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- Clark University, George Perkins Marsh Institute, Department MemberUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Redesist, Department Member, and 2 moreadd
- Economics, Political Economy, Development Economics, Economic History, History of Economic Thought, Evolutionary Economics, and 31 moreMarxist Economics, Development Studies, Innovation statistics, Philosophy of Science, International Political Economy, Universities in S&T and national systems of innovation, Human Development and Mobility, Education, Design, Political Science, Globalization, Political Sociology, Post-Colonialism, Sociology, Research Policy, Global Political Economy, Neoliberalism, Corruption, Science and Technology Studies, Computer Networks, Databases, Software, Marxist theory, Marxism, Post-Modern Marxist Critiques of Capitalism, World-Ecology, Archaeology, History, Anthropology, Social Sciences, and Public Policyedit
- Rasigan Maharajh is concurrently the founding Chief Director of the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation at ... moreRasigan Maharajh is concurrently the founding Chief Director of the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation at Tshwane University of Technology; and an Associate Research Fellow of the Tellus Institute in Boston.
Rasigan was previously: Node Head of the Department of Science and Innovation and National Research Foundation’ Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy; Professor Extraordinary of the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology at Stellenbosch University; a Visiting Professor at Rede de Pesquisa em Sistemas e Arranjos Produtivos e Inovativos Locais in the Instituto de Economia of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Visiting Research Scholar at the George Perkins Marsh Institute of Clark University, USA; Head of Policy at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; and National Coordinator of the Science and Technology Policy Transition Project for South Africa’s first democratic government. Before these deployments, Rasigan was: Senior Researcher at the Education Policy Unit of the University of Natal; National Coordinator and Researcher at Operation Upgrade of Southern Africa; Research Assistant at the Macro-Education Policy Unit of the University of Durban-Westville; Research Assistant at the Labour and Community Project of the South African Council for Higher Education; and a Casual Labourer at Pick and Pay Supermarkets.
Rasigan was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree by the Forskningspolitiska Institutet (Research Policy Institute), School of Economics and Management, Lund University, Sweden; and he is also an alumnus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa and the Harvard Business School of the United States. Rasigan is a Ministerial Representative on the Council of Rhodes University and an elected Senator of Tshwane University of Technology. Since 2004, Rasigan has contributed to more than 65 publications, and has presented his research in 42 countries.edit
The human species has evolved over at least a 200, 000 year period of history on earth. During this long time, humanity has developed its capacity for cognition and employed capabilities of learning to transform its natural environment to... more
The human species has evolved over at least a 200, 000 year period of history on earth. During this long time, humanity has developed its capacity for cognition and employed capabilities of learning to transform its natural environment to suit its purposes. The success of the species has largely been determined by its competency in translating knowledge into systematic practices such as health care. Well-being co-evolved with the emergence of capitalism and has become integrated in its general profit-seeking logic. The chapter has four sections, after introducing the research focus, the second section presents an evolutionary history of the capitalism and the medical industry. The third section considers empirical features of the contemporary period and highlights the effects of combined and uneven development. The concluding fourth section argues that for well-being to be secured, significant transformations of the political economy are required. The increased challenges of climate change in the context of financialised capitalism suggests that building post-capitalist solutions are necessary for the survival of the species.
