

Shawn Hagedorn
For 20 years, Shawn Hagedorn has been regularly writing articles in leading SA publications, focusing primarily on economic development. For over two years, he wrote a biweekly column titled “Myths and Misunderstandings” without ever lacking subject material. Visit shawn-hagedorn.com/, and follow him on Twitter @shawnhagedorn
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Articles By This Author

Legitimacy: Russia, China, and SA versus the West
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . May 5, 2022
Some autocratic regimes seek legitimacy through staging elections. All of them seek legitimacy through criticising the West. The war in Ukraine challenges such criticisms. Prospects

Ukraine, Russia, China and SA’s ‘born frees’
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Apr 18, 2022
The war in Ukraine symbolises autocratic governments attacking the rules-based global order. It also highlights why our leaders have failed young South Africans, as they

SA amid a pivoting world order
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Apr 4, 2022
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, following its ‘no limits’ unity with China, is challenging the global order in ways that highlight why the ANC’s perceptions

Misplaced faith
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Mar 21, 2022
Designers of self-driving cars must transcend technical challenges while calibrating how much faith to have in other drivers. Navigating South Africa’s current threats and opportunities

Why the Ukrainian crisis is relevant to SA
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Mar 7, 2022
Affluent European voters allowed authoritarian-led Russia to exploit their ideals and trust. This led to a war which triggered devastating sanctions. Similarly ruthless exploitation of

An up-to-date worldview appreciates how ideals are being exploited
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Feb 21, 2022
Illiberal Russian and Chinese leaders exploit how open societies overzealously embrace key ideals. South Africa’s dismal economic prospects reflect our elected leaders promoting ideals which

How focusing on solutions provides a fresh perspective
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Feb 7, 2022
The ANC and EFF being excluded from a 2024 coalition government would be a great leap forward. Yet this will remain both unlikely and insufficient

Why SA ignores today’s prosperity-inducing free lunch
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Jan 24, 2022
Few societies have ever been able to fund abundant imports through extracting below-ground riches. Such geological free lunches have recently given way to today’s prosperity-inducing

Why SA leads in politics of polarisation
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Jan 10, 2022
Over-prioritising redistribution entrenches poverty. This legitimises racial discrimination which stokes sufficient polarisation to cripple accountability. The pandemic has tested many organisations, with most failing to

SA politics versus the global economy
- By Shawn Hagedorn
- . Dec 15, 2021
Digital technologies are accelerating the globalisation of services. Is this the area where investors can best spur growth and jobs in SA? Our policies reflect