The Thinker最新文献

{"title":"South Africa-Nordic Relations","authors":"Nora Hattar, Kine M. Bækkevold","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2526","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2526","url":null,"abstract":"Since the democratisation of South Africa in the mid-90s, South Africa and the Nordic countries have cooperated multilaterally as well as in bilateral settings in areas such as education and research, business and trade, and peace and security. By exploring the research question ‘What are the prospects for a strategic partnership between South Africa and the Nordic region?’, this article provides insights into the nature of South Africa-Nordic contemporary relations and advances our theoretical understanding of what factors influence the formation of strategic partnerships. The analysis is informed by Thomas Wilkins’ strategic partnership model, which sets forth that the formation of strategic partnerships hinges on three core factors: environmental uncertainty, strategic fit, and a system principle. It is argued herein that a fourth factor, international and domestic political context, also plays a role in the formation phase of a strategic partnership; an argument which is supported empirically by the South Africa-Nordic case. Data for the analysis is mainly collected from South African and Nordic government documents, while occasionally also drawing upon party documents, academic publications, and news articles. The paper concludes that the plurality of common national interests and shared values make fertile ground for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial strategic partnership between South Africa and the Nordics. Nevertheless, current political contextual factors diminish the likelihood that such a strategic partnership will emerge in the immediate future.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83605072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF)","authors":"Sven Botha, Helin Bäckman Kartal","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2519","url":null,"abstract":"Science diplomacy has been an endeavoured area of cooperation between Sweden and South Africa despite Sweden’s reluctanceto practice science diplomacy. However, the introduction of the South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF) in 2017 remains an underexplored phenomenon of knowledge diplomacy. Using Knight’s five characteristics of knowledge diplomacy (focus on higher education, research, and innovation; diversity of actors and partners; recognition of different needs and the collective use of resources; reciprocity; and the building and strengthening of relations between states), this paper argues that SASUF is an essential frontier for knowledge diplomacy in the context of South Africa-Sweden relations. The employment of Knight’s framework finds that SASUF can indeed be classified as an example of knowledge diplomacy. In conclusion, a new research agenda on knowledge diplomacy within the context of South Africa-Sweden relations is proposed.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83842634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Re-Tale”","authors":"B. Stiehler-Mulder, T. Tselepis","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2523","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2523","url":null,"abstract":"The fashion industry has long been in a battle to improve its sustainability, as well as its environmental protection efforts. In thisconceptual paper, we unpack the different stories of sustainability and environmental challenges in this specific industry – which is very much driven by fast fashion. We contrast developing (South Africa) and developed (Sweden) markets’ approaches to fashion sustainability, to uncover and understand broad overlapping dimensions of sustainability, and differences. The aim of this paper is to stimulate thinking and conversations about sustainable practices in developing nations as well as in developed nations. The review of the stories and the contexts presented suggests the need to shift the focus to the developing market’s consumer, and concludeswith the proposal of including a fifth principle of sustainability: Reframing fashion.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90531751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hope Springs Eternal","authors":"Y. Rodny-Gumede","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2525","url":null,"abstract":"When South Africa is covered in the Swedish media, the focus is often on the history of South Africa, the role of Sweden in theanti-apartheid movement and, in more recent years, the political and socio-economic landscape of postapartheid South Africa, marked by increased wealth gaps, social unrest, and corruption. How South Africa is covered by foreign media is important and politicians, as well as businesses and organisations such as Investment South Africa, Brand South Africa, and South African Tourism, keep a keen eye on the media as a gauge for maintaining diplomatic relations, as well as for attracting foreign investment. As a former journalist who has covered South Africa for Scandinavian media, I have had ample opportunity to ponder and research the media coverage of SouthAfrica and the African continent in the Swedish media, as well as Scandinavian and wider international media. Drawing upon my own experience, as well as an analysis of coverage of South Africa in the Swedish news media, I ask what the image of South Africa isin the Swedish media, how this has changed over the last 30 years and, importantly, what this might mean for South African-Swedish relations?","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75776971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mutual Aid and Informal Finance","authors":"E. Dermineur, U. Kolanisi","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2520","url":null,"abstract":"This paper focuses on stokvels in contemporary South Africa. It examines the resilience and persistence of mutual aid in a modern setting. It seeks to build a qualitative model to understand the persistence and adaptation of the stokvels in a modern society wherebanking institutions coexist with informal credit practices. The concept of cooperation is key to the analysis. We argue that stokvels continue to persist in modern society, despite the rise of banking institutions, because of their cooperative nature.