Victory disease
Military historians have a term for what happens when armies start believing their own momentum. They call it “victory disease”.
It looks good for the DA, but what could go wrong?
The DA has come out of its Federal Congress over the weekend strong and confident. It appears to be in a sound position to fight the local government elections that will probably take place in November this year, and the national elections in 2029. Its prospects have never appeared better since 1994.
The bells of Hungary toll for… whom, exactly?
Does the fall of Viktor Orbán after 16 years of authoritarian rule signal the end of illiberal nationalism? Probably not.
What kind of history are we teaching?
The proposed changes to South Africa’s high school history curriculum centres African history, a necessary correction. But in doing so, it risks treating major global systems as background rather than sustained objects of study. Students may learn the vocabulary of ideology without the tools to interrogate it.
Promise of a professional public service
The public service is a reality in our lives, but one that we often find opaque and incomprehensible.
Strong enough to win
I stand before you as your newly elected leader with one promise: However long I have the privilege of serving in this job, I will be dedicated to the mission of building a stronger South Africa for everyone.
How to get the BER’s “Fish Eagle” to soar in SA
The Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University has devised three scenarios for the economic future of SA. The scenarios have received some media coverage, including South Africa’s future: Three economic scenarios explored.
Let’s go for People’s Capitalism
South Africa’s liberal oppositional parties tend to argue that they’d carry out ANC policies more efficiently and less corruptly. That’s their selling point, but it’s not much of an alternative.
The trouble with the new history curriculum
The Department of Basic Education has put a new draft history curriculum out for public comment. The window closes on 19 April. South Africans who care about what their children will learn have just a week to read the draft and make their views known.
Historic place of the Blue Machine
We have just watched a powerful – if brief – history of the Democratic Alliance, beginning with our founding Congress 26 years ago. But the values we stand for are far older. We did not invent them.