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The 2,015 years of our Common Era as a subspecies represents a minor temporality within our larger and more-complex geo-physical timeframe of approximately 4.5 billion years. Whilst the geo-physical processes of change have over the... more
The 2,015 years of our Common Era as a subspecies represents a minor temporality within our larger and more-complex geo-physical timeframe of approximately 4.5 billion years. Whilst the geo-physical processes of change have over the longue durée shaped an environment capable of sustaining living organisms, the voracious predatory practices of our sub-species has significantly altered the trajectories of all life. Particularly since the advent of industrial capitalism, our development has engendered massive environmental changes and have impacted upon various natural cycles. The result is a build-up of waste and inevitable degradation of the eco-system. These elements constitute elements of the metabolic rift between nature and the institutions driving our behaviours. This paper discusses the systemic changes in the making of our contemporary conjuncture. The paper utilises an analysis of the global political economy and the international division of labour to argue that the world-systems are seized with a multiplicity of concurrent crisis that have expanded as has the metabolic rift. Human society has transgressed some planetary boundaries and appears to be hurtling towards a catastrophic descent into barbarism. Structure and agency seems paralysed as the institutional framework appears incapable of reconciling developmental inequalities with a mode of production that is fixated with growth. Thus, as we venture further into the 21st Century, our institutional orientation remains locked into rule-sets elaborated mainly since 1900’s. The array of forces emergent from the contested dynamics hold the possibilities of enabling a ‘Great Transition’ to a planetary civilisation. Significant interests however remain bound within the logic of an expansion of capital. For these, accumulation and destruction is represented in an anti-self-interest which maintains inequalities by threatening the collective survival of our species. This paper concludes with some research challenges for breaking the lock-ins and redressing the metabolic rift with the objective of sustaining development, enhancing inclusivity and re-creating new institutional forms that would be more appropriate to the contemporary conjuncture.
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Guest edited by Helene Finidori, a series of essays on the theory and practice of collective intelligence and transformative action, from a systemic dynamic perspective. How and where does systemic change manifest? How does it unfold?... more
Guest edited by Helene Finidori, a series of essays on the theory and practice of collective intelligence and transformative action, from a systemic dynamic perspective.
How and where does systemic change manifest? How does it unfold? What are the leverage points, the forces and dynamics at play? What are the conditions for its empowerment and enablement? How do agency and structure come into the picture? We would like to look at the subject from various perspectives and disciplines, in research and praxis, exploring the visible and the invisible, space and time, unity and diversity, level and scale, movement and rhythm.
Available on print on demand.
How and where does systemic change manifest? How does it unfold? What are the leverage points, the forces and dynamics at play? What are the conditions for its empowerment and enablement? How do agency and structure come into the picture? We would like to look at the subject from various perspectives and disciplines, in research and praxis, exploring the visible and the invisible, space and time, unity and diversity, level and scale, movement and rhythm.
Available on print on demand.
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INTRODUÇÃO Este texto sobre Desigualdade Urbana no Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China e África do Sul (BRICS) trata da urbanização e desigualdade nestes cinco países. Incluem-se três seções. Após esta introdução geral, são apresentados dados... more
INTRODUÇÃO Este texto sobre Desigualdade Urbana no Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China e África do Sul (BRICS) trata da urbanização e desigualdade nestes cinco países. Incluem-se três seções. Após esta introdução geral, são apresentados dados sobre o processo de urbanização. A desigualdade é representada através de informações sobre favelas. A terceira e última seção destaca os desafios emergentes e sugere uma orientação na direção da eliminação da desigualdade na urbanização como meio para atingir uma vida melhor para todos. Até 2013, mais da metade da população mundial atualmente habita áreas urbanas, apesar deste nível de urbanização ser distribuída de forma desigual. Em 2011, estimou-se que este número seja 3.6 bilhões (ONU: 2012). Além disso, a urbanização é um conceito ambíguo já que países diferentes utilizam diversas definições de 'urbano'. De acordo com UNstats, os BRICS utilizam as seguintes definições administrativas: [BRASIL] 'Zonas urbanas e suburbanas de centros a...
This edition of Perspectives is themed "Africa Rising: Who Benefits from the Continent's Economic Growth?". The articles demonstrate that, in too many instances, it is not the wider population but small segments and... more
This edition of Perspectives is themed "Africa Rising: Who Benefits from the Continent's Economic Growth?". The articles demonstrate that, in too many instances, it is not the wider population but small segments and interested parties, such as the local political elite and foreign investors, who are benefiting from economic growth and resource wealth. Social cohesion, political freedom and environmental protection carry little importance in the comforting world of impressive growth statistics. I collaborate yet again with Drs. Alinah Segobye, Alioune Sall, and Rasigan Maharajh further to our prior writings critiquing the "Africa Rising" grand narrative. This time we present some reflections about the evolution of the continent’s middle class and offer a critique of this aspect of the alluring narrative. We conclude yet again with an appeal for our African development reflection and futuring "should be based more on pragmatic and Africa-centric understand...
