Joel Pearson completed his Masters degree in History at Wits, and is now working on his PhD. His doctoral dissertation considers how the transition to democracy unfolded in municipalities in Limpopo Province, using archival and oral history methodologies to understand the nature and limits of change. This builds off previous research undertaken by PARI in the Mogalakwena and Lephalale local municipalities. In 2012 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political and International Studies with distinction from Rhodes University. Joel believes that practical engagement with local histories serves to reveal a diversity of new perspectives of the world, sensitise one’s research methods to present realities, and humanise one’s own perspective.

Publications

Pearson. J., M. Phadi and T. Lesaffre (2018) ‘The Seeds of Perpetual Instability: The Case of Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 44(4), 593–611.

Pearson, J. and M. Phadi  (2018) ‘We Are Building a City: Governance and the Struggle for Self-sufficiency in Lephalale Local Municipality’. A PARI report. Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute.

Pearson, J. and M. Phadi (2017) ‘The Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa: An Institutional Case Study’. A PARI report. Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute, Open Society Foundation South Africa and the Ford Foundation.

Pearson, J. and N. Mpofu (2016) ‘Igniting a Skills Revolution. The Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition’. A GSDPP report. Cape Town: University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Development, Policy and Practice.

Pearson, J., S. Pillay and T. Ledger (2015) ‘Financing the Future: Budget Reform in South Africa: 1994–2004’. Prepared by PARI for GSDPP and GTAC. Cape Town: University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Development, Policy and Practice.