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Western states will have been watching the recent Brics summit with interest. The Brics alliance has expanded from its first five members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – to nine. On paper it looks powerful, with prospects of reshaping the global order towards one where the east dominates. International studies expert Anthoni van Nieuwkerk explains, however, that various barriers stand in the way of the group achieving this goal.
As more and more people live in cities, capitals are becoming political battlegrounds. Autocratic governments know cities are where they must focus if they want to stay in control. But urban citizens can fight back. We’ve seen this over the past year with anti-government protests erupting in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. David Jackman and Tom Goodfellow reveal the tactics used in the battle.
Cities also drive economic growth, foster innovation and bring people together, creating hubs of culture, education and opportunity. To mark World Cities Day tomorrow, we’re sharing some articles from our archives which spotlight a few of Africa’s major urban hubs.
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Thabo Leshilo
Politics + Society
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Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, University of South Africa
It’s not clear yet that the Brics alliance is close to being able to achieve unity of purpose.
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David Jackman, University of Oxford; Tom Goodfellow, University of Sheffield
Cities are political battlefields, where elites try to retain control, and people challenge this authority.
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Ian-Malcolm Rijsdijk, University of Cape Town
The film explores the lasting impact of the killings on the Mitchells Plain community and raises questions about the police investigation.
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Maria S. Floro, American University
Without comprehensive public and global support for care provision and the integration of care in the climate agenda, unmet care needs will only grow and inequalities will widen.
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From the archive
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Astrid R.N. Haas, University of Toronto
East Africa is one of the fastest urbanising regions in the world, but it’s still in the early phases. There’s a big opportunity to get the region’s cities right.
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Ndubisi Onwuanyi, University of Benin
The foundations of orderliness for any city are planning and management. Lagos had this in place in the early days.
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Innocent Dande, University of the Free State; Professor Sandra Swart, Stellenbosch University
How Harare has dealt with its urban canine citizens over the years following independence reflects the competing visions of a modern city.
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Kathy Munro, University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg Then and Now is an important book about what ought to be appreciated and “saved”.
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Melissa Wanjiru-Mwita, Technical University of Kenya
In independent Kenya, road renaming happened to erase the names of the colonisers and to celebrate the new heroes: Kenya’s political leaders and freedom fighters.
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From our international editions
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Flora Salim, UNSW Sydney
AI systems more intelligent than humans in some ways already exist – but general-purpose superhuman intelligence is probably still a long way off.
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Nicholas R. Micinski, University of Maine; Kelsey Norman, Rice University
Millions of Palestinian refugees are set to suffer as a result of banning the UN agency, piling pressure on the US, which has warned of ‘consequences.’
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Goffredina Spanò, Kingston University; Gina Mason, Brown University
Your partner can affect how deeply you sleep.
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Amalendu Misra, Lancaster University
Haiti’s gangs are turning their attention to vulnerable boys and girls as their battle with security forces continues.
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30 October 2024
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Johannesburg
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31 October - 5 December 2024
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Belville
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11 November 2024
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Johannesburg
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28 - 29 November 2024
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Stellenbosch
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Would you like to republish any of these articles?
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It’s free to republish, here are the guidelines.
Contact us on africa-republish@theconversation.com in case you need assistance.
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