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This essay is included in a book that provides the readers with a balanced narrative from different perceptions of the recent evolution of international relations affecting global governance. Overall, these essays represent more than an... more
This essay is included in a book that provides the readers with a balanced narrative from different perceptions of the recent evolution of international relations affecting global governance. Overall, these essays represent more than an effort to understand the world. They constitute an interesting testimony of the different views on current geopolitical changes, the need to better define terminology and concepts to characterize the last decade, to further investigate the nature of the changes and the motives of policy makers in different countries. What their real goals are, how to conciliate a range of different perspectives on interests and values, or at least close the gap on knowledge, extricate ambiguities in search of their motivations and clarity of judgement to compensate for lack of transparency in international relations. In a world of such complexity, the best we can do is to try to understand and explain it in terms of trends and to make predictions in terms of probabilities.
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This chapter explores issues relating to innovation strategies in developing countries. By flagging some key issues in the literature, it identifies the many dimensions of innovation strategies in developing countries and examines the... more
This chapter explores issues relating to innovation strategies in developing countries. By flagging some key issues in the literature, it identifies the many dimensions of innovation strategies in developing countries and examines the implications for different developing regions. It suggests that innovation strategies that are shaped by domestic market and policy realities are more robust and help to improve the performance of enterprises at country level. As countries differ in their challenges, resources and needs, their policy and development frameworks necessarily vary considerably. This chapter draws some tentative conclusions from the literature, which suggests that strategies based on innovation systems are only replicable to the extent that they address the specifics of history, locality and embedded accumulation trajectories.
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The two time-honoured tasks of universities are teaching and research which have long provided society with specific skills and new knowledge and ideas. Expectations have increased exponentially and demands are originating from a much... more
The two time-honoured tasks of universities are teaching and research which have long provided society with specific skills and new knowledge and ideas. Expectations have increased exponentially and demands are originating from a much wider range of stakeholders. Universities are now given progressively more important roles in economic expansion, social development, better forms of political organization and governance, plus providing education for more students, and developing and transferring technology to industry. The capacity of universities to respond is insufficient, in both the developed and developing worlds. New models to guide the evolution of universities include the triple helix, the creation of entrepreneurial or specialized universities, large-scale excellence-driven environments or the concept of developmental universities. Most of these ultimately suggest that the universities move towards technology-oriented third missions, thus a closer interaction with enterprises. This special issue of Science and Public Policy explores such issues in 12 countries.
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The objective in this paper is to review the technology stations program at Tshwane University of Technology. The technology stations are a product of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) policy objectives. The DST's policy is... more
The objective in this paper is to review the technology stations program at Tshwane University of Technology. The technology stations are a product of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) policy objectives. The DST's policy is aimed at strengthening and expanding mutually beneficial links between universities of technology and small, medium-sized and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The analysis disclosed the contribution of the technology stations to technology transfer in the SMME economy of the electronics and chemicals sub-sectors.
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The third mission encompasses all activities of universities beyond their first and second missions, education and research. An analysis of various countries with different economic, political and geographic features reveals an increased... more
The third mission encompasses all activities of universities beyond their first and second missions, education and research. An analysis of various countries with different economic, political and geographic features reveals an increased demand for such activities in particular with regard to technology transfer, but also as to the support of the civil society in more general terms. Therefore the universities have to find a new balance between education, research and transfer/extension. However, suitable solutions are often complicated by the orientation of the universities and the policy actors on non-scrutinized paradigms originating in other contexts. The strategies in different countries are embedded in their specific context, making it impossible to determine a best practice. Nonetheless, many interesting approaches can be observed, and mutual learning can be fruitful.
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This chapter unpacks the implications of market-led globalisation and recommends the reform of global economic policy, especially in respect of global trade and poverty reduction strategies, debt management, aid for development, and... more
This chapter unpacks the implications of market-led globalisation and recommends the reform of global economic policy, especially in respect of global trade and poverty reduction strategies, debt management, aid for development, and foreign direct investment. Key points include:
Very little evidence exists to maintain the argument that FDI is a major driver of economic growth. Further and on-going qualitative analyses are needed to establish whether FDI remains in the region, or ultimately contributes to facilitating the migration of capital abroad.