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85689635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation and Mapping of Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment with Membrane Processes in South Africa and Sweden","authors":"H. Richards, F. Lipnizki","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2521","url":null,"abstract":"Membrane technology is crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal No. 6 of clean water and sanitation for all. Despite its numerous benefits, high capital and operating costs pose major challenges. Recent research has focused on sustainable materials as membranes and more effective cleaning regimes to reduce costs and improve membrane lifespan. While South Africa and Sweden have both begun using membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment, it remains relatively rare. Collaborations throughSASUF aim to evaluate and share best practices. Although MBRs have produced high-quality effluent in South Africa, cost, maintenance, and membrane replacement, as well as river pollution, remain major considerations. In contrast, Sweden has seen large-scale membrane installations in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants. Establishing working membrane references iscrucial to the success of membrane technology, which is well-established globally but often requires local adaptations. Collaborations between the two countries are essential to support this approach by sharing knowledge and learning from each other.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85888266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Impact of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa","authors":"Corné Davis","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2522","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2522","url":null,"abstract":"In 2021, Prof. Corné Davis, f rom the Department of Strategic Communication at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), approached KPMG South Africa regarding the publication of an updated research report on the cost of gender-based violence (GBV) to the South African economy, following a frequently quoted report titled ‘Too Costly to Ignore – The Economic Impact of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa’. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between UJ, Shared Value Africa Initiative, and KPMG South Africa toconduct research and to publish a new GBV report for South Africa. In the 2014 KPMG report, Prof. Koustuv Dalal of Mid Sweden University was cited with reference to the cost estimations he had done during a study in KwaZulu-Natal in 2011. Prof. Daviscontacted Prof. Dalal by email to invite him to participate in the study.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135658587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contributors","authors":"Ronit Frenkel","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2517","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2517","url":null,"abstract":"Contributors to this Edition","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135703150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silences and Vulnerabilities","authors":"Suruchi Thapar-Björkert, M. Stevens, Å. Eriksson, Johanna Gondouin","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2518","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2518","url":null,"abstract":"In 1999, Sweden introduced legislation that prohibits and criminalises the purchase of sex – while continuing to decriminalise the selling of sex. Referred to as the ‘Swedish model’, or the ‘Nordic model’ after neighbouring countries followed suit, this legal framework is built on an understanding of ‘prostitution’ as exploitation and a form of violence against women. Examined through this lens, the selling of sex can never be regarded as work. Through its feminist foreign policy platform (in place between 2014 and 2022), Sweden declared that it would engage in ‘persistent and robust commitment and agency’ to encourage other countries to adopt similar legal frameworks. Yet, evidence of the presumed success of the Swedish model is scant at best, with recent research raising concerns over how the Sex Purchase Act in conjunction with immigration law and third-party regulation has contributed to increasedvulnerability of migrant sex workers – who make up the majority of people selling sex in the Nordic region (Vuolajärvi, 2019).In South Africa, both the selling and buying of sex is criminalised, in spite of the country being party to several international treaties that recognise the right to free choice of work. As decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa is currently high on the public agenda,and the ‘Swedish model’ is one of the alternatives discussed, critically examining the possible consequences of adopting this model is crucial. In this paper, we draw on research and activist interventions in Sweden and South Africa to examine the possible implications of the adoption of the ‘Swedish model’ in South Africa – a country with markedly different historical and demographic trajectories, migratory patterns, and a much less extensive and supported social welfare system. We caution that such a move may not achieve the aim of reducing sex workers’ vulnerability and exposure to violence. Furthermore, framing the selling of sex as violence rather than work may risk silencing causes for social justice by stripping sex workers of their agency and autonomy, while simultaneously casting them as victims.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"290 1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73160355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Promise of Cultural Diplomacy","authors":"Hedda Krausz Sjögren, Kristina Hagström-Ståhl","doi":"10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2524","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36615/the_thinker.v95i2.2524","url":null,"abstract":"This article offers a reflection on the potentials of cultural diplomacy and cooperation, situating itself in the long-term relationship between South Africa and Sweden as well as the specific context of the professional practice of Sweden’s first counsellor for cultural affairs in South Africa, Hedda Krausz Sjögren. Providing a first-hand account of cultural diplomacy, it adopts a self-reflexive positionand, largely, a first-person perspective. Co-authored by Krausz Sjögren and one of her collaborators during this period, a theatre director and researcher, Kristina Hagström-Ståhl, it also attempts to reflect the shared experience of collaborative work in this sphere. As such, the text is written from within a combination of diplomatic, cultural, and professional practices, as well as from within a diverse set of skills informing the practices that shaped the body of work to which the article refers. We use a combination of personaland collective pronouns throughout this article to place emphasis on our reflections; the use of personal pronouns denotes Krausz Sjögren’s reflections. We aim to share a sense of the possible impact of work dedicated to democracy, freedom of expression, andgender inclusion.","PeriodicalId":34673,"journal":{"name":"The Thinker","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135703329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}