Nation-building – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on developments in South Africa’s strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. GCIS

October 23, 2023

Leadership in a crisis: how President Ramaphosa’s COVID speeches drew on Mandela’s ideas of South African unity

Sisanda Nkoala, University of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa tried to foster social cohesion in his speeches during a pandemic that had exposed the nation’s divisions.

Extreme poverty has seen shack settlements mushroom in South Africa. Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty Images

July 27, 2023

South Africa is failing to live up to its constitution. Gains made since democracy are being squandered – report

Marcel Nagar, University of Johannesburg

On the positive side, good progress has been made on gender equality and fewer people are dying of unnatural causes.

A man holds a sign on Parliament Hill to support trucks lined up in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

February 14, 2022

Alleging a commitment to ‘freedom,’ the convoy takes a page from the Cold War playbook

Laura Madokoro, Carleton University

‘Freedom convoy’ protesters are turning the language of freedom against their own governments. The implications and repercussions of this are enormous.

Aggrey Klaaste, right, used the Sowetan newspaper to drive his Nation-building campaign. He is seen here with John Mabatho, the newspaper’s production manager. Paul Velasco © Arena Holdings

October 18, 2021

How South African editor Aggrey Klaaste put himself on the line with his contrarian idea

Lesley Cowling, University of the Witwatersrand

Klaaste was distressed by what was happening in black communities, where residents faced state terror and political violence. He sought to restore values such as self-help and neighbourly conduct.

U.S. soldiers stand guard along the perimeter of the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Hundreds of Western nationals and Afghan workers have been flown to safety since the Taliban reasserted control over the country, but still in hiding are Afghans who tried to build a fledgling democracy. (AP Photo/Shekib Rahmani)

August 24, 2021

How Afghanistan is — and isn’t — Vietnam all over again

Eugene Lang, Queen's University, Ontario

The Vietnam War was the defining issue for Joe Biden’s generation. His botched withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan could be the defining act of his presidency.

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