Food aid has more than halved over the past 30 years; emergency and distress relief is now nearly four times that received in the preceding decade; and the most significant component of bilateral aid is grants for debt write-downs.
The trade policies prescribed set by World Bank and IMF impinges on local markets – cheap imports have negative impacts on infant industries.
Jobs and income are more important than cheap consumer goods, and countries should consider using tariffs to protect themselves against import surges.
African countries need to design diversification policies for Africa at three levels: 1) macroeconomic policies to support diversification, 2) trade and sectoral policies to deepen diversification, and 3) strengthening institutions to enhance diversification efforts.
Diversification also plays an important role in increasing productivity and maximising the impact of growth on employment creation, a key mechanism for raising standards of living and reducing poverty.
National governments should avoid accepting further loans from the World Bank and IMF.
A single and effective development finance institution should be created for the region, similar to the Banco del Sur (Bank of the South) in South America.
Knowledge production is key to the progressive expansion of productive resources.
Very little evidence exists to maintain the argument that FDI is a major driver of economic growth. Further and on-going qualitative analyses are needed to establish whether FDI remains in the region, or ultimately contributes to facilitating the migration of capital abroad.
Food aid has more than halved over the past 30 years; emergency and distress relief is now nearly four times that received in the preceding decade; and the most significant component of bilateral aid is grants for debt write-downs.
The trade policies prescribed set by World Bank and IMF impinges on local markets – cheap imports have negative impacts on infant industries.
Jobs and income are more important than cheap consumer goods, and countries should consider using tariffs to protect themselves against import surges.
African countries need to design diversification policies for Africa at three levels: 1) macroeconomic policies to support diversification, 2) trade and sectoral policies to deepen diversification, and 3) strengthening institutions to enhance diversification efforts.
Diversification also plays an important role in increasing productivity and maximising the impact of growth on employment creation, a key mechanism for raising standards of living and reducing poverty.
National governments should avoid accepting further loans from the World Bank and IMF.
A single and effective development finance institution should be created for the region, similar to the Banco del Sur (Bank of the South) in South America.
Knowledge production is key to the progressive expansion of productive resources.
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This paper is a synthesis of the July 2005 Development Report published by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Human Sciences Research Council and United Nations Development Programme (DBSA, HSRC and UNDP). The Report asks why, if... more
This paper is a synthesis of the July 2005 Development Report published by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Human Sciences Research Council and United Nations Development Programme (DBSA, HSRC and UNDP). The Report asks why, if the origins of economic dualism are rooted in the cheap, forced, migrant labour introduced by the mining industry and reinforced during apartheid, does dualism persist under democracy when all the relevant laws and many of the practices of the past have been abolished? The breakdown of apartheid did not immediately translate into improved material conditions for the majority of South Africans: 300 years of colonialism and 50 of internal colonialism had hard-wired a duality into the system. Two worlds, which may be conceptualised as the first and second economies, coexisted: a globally integrated world of production, exchange and consumption, and a constrained world of informality, poverty and marginalisation. This synthesis sheds light on the origin and nature of the ‘second economy’ metaphor, and suggests solutions.
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CHAPTER 6 Innovation System for ICT: The Case of South Africa Angathevar Baskaran, Mammo Muchie, and Rasigan Maharajh Introduction We must continue the fight for liberation against poverty, against underdevelopment, against... more
CHAPTER 6 Innovation System for ICT: The Case of South Africa Angathevar Baskaran, Mammo Muchie, and Rasigan Maharajh Introduction We must continue the fight for liberation against poverty, against underdevelopment, against marginalisation
information and ...
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Aalborg Lecture 2006
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GLOBELICS Workshop on Learning, Innovation, & Competence-building Systems in Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa (BRICS), Aalborg, 13 February 2006.
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Globelics 11 Ankara Session.
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Crossed Perceptions: China, the United States, the European Union, Brazil and the Emerging World Seminar:
Alexandrede Gusmão Foundation, and the University of Bolognato, 22nd October 2013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alexandrede Gusmão Foundation, and the University of Bolognato, 22nd October 2013, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Symposium: BRICS in Africa: Challenges & Opportunities – African and European/German Perspectives, 10th September 2014, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Hiroshimastraße28, 10785 Berlin
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World Social Science Forum 2015, International Social Science Council, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, and Human Sciences Research Council, Durban.
