Foreign Policy Blogs

Saturday Shorts

Some stories for your weekend:

Although I am not especially worried that South Africa will succumb to Big Man Syndrome these sorts of stories detailing the extent of the perks of power in South Africa are still always disquieting.

Springboks 31-19 All Blacks. South Africa has now taken firm control of the Tri Nations. Morne Steyn broke several national and world records in scoring all of the Bok points. John Smit earned his world record breaking 60th cap as captain, and Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers earned their 50th international appearances.

Howard French gives a rave review of Andrew Rice’s new book, The Teeth May Smile but the Heart Does Not Forget: Murder and Memory in Uganda, in the New York Times Book Review.

Finally, Morgan Tsvangirai is urging South African investment in Zimbabwe. This is a tightrope for South Africa, which needs to support development across the Limpopo, and which ought to feel at least a  little bit of responsibility toward the neighbor to the north, but which also might just want to see some signs that Robert Mugabe is not waiting in the wings to take the money and run, cracking down on the opposition in his wake.

 

Author

Derek Catsam

Derek Catsam is a Professor of history and Kathlyn Cosper Dunagan Professor in the Humanities at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He is also Senior Research Associate at Rhodes University. Derek writes about race and politics in the United States and Africa, sports, and terrorism. He is currently working on books on bus boycotts in the United States and South Africa in the 1940s and 1950s and on the 1981 South African Springbok rugby team's tour to the US. He is the author of three books, dozens of scholarly articles and reviews, and has published widely on current affairs in African, American, and European publications. He has lived, worked, and travelled extensively throughout southern Africa. He writes about politics, sports, travel, pop culture, and just about anything else that comes to mind.

Areas of Focus:
Africa; Zimbabwe; South Africa; Apartheid

Contact