scholarly journals Engaged and Activist Scholarship for Socio-Economic Development in South Africa: A Conceptual Appraisal

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Paulin Mbecke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Engaged Scholarship ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Activist Scholarship

<p><em>The debate around scholarship (engaged and activist) is new in South Africa. Currently, the practice of engaged scholarship and activist scholarship is poor or quasi-inexistent, yet, it is believed that these two approaches can contribute to human rights activism which favours socio-economic development. This paper identifies the patterns and principles of engaged scholarship and activist scholarship and their connection with socio-economic development. It argues that effective engaged and activist scholarship programmes can contribute to and facilitate socio-economic development. Thus, the paper suggests a model outlining four key principles forming a conceptual framework for an effective engaged scholarship and a supporting activist scholarship model that facilitates the awareness and participation of communities in socio-economic development efforts.</em></p>

Astronomy for Development – A story from South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S367) ◽  
pp. 168-175
Author(s):  
Carolina J. Ödman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Recent History ◽  
History Of Astronomy ◽  
Bright Future ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
History Of

AbstractIn this article we describe the recent history of astronomy in South Africa from the perspective of development. We describe how all major astronomy initiatives have carried a component of development with them, be it capacity building or socio-economic development. We highlight some activities and conclude that South Africa’s coherent and ambitious strategy has led to substantial changes in the astronomy research community in South Africa and that the young astronomers now starting their careers are taking possession of a bright future.

Law and Economic Development in South Africa: An Assessment through the General Theory of Law and Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Pooe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
African National Congress ◽  
Law And Development ◽  
Theory Of Law

Abstract The ascension of the African National Congress into formal politics through its electoral victory in 1994 resulted in South Africa adopting one of the world’s most heralded social justice and human rights-based documents, the 1996 Constitution. Yet, two-decades of ANC governance this paper argues has not led to the types of economic development needed to advance the formerly oppressed African majority, Colored and Indian populations. This lackluster economic development is even more troubling when one considers the giant economic development steps Asian developmental states have made, without a human rights and social justice approach. It is the contention of this paper that the newly presented General Theory of Law and Development allows for a new type of analysis exploring the reasons why South Africa’s economic development trajectory has been so lackluster, when so many authorities praise the South African legal framework. In making this argument using the General Theory South Africa’s local governments sphere and local economic development will be the subject of analysis.

scholarly journals Challenges faced by libraries in a democratic South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Maredi Mojapelo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Arts And Culture ◽  
Convenience Sampling

Community libraries are crucial for people to have access to information to satisfy their multiple needs. As custodians of information and knowledge in diverse spheres, they play a role in the socio-economic development of nations. This article attempts to investigate challenges faced by libraries in three different settings in post-apartheid South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative research design. The users, librarians and a well-placed official of the relevant department were interviewed. Convenience sampling was used to select users and librarians while purposive sampling was used to select an official. Face-to-face interviews and observation and a checklist were used to collect data. Senior officials of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture need to study challenges revealed by the findings and to take action to remedy the situation.

Language Policy and Politics

2020 ◽  
pp. 812-820
Author(s):  
Kembo Sure
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Language Policy ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Language Behavior ◽  
Public Recognition ◽  
Access Services ◽  
Policies And Practices

The chapter is a discussion of the nexus between language policy and the national sociopolitical policies and practices with regard to the distribution of opportunities, human rights, values, recognition, freedom, equity, fairness, and the resolution of disputes. Examples from Africa are discussed using a modified conceptual framework adopted from Patten (2001) in which he argues that “a language enjoys public recognition when it is possible to access services and/or conduct public business in that language.” Using the examples of South Africa and Ethiopia we see how the official multilingualism model fails to promote all languages in a complex plurilingual polity, as it inadvertently promotes strong languages to the detriment of weaker ones. The use of the language rationalization model also failed in Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia, where the state’s tinkering with language behavior patterns only helps to privilege some languages and disadvantage others.

scholarly journals Capacity building for sustained competitive advantage: a conceptual framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Riad Shams
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustained Competitive Advantage ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Socio Economic Development

Purpose – Capacity building is a crucial antecedent for socio-economic development. However, an enhanced capacity that is difficult to develop could quickly be eroded, because of rapid changes in competitive forces in industries and markets. Therefore, this paper intends to analyse the extant strategic management and relationship marketing (RM) literature that deal with competition. Eventually, the purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative route for capacity building process that could sustain competitive advantage in a market or industry, which encounters rapid changes in business competition. Design/methodology/approach – An inductive constructivist approach is followed to support arguments, in order to develop a synthesis from the relevant literature to reinforce the current understandings on capacity building and sustained competitive advantage. Findings – An influence of RM on strategic organisational dynamic capabilities (DCs) is recognised, which appears as significant to sustain DCs and subsequent competitive advantage. Based on this influence, this paper proposes a conceptual framework of capacity building that could survive through the “valuable, rare, inimitability and non-substitutability” test, which is fundamental to sustain competitive advantage. Some empirical insights are developed, in support of this conceptual framework. Practical implications – For research and practice, these insights will be useful to focus on specific attributes in capacity building to sustain the enhanced capacity’s competitive advantage over time, across industries and markets. Social implications – Similarly, the insights will be instrumental to sustain the benefit of capacity building to underpin socio-economic progress. Originality/value – The paper proposes a much needed initial conceptual framework for capacity building to sustain competitive advantage of a hard-earned capacity for socio-economic development.

scholarly journals Not by bread alone: Official development assistance in South Africa

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-580
Author(s):  
JFE Ohiorhenuan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Development Assistance ◽  
Official Development Assistance ◽  
The People ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Catalytic Role ◽  
The Government

This is a reflection on the role and relevance of ODA to the collective efforts of the government and the people of South Africa in the reconstruction and development of a post-apartheid society. South Africa needs ODA; it needs ODA of a different kind; the effective coordination and collaborative deployment of the little ODA that comes into the country can play a catalytic role in South Africa’s transformation and socio-economic development processes.

Power to the People? Right of Access to Electricity in South Africa

Politeia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Qasaymeh ◽  
Jo-Ansie Karina Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The South ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
The Right ◽  
Right Of Access

The provision and distribution of and access to electricity are not only technical and economic matters. Access to electricity is a highly political and ideological issue and has consequences for public policy and human development. Since 2000, South Africa has experienced power outages (euphemistically called load-shedding) and the country has not kept up with increased electricity and socio-economic demands. Globally, access to electricity is increasingly regarded as a basic human right and an important contributor to socio-economic development. However, the position towards and the practice regarding access to electricity by the post-apartheid South African government are contradictory. Although both the South African Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 refer to fundamental human rights, the matter of access to electricity as a human right is not clearly spelled out in these documents. This article outlines international and African norms in respect of the right of access to electricity in the context of the international socio-economic development debate. It proceeds to examine the South African context, policies, legislation and constitutional court judgments in respect of socio-economic development with a special focus on access to electricity—a matter which is closely linked to political, public policy and development issues such as housing and the environment in South Africa. The article calls for the right of access to electricity to be declared a basic human right and to be legislated as such in the South African legal regime.

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