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Special Session A: BUILDING NATIONAL RESEARCH CAPACITY ON INNOVATION: THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA, AfricaLics ’15 Conference, 18 November 2015, Kigali, Rwanda.
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ETP Inaugural Lecture: Reindustrialization of Tunisia: Towards Equitable and Sustainable Development, and further Democracy
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This publication reviews the South African system of innovation, at a national level, and at a provincial level from the perspective of three provinces (Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng) and utilising data up to the year 2008. It is... more
This publication reviews the South African system of innovation, at a national level, and at a provincial level from the perspective of three provinces (Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng) and utilising data up to the year 2008. It is presented as a work in progress, which will benefit from identification of additional research and data. Underpinning this is an ambition to deepen understanding about the concepts underlying systems of innovation approach and provide a concise summary of available data with which to evaluate these concepts.
The scoreboard comprises five parts. Indicators in each part are introduced with a brief overview of significant trends and features. Methods and sources used to derive each indicator are also reported further interrogation.
The systems of innovation approach highlights relationships among political economic systems that facilitate and/or hinder innovation. The approach has been widely adopted as a means to monitor and evaluate economies’ innovative performance and policies. A range of methodologies have been established for various indicators of an innovation system’s performance and these are referred to throughout. This report pulls together these internationally accepted methodologies in order to create a nuanced reflection on the performances of South African innovation systems. However, it is worth emphasising that we are reporting a scoreboard that is under constant refinement locally and internationally.
The scoreboard comprises five parts. Indicators in each part are introduced with a brief overview of significant trends and features. Methods and sources used to derive each indicator are also reported further interrogation.
The systems of innovation approach highlights relationships among political economic systems that facilitate and/or hinder innovation. The approach has been widely adopted as a means to monitor and evaluate economies’ innovative performance and policies. A range of methodologies have been established for various indicators of an innovation system’s performance and these are referred to throughout. This report pulls together these internationally accepted methodologies in order to create a nuanced reflection on the performances of South African innovation systems. However, it is worth emphasising that we are reporting a scoreboard that is under constant refinement locally and internationally.
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This volume, second in the series, analyses the relationship between inequality and the evolution of NSIs from a co-evolutionary view. It considers the multi-dimensional character of inequality, embracing a phenomenon that goes beyond the... more
This volume, second in the series, analyses the relationship between inequality and the evolution of NSIs from a co-evolutionary view. It considers the multi-dimensional character of inequality, embracing a phenomenon that goes beyond the income dimension and which is manifested through increasingly complex forms, including assets, access to basic services, infrastructure, and knowledge, as well as race, gender, ethnic and geographic dimensions. The book proposes that innovation can affect inequalities in different ways and through distinct trajectories which are influenced by specific historical paths and conditions, and shaped by public policy interventions. Whilst advancing several valuable considerations and policy recommendations, the central proposition of the book is that inequalities must be explicitly accounted for in development strategies since the benefits of science, technology and innovation are not automatically distributed equally. Original and detailed data, together with expert analyses on wide-ranging issues, will make this book an invaluable resource for researchers and scholars in economics, development studies and political science, in addition to policy-makers.
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The struggle for a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united South Africa evolved over centuries of colonialism and imperialism. In 1990, a political transition away from a militarised apartheid regime overseeing racial capitalism... more
The struggle for a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united South Africa evolved over centuries of colonialism and imperialism. In 1990, a political transition away from a militarised apartheid regime overseeing racial capitalism towards a universally enfranchised constitutional democracy began. In 1994, historical changes heralded the start of a new policy development context underpinned by a strong ethos of participation and democracy with the objective of reconstructing and developing a better life for all. In 1996, South Africa became an early-adopter of the national system of innovation (NSI) approach to reforming its science and technology assets and improving the country's productive capabilities. This study explores the experiences of South Africa in developing economic and innovation policies and their resulting praxis. The study analyses the economic history of country's political economy and reviews the accumulation path underpinning racial capitalism, the de...
