New South Institute

22/06/2026

What does it take to build a professional, capable and accountable public service?

As Africa marks Public Service Day, governments across the continent continue to grapple with questions of state capability, political-administrative relations and public sector reform.

Join the New South Institute (NSI) as we explore how countries across Africa are approaching public service reform and what lessons these experiences offer for strengthening democratic governance and service delivery.

📅 24 June 2026
🕑 14:00 (SAST)

REGISTER HERE: https://shorturl.at/gRcyN

Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Afrobarometer African Union SAAPAM

19/06/2026

As the global order shifts towards multipolarity, another idea is quietly gaining ground: the civilisation-state.

From China and Russia to India, Turkey and Iran, political leaders and intellectuals are increasingly framing their countries not simply as nation-states, but as distinct civilisations with unique histories, values and political futures.

In a new News24 op-ed, Jelena Vidojević, Co-Founder of the New South Institute (NSI) and Head of the South-South Dialogues programme, asks an important question: where does Africa fit into a world increasingly shaped by civilisational politics?

As conversations about multipolarity gain momentum across the Global South, Jelena asks whether we are paying enough attention to another powerful idea shaping the emerging world order, the civilisation-state, and what it might mean for Africa.

Read the full article here: https://www.news24.com/opinions/columnists/opinion-africa-and-the-rise-of-civilisation-states-conversations-we-are-not-having-20260617-0921
Briefly - South African News CGTNEurope Parliament of the Republic of South Africa

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “multipolar world” sounds progressive – until you realise it’s built on a civilisational ranking. Africa needs to break its silence, argues Jelena Vidojević.

16/06/2026

The New South Institute (NSI) is pleased to invite you to a webinar marking Africa Public Service Day.

Date: Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Time: 14:00 South Africa Standard Time
Platform: Online. Microsoft Teams
Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=OX6CQe2R30Oizpnel4p6_K7zJhFzkuVHrFsGLEp4gydUM1JZMkZWOEpSRk5WQkhCTkc0SVc1R0tCRi4u

Public service reform is often discussed as a national challenge. In reality, countries across Africa are confronting many of the same questions:

How do we build capable institutions?
How do we professionalise the public service?
How do we strengthen democratic governance while improving service delivery?

The discussion will include presentations from:
Rorisang Lekalake,
Director of Analysis, Afrobarometer

Ivor Chipkin
Director, New South Institute (NSI)

Jacob Nato
Policy Analyst, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA Kenya)

SAAPAM Public Service And Administration, RSA Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Public Service Commission of Kenya

15/06/2026

We're pleased to share that an interview from NSI's Missing Voices: Critical Thinking in Times of Polycrisis series has been republished by Russia in Global Affairs, a journal focused on global politics and international relations.

The interview features Kaiser Kuo, host and co-founder of the Sinica Podcast and adjunct professor at NYU Shanghai, and forms part of a series curated by Jelena Vidojević, New South Institute (NSI) Co-Founder and Head of the South-South Dialogues programme.

The Missing Voices series seeks to bring diverse and often overlooked perspectives into conversations about the future of the global order.

Read the republished interview here: https://globalaffairs.ru/articles/czivilizacziya-kajzer-kuo/

10/06/2026

By Alan Hirsch Threats and deadly conflict over migration are spreading fast in South Africa. This is hugely worrying and could result in widespread injury and killings, as it has in the past. The region’s investment prospects could be dimmed too, due to perceptions of political instability. The n...

10/06/2026

Anti-foreigner violence doesn't emerge in a vacuum.

It takes root where economic hardship, frustration, misinformation and political opportunism meet. But it can be prevented.

Writing for The Conversation Africa, Alan Hirsch explores why South Africa remains vulnerable to anti-foreigner mobilisation and outlines practical steps that government, political leaders and civil society can take to reduce tensions and build a more constructive response to migration.

Read the full article:

Several key actions that could help are not yet on the table, including mobilising other political parties as well as civic society to fight anti-foreigner hysteria.

10/06/2026

Several key actions that could help are not yet on the table, including mobilising other political parties as well as civic society to fight anti-foreigner hysteria.

09/06/2026

The New South Institute is seeking to appoint an Administration Coordinator.

https://nsi.org.za/news/vacancy-administration-coordinator/

09/06/2026

Join our team.

We're looking for a highly organised and proactive Administration Coordinator to support executive coordination, meeting and event management, and the effective delivery of organisational priorities.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close on Monday, 22 June 2026.

Apply: [email protected]

For the full job description and requirements, visit: https://nsi.org.za/news/vacancy-administration-coordinator/