Discourse ZA

Fostering Public Engagement: Academia, Politics & Hope for SA In this episode, TK Pooe (PhD) interviews political analyst Sanet Madonsela Solomon. They discuss the current state of South African politics under the GNU government, the need for academics to foster a culture of public engagement, and how to balance listening to non-expert perspectives while preserving academic rigour. They also explore the role of social media in political commentary and discuss why, despite the challenges of poor governance in many provinces, Sanet remains hopeful about South Africa's future. https://lnkd.in/etmPvTKS

New episode! - "Fit for Purpose" In this episode, TK Pooe (PhD) speaks with Thabang Motsohi about his book, “Fit for Purpose.” They discuss the core challenges impacting the growth and success of South African institutions, the organisational structure of the ANC, and why, due to conflicting ideological principles and perceptions within its Tripartite Alliance structure, it is not ideally structured for the purpose of governing in the post-apartheid era. https://lnkd.in/d7tqYKjg

The US and Us In this episode, Bronwyn Williams speaks with political commentator and former US diplomat Brooks Spector about the recent turbulence in US politics and its potential global impact. Together, they take us on a tour across the world, exploring how a Trump or Harris presidency could affect Ukraine, Russia, China, Taiwan, India, Iran, Israel, Gaza, and, of course, South Africa. https://lnkd.in/enxZppm4

Shaping Values in a Digital World In this episode, Bronwyn Williams speaks with Andrew McLuhan, the grandson of the noted media theorist Marshall McLuhan. They discuss the enduring relevance of Marshall's ideas, particularly 'the medium is the message,' in today's digital age. The conversation also explores how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the impact of technology on society, the effects it had on the younger generation specifically, how technological changes shape our values, and the steps we can take to safeguard what is important to us. https://lnkd.in/dkPS3PV3

In this episode, TK Pooe (PhD) speaks to Marianne SEVERIN about the differences and parallels between South Africa and France. They discuss the impact of political corruption on South Africa, the history of the National South Africa vs France: Whose Politics Would You Choose? Front and Jean-Marie Le Pen in France, what motivates French voters, the legacy of French colonialism in Africa, the virtues of South African media, if the rise of the far right threatens the European Union, and the socio-political challenges facing French society. https://lnkd.in/einiwmn5

The Realignment of South African Politics In this episode, Bronwyn Williams speaks to journalist and author Mandy Wiener about South Africa’s ever-evolving political situation. How unified is our government of national unity? How binding are the agreements between the ANC and its GNU partners? What stops Ramaphosa from changing his cabinet at will? They also discuss how the realignment of South African politics impacts the country’s investability, whether our politics should be held hostage by market forces, the false dichotomy between a country’s economy and its people, the historical context behind many South Africans’ resistance towards having the DA in government, why political parties choose such mediocre men to represent them, the parallels between SA politics and the US, and why our current political turmoil may be a sign of a maturing democracy. https://lnkd.in/ddqSxxY9

Free Speech, Hate Speech, and the Inconsistency of Our Courts In this episode, Bronwyn Williams speaks with advocate Mark Oppenheimer about South Africa’s hate speech legislation and several notable cases: Jon Qwelane, Penny Sparrow, Vicki Momberg, Afriforum versus Julius Malema, and the controversy surrounding the old South African flag. They explore the definition of hate speech under South African law, the apparent leniency of South African courts towards political leaders, the motivations behind some Constitutional Court judgments, blasphemy laws, the distinction between hate speech and hurtful speech, and how the law can — and has been — exploited to suppress free speech and punish political enemies. https://lnkd.in/dePdApGX

Economic History: Lessons from the Past In this episode, Bronwyn Williams speaks to economic historian Johan Fourie. They discuss the progress humanity has made over the last few centuries, what the field of economics can do better, the mismatch between data and perception, why GDP remains a useful measure of growth, the role of language in driving various industries, the perils of the degrowth fad, and what economic lessons humanity refuses to learn. https://lnkd.in/dRvfiUwu

SA Election 2024: Review the Future In this episode, TK Pooe (PhD) speaks to Justice Malala to unpack South Africa’s 2024 elections. They discuss the rise and fall of the ANC, the new normal of coalition politics, the juxtaposition of hope and fear in the current political climate, the lack of political violence during the elections, why the Government of National Unity may only be so in name, the capitalist undercurrents in the ANC, how Jacob Zuma will try to continue to cause havoc in SA politics, what the incoming administration needs to focus on, and more. https://lnkd.in/dkvgT_YY

New episode - "In this Economy?" In this episode, Bronwyn Williams speaks to one of the internet’s favourite financial educators, Kyla Scanlon, about her book, “In this Economy?” They discuss the hidden forces driving key economic outcomes, the most common economic myths, outdated assumptions that constrain our political imagination, and what a bold new path to building a prosperous society that works for everyone could look like. https://lnkd.in/diCi9j3R