Any initiative to change an innovation system has some explicit or implicit results in mind. These results will vary considerably. They may be enhancing output in a community’s agricultural sector or increasing a nation’s engineering... more
Any initiative to change an innovation system has some explicit or implicit results in mind. These results will vary considerably. They may be enhancing output in a community’s agricultural sector or increasing a nation’s engineering graduates. This chapter examines systemic means by which we can assess the results from interventions in an innovation system and through evaluation of those assessments facilitate a learning environment around the respective innovation system’s operation.
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The events of 2015 confounded those who made unflattering observations about the social consciousness of students, allegedly consumed by the effects of being 'born-free' and without a sense of history or mission. These cynical assertions... more
The events of 2015 confounded those who made unflattering observations about the social consciousness of students, allegedly consumed by the effects of being 'born-free' and without a sense of history or mission. These cynical assertions reflected ignorance about the simmering tensions at the chalk face of our education institutions, and indeed the coal face of our mines and in the impoverished communities around the country. Now the issue of the funding of higher education is writ large in the national consciousness. It is widely accepted that higher education in South Africa is chronically underfunded. This is hardly contentious, since even the Minister of Higher Education has accepted the need to access additional resources for higher education. Similarly, the shocking levels of social inequality in South Africa is hardly in issue since South Africa ranks amongst one of the most unequal societies on earth (Southall, 2016). Yet, there are important misconceptions in some of the arguments about the chronic underfunding of education and social inequality as it affects 'poor' and 'middle' class access to higher education leading to narrow conceptualisations of both the role of higher education and its relationship to social systems. The questions raised by students and other participants in the struggles around education are not simply about education, nor are they resolvable by better education policies, plans and strategies, or by increasing state budgets for the higher education system, alone. They raised fundamental questions about the very nature of the 'decolonisation' and 'transformation' of post-apartheid society and how 'national development' and its political, socioeconomic , and cultural goals are to be realised. Because of space constraints we will concentrate on one issue alone – that is, the debate around the question of free higher education and whether it should be provided for the 'poor' or more universally 'for all'. We know that there is a raft of other issues that have been raised in the recent events around the role and purposes of universities bringing into focus conceptions of the decolonising of the university and simultaneously of its curriculum, forms of leadership and management, the racism and gender violence which has characterised university life at many campuses, the commodification of knowledge, the limited nature of its conceptions of scholarship and pedagogy, together with issues about intra-institutional inequality, matters concerning the governance of institutions, the 'culture ' of universities, language and other pertinent issues.
A fuller version of this paper of this paper was submitted to the editor of the New South African Review (forthcoming)in May 2016, the editor has agreed to the publication of this version given the immediacy of the issues raised in the paper and its potential uses for public engagement.
A fuller version of this paper of this paper was submitted to the editor of the New South African Review (forthcoming)in May 2016, the editor has agreed to the publication of this version given the immediacy of the issues raised in the paper and its potential uses for public engagement.
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This chapter explores the main achievements and remaining challenges in the governance of the South African science, technology, and innovation (STI) system. While reflecting on the inherited features from the apartheid period, it focuses... more
This chapter explores the main achievements and remaining challenges in the governance of the South African science, technology, and innovation (STI) system. While reflecting on the inherited features from the apartheid period, it focuses on the period between the two White Papers in 1996 and 2019. The chapter discusses the main shifts in policy emphasis (intents) of these two policy/institutional developments and connects them to the STI system performance and its measurement. It shows that the drastic shift in policy orientation towards addressing social imperatives and the quantitative improvements in the STI outputs since 1994, have not materialized in a radical transformation of the economy or the social relations inherited from apartheid. The chapter argues that the assessment of the STI system needs to be expanded through an evolutionary lens in order to activate the needed systemic transformations.
