking miners at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana on 16 August 2012, South Africa’s government established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate matters of ‘public, national and international concern’ arising out of the tragic event. Three years on, the release of the Commission’s final report has provoked hostile reactions from many quarters.

Photo © Abbie Trayler-Smith / Panos Pictures / DfID

BRICS and climate change

Reflecting the broadening of the BRICS agenda since the grouping was formed in 2009, the first ever meeting of BRICS environment ministers was held in Russia in April 2015.

South African Foreign Policy and the UN Security Council: Assessing its Impact on the African Peace and Security Architecture

South Africa’s two terms – 2007–2008 and 2011–2012 – as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) has received limited scholarly attention. And yet this is a period that saw South African foreign policy assume a truly global stature, weighing in on issues as significant as human rights in Myanmar and crises as challenging as humanitarian intervention in Libya and Syria.

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