Archives for Social - Page 2
What is true critical decolonization?
In the ‘bad old days’ up to the end of World War II, South Africa was a handful of quasi-independent provinces home-ruled by a Heath Robinson, Anglo-centric, segregationist, explicitly structurally…
Understanding Rent-Seeking at South African Universities
A recent opinion piece by Dr Sean Muller focuses on potential negative consequences of ‘incentivization’ that promote “rent seeking behaviour” in university academics. Before I attempt to refute his thesis,…
Reconciliation and transformation Trumped at UCT
Research into the history of UCT (accessible through ) strongly suggests that, for most of its history, UCT was institutionally colonialist, sexist and racist. Equally arguable, other than in some…
Getting decolonisation right
This article is in response to: African universities must take a critical view of knowledge and how it’s made Some recent conservation biology left: Hermenegildo Matimele, Mozambique; Wataru Tokura, Japan; Dr Susan…
Technology is not enough to solve our education crisis
This article is a response to: To stay in the game universities need to work with tech companies The author starts off by linking “higher and professional education”. They are, in both…
“Don’t Look for Evidence of Wrongdoing” – HuffPost Does it Again!
In the wake of HuffPost SA's company-shattering humiliation last month which forced its Editor in Chief to resign, the publication has shown that the apology it issued was as superficial as the…
Blossoming non-racialism NOT rotten roots of racism
I disagree with virtually every statement in David Matthews’ Roots of Racism: parts 1 & 2. No, racism IS a moral crime perpetrated by individuals taught to hate and fear…
Decolonizing UCT: ‘trick or treat’ and ‘sticks and stones’
History For more than two years, the University of Cape Town (UCT) has lost direction and momentum in what used to be referred to as adaptive “transformation” of staff and…
Liberty Needs To Reclaim Compassion
During my years attending an all-boys school, many of my previous and currently-disproved political convictions were formed. As an adolescent, I watched the series The West Wing in awe of…
Creating ideas vs harnessing White Monopoly Capital
University of Witwatersrand sociology Prof. Roger Southall begins his recent piece on “White Monopoly Capital" (WMC) stating that “many” want to unjustifiably marginalize a notion he maintains is politically “indisputably…