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ABSTRACT The struggle for a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united South Africa evolved over centuries of colonialism and imperialism. In 1990, a political transition away from a militarised apartheid regime overseeing racial... more
ABSTRACT The struggle for a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united South Africa evolved over centuries of colonialism and imperialism. In 1990, a political transition away from a militarised apartheid regime overseeing racial capitalism towards a universally enfranchised constitutional democracy began. In 1994, historical changes heralded the start of a new policy development context underpinned by a strong ethos of participation and democracy with the objective of reconstructing and developing a better life for all. In 1996, South Africa became an early-adopter of the national system of innovation (NSI) approach to reforming its science and technology assets and improving the country's productive capabilities. This study explores the experiences of South Africa in developing economic and innovation policies and their resulting praxis. The study analyses the economic history of country's political economy and reviews the accumulation path underpinning racial capitalism, the demise of apartheid, and consequent interplay between historical continuities and revolutionary changes that colour (sic) the contemporary South Africa. The results of this study confirm the limitations of radical transformation within global capitalist relations of production and under the political hegemony of neo-liberal ideology. These constraints ultimately prevent the achievement of a better life for all South Africans. This study concludes that democratic participation enhances the performance of the NSI and affords opportunities for post-capitalist development.
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GLOBELICS Workshop on Learning, Innovation, & Competence-building Systems in Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa (BRICS), Aalborg, 13 February 2006.
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The digitization of transactions simultaneously increases access to information, efficiency, and equity while resulting in innovations through the strategies of digitalization—a process that implies a core change in the entire operational... more
The digitization of transactions simultaneously increases access to information, efficiency, and equity while resulting in innovations through the strategies of digitalization—a process that implies a core change in the entire operational model of exchange of goods and services and adds to reduction in transaction costs. Thus, digitalization as a means to reduce developmental differences among individuals through reduced transaction costs can be considered a strategic focus for development cooperation. This brief articulates the challenges and proposes some efforts to approach digital development cooperation through the lens of South-South Cooperation and argues a two-step method to facilitate the process.
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The world of 2008 is home to an estimated 6.65 billion people. Humanity has deployed its evolutionary advantages to leverage a species wide total hegemony over the planet earth. This vast and extensive demography spans the globe and is... more
The world of 2008 is home to an estimated 6.65 billion people. Humanity has deployed its evolutionary advantages to leverage a species wide total hegemony over the planet earth. This vast and extensive demography spans the globe and is socially organised through political structures. This ...
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This chapter explores the main achievements and remaining challenges in the governance of the South African science, technology, and innovation (STI) system. While reflecting on the inherited features from the apartheid period, it focuses... more
This chapter explores the main achievements and remaining challenges in the governance of the South African science, technology, and innovation (STI) system. While reflecting on the inherited features from the apartheid period, it focuses on the period between the two White Papers in 1996 and 2019. The chapter discusses the main shifts in policy emphasis (intents) of these two policy/institutional developments and connects them to the STI system performance and its measurement. It shows that the drastic shift in policy orientation towards addressing social imperatives and the quantitative improvements in the STI outputs since 1994, have not materialized in a radical transformation of the economy or the social relations inherited from apartheid. The chapter argues that the assessment of the STI system needs to be expanded through an evolutionary lens in order to activate the needed systemic transformations.
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The events of 2015 confounded those who made unflattering observations about the social consciousness of students, allegedly consumed by the effects of being 'born-free' and without a sense of history or mission. These... more
The events of 2015 confounded those who made unflattering observations about the social consciousness of students, allegedly consumed by the effects of being 'born-free' and without a sense of history or mission. These cynical assertions reflected ignorance about the simmering tensions at the chalk face of our education institutions, and indeed the coal face of our mines and in the impoverished communities around the country. Now the issue of the funding of higher education is writ large in the national consciousness. It is widely accepted that higher education in South Africa is chronically underfunded. This is hardly contentious, since even the Minister of Higher Education has accepted the need to access additional resources for higher education. Similarly, the shocking levels of social inequality in South Africa is hardly in issue since South Africa ranks amongst one of the most unequal societies on earth (Southall, 2016). Yet, there are important misconceptions in some of the arguments about the chronic underfunding of education and social inequality as it affects 'poor' and 'middle' class access to higher education leading to narrow conceptualisations of both the role of higher education and its relationship to social systems. The questions raised by students and other participants in the struggles around education are not simply about education, nor are they resolvable by better education policies, plans and strategies, or by increasing state budgets for the higher education system, alone. They raised fundamental questions about the very nature of the 'decolonisation' and 'transformation' of post-apartheid society and how 'national development' and its political, socioeconomic , and cultural goals are to be realised. Because of space constraints we will concentrate on one issue alone – that is, the debate around the question of free higher education and whether it should be provided for the 'poor' or more universally 'for all'. We know that there is a raft of other issues that have been raised in the recent events around the role and purposes of universities bringing into focus conceptions of the decolonising of the university and simultaneously of its curriculum, forms of leadership and management, the racism and gender violence which has characterised university life at many campuses, the commodification of knowledge, the limited nature of its conceptions of scholarship and pedagogy, together with issues about intra-institutional inequality, matters concerning the governance of institutions, the 'culture ' of universities, language and other pertinent issues. A fuller version of this paper of this paper was submitted to the editor of the New South African Review (forthcoming)in May 2016, the editor has agreed to the publication of this version given the immediacy of the issues raised in the paper and its potential uses for public engagement.
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ABSTRACT , Rio de Janeiro
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This dissertation provides an economic history narrative which analyses the accumulation path underpinning the development of racial capitalism in South Africa. The specific objective of this narrative is to analyse the degree to which... more
This dissertation provides an economic history narrative which analyses the accumulation path underpinning the development of racial capitalism in South Africa. The specific objective of this narrative is to analyse the degree to which the adoption of a national system of innovation (NSI) analytical framework by the first post-apartheid government led to science, technology and innovation (STI) policies and strategies, which were appropriate for the development objectives of the new democratic political economy. The dissertation first explores whether the NSI framework is sufficiently theoretically robust to offer the possibility of a rupture in the reproduction of the relations of production inherited from apartheid. It then proceeds to analyse the specific articulation of the NSI framework in South Africa in terms of these transformational possibilities. Consequently, one of the focuses of this work is on the co-evolution of the political economy and institutional conceptualisatio...
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CHAPTER 6 Innovation System for ICT: The Case of South Africa Angathevar Baskaran, Mammo Muchie, and Rasigan Maharajh Introduction We must continue the fight for liberation against poverty, against underdevelopment, against... more
CHAPTER 6 Innovation System for ICT: The Case of South Africa Angathevar Baskaran, Mammo Muchie, and Rasigan Maharajh Introduction We must continue the fight for liberation against poverty, against underdevelopment, against marginalisation
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The recent publication by the McKinsey Global Institute has confronted these seemingly unwelcome and unhealthy viewpoints by promoting an alternative approach in recognising that just as there are Tigers in Asia, the Lions in Africa are... more
The recent publication by the McKinsey Global Institute has confronted these seemingly unwelcome and unhealthy viewpoints by promoting an alternative approach in recognising that just as there are Tigers in Asia, the Lions in Africa are on the move. The symbolic message of optimism created by the metaphoric characterisation of a number of African economies as lions on the move is therefore extremely positive. There is much to be gained in being hopeful and optimistic.
This paper is a contribution to the discussion on Innovation for Development. It is argued that innovation strategies in developing countries are the result of competing policy and contextual factors. In exploring this theme, it suggests... more
This paper is a contribution to the discussion on Innovation for Development. It is argued that innovation strategies in developing countries are the result of competing policy and contextual factors. In exploring this theme, it suggests that innovation strategies which are shaped by domestic market and policy realities are more robust and contribute towards improving the country-level performance of enterprises. The paper has seven sections which include a brief review of the literature related to innovation strategies in developing countries; a small discussion of success factors and policies of countries that offer good experiences and lessons in applying innovation strategies; a part on what policy implications to draw from the literature and the success stories for less developed countries; and a final section on the role of the donor countries in facilitating the implementation of the innovation strategies. The paper puts forward some tentative conclusions that summarise what ...
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The two time-honoured tasks of universities are teaching and research which have long provided society with specific skills and new knowledge and ideas. Expectations have increased exponentially and demands are originating from a much... more
The two time-honoured tasks of universities are teaching and research which have long provided society with specific skills and new knowledge and ideas. Expectations have increased exponentially and demands are originating from a much wider range of stakeholders. Universities are now given progressively more important roles in economic expansion, social development, better forms of political organization and governance, plus providing