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ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT

Through engagement with the research coming out of PARI’s programmes, and in collaboration with research centres in South Africa and around the world, our aim is to contribute to the study of the state and state-society relations, in the field of public administration, state governance and sociology of the state.

The Academic Engagement programme curates a sustained and meaningful relationship with academic institutions that are aligned to PARI’s research and objectives. That is, institutions interested in an emancipatory study of the state and public administration. We work to create an academic framework for PARI’s work and to craft new curricula and nurture new scholars in the field. We have collaborated with the Universities of Johannesburg (UJ), Witwatersrand (Wits) and Cape Town (UCT).

Our collaborations include:

  • Co-supervision
  • Teaching modules and guest lectures
  • Joint seminars
  • Joint fund raising

PARI has a historical relationship with Wits, with our initial Postgraduate Dissertation Programme and later Organisational and Institutional Studies (OIS) that created a new, multidisciplinary field of study in the School of Social Sciences. Presently, our primary affiliation is with UJ.

Lead: Dr Federica Duca, federicad@pari.org.za

Research Seminars

A multidisciplinary approach to the study of the state and civil society in the African continent and beyond.

We hold period workshop series’ to offer scholars, researchers and postgraduate students an opportunity to share their ongoing work, either by discussing work-in-progress or presenting upcoming and new publications.

We welcome research on land, local government and governance, the energy sector, “corruption” and “anticorruption” politics, and theories of the state (though contributions need not focus on these sectors if they are broadly within the theme of the series).

Internal Sessions

Seminars

Monthly internal research seminar where we discuss and workshop findings, methodologies and challenges of our research programmes; as well as our approach to research and advocacy, to update and keep alive our theory of change.

In 2024 we engage the concept of public participation, its shortcomings, challenges and alternatives.

Reading Group

2024: Making Bureaucracy Work. Norms, Education and Public Service in Rural India, by Akshay Mangla, Cambridge University Press, 2022.

2023: Delivery as Dispossession: Land Occupation and Eviction in the Postapartheid City, by Zachary Levenson, Oxford University Press, 2022.

2022: The Privatized State by Chiara Cordelli, Princeton University Press, 2020.

Writing Group

PARI holds weekly writing sessions and hosts a writing retreat twice per year.

News and events

PARI Urban Crisis Seminar Series 2025

| Academic Engagement, Events, Featured, Joburg, Local Government, Seminars, webinars | No Comments
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics, launch a seminar…

Gallery | State, Democracy and the Promise of Development Symposium

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Symposium | State, Democracy and the Promise of Development: South Africa in comparative perspective 15–16 May 2025 Wits Club, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South…

Lecture | Ethics of Investigative Research

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Professor Marco Marzano from Bergamo University will present a lecture at PARI on 9 June, looking at the ethics of investigative research. 'The Investigative is…

Symposium | State, Democracy and the Promise of Development: South Africa in comparative perspective

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The symposium, State, Democracy and the Promise of Development: South Africa in comparative perspective is taking place at Wits University on 15 and 16 May, in…

Journal Article | Legitimating Security Networks in South Africa’s Exclusionary Suburbs

| Academic Engagement, Joburg, Journal Articles, OIS, Publications | No Comments
By Lily Manoim, graduate of PARI's Organisational and Institutional Studies programme. This is article is grounded in her Master's thesis. Volume 5 - Issue 1…

Seminar | Making Bureaucracy Work

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Author Akshay Mangla will present his book, Making Bureaucracy Work: Norms, Education and Public Service Delivery in Rural India (2022), followed by a discussion. For…

Journal Article | A systematic review of smart city governance in the Southern African Development Community

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Academic Engagement Lead, Federica Duca, is co-author on this article in Nature Cities. Abstract This paper offers a systematic review of literature on smart cities…

Reading Group | Urban Power

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PARI's internal reading group has chosen Benjamin Bradlow's Urban Power: Democracy and Inequality in Sǎo Paulo and Johannesburg to read this year. The book seeks to…

Urban Crisis Seminar Series 2024

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The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics, launch a seminar…

Seminar | Water Crisis in Johannesburg

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Please join us for a discussion of the ‘water crisis in Johannesburg’. The discussion will focus on the history and context of the crisis, as…

Call for Submissions | A multidisciplinary approach to the study of Urban Crisis: A focus on the City of Johannesburg

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The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics*, launch a seminar…

Seminar | Urban Power: Democracy and Inequality in São Paulo and Johannesburg

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Urban Power: Democracy and Inequality in São Paulo and Johannesburg (2024) Princeton University Press Benjamin Bradlow is Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at…

Seminar | Towards Integrated Land Governance

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This seminar is a presentation by Prof. James Chakwizira, University of Venda / NorthWest University on 16 July 2024 at 2pm, at PARI's offices in…

Seminar | Preservation and Progress: Governing heritage and development in South Africa post-1994

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This seminar is a presentation by Dr Rachel King on 20 June at 2pm, at PARI's offices in Forest Town. Rachel King is Associate Professor…

New Book | State-Society Relations around the World through the Lens of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Rapid Test

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A new Routlege publication edited by Federica Duca and Sarah Meny-Gibert. The collection examines state–society relations during the Covid-19 pandemic, from governance at the outset…

Book | State-Society Relations Around the World through the Lens of the Covid-19 Pandemic

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PARI is delighted to announce the publication of the new book edited by Federica Duca and Sarah Meny-Gibert, State-Society Relations Around the World through the…

Research Workshop Seminar Series 2023

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The Public Affairs Research Institute launches the second round of the workshop series to offer scholars, researchers and postgraduate students an opportunity to share their…

Op Ed | Gauteng’s response to homelessness is a temporary solution to a structural problem

| Academic Engagement, News, OIS, Op Ed, Publications | No Comments
Photo 47630336 © Louise Rivard | Dreamstime.com Gauteng’s response to homelessness is a temporary solution to a structural problem By Noluthando Ngcobo, OIS Masters student The…

PARI signs an MoA with University of Johannesburg

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The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is excited to announce its affiliation with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to ground its academic programme. PARI and…

Research Workshop Series 2023

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Call for proposals for the second round of seminars A multidisciplinary approach to the study of the state and civil society in the African continent…

Watch | Care and Basic Universal Electricity

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18 May 2023 The third seminar in the Care Economy Series. Electricity is crucial to ease the burden of care provision. In Africa, as documented…

Watch | Universal Healthcare in South Africa

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20 April 2023 The second seminar in the Care Economy Series. The Africa Care Economy (ACE) Index elaborates socialised healthcare in its fifth metric, underlining…

SA Launch of the Africa Care Economy Index

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15 March 2023 The Africa Care Economy Index is presented by Dr Salimah Valiani, author of the Index and Research Associate at the Centre for…

Seminar | The Privatised State

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Chiara Cordelli, author of The Privatised State, will be presenting her book at the PARI seminar, followed by a discussion. The book was a focus of PARI's…

Research Seminar | Presentation 6

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17 November 2022 14h00 – 15h30   Maputaland’s Ecosystem of Crime: The weight of history Presenter  : Clive Poultney Discussant : Constance Galeo Mogale Abstract…

Research Seminar Series | Presentation 5

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10 November 2022 14h00 - 15h30   The making, unmaking and remaking of the public service – with case studies from the Covid19 pandemic. Presenter …

Research Seminar Series | Presentation 3

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13 October 2022 14:00 -15:30 pm   Legislative Initiatives and Provisions on Traditional Leader’s Role in South Africa: Imperatives and Implications   Presenter  : Shimreisa…

Research Seminar Series | Presentation 2

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29 September 2022 14h00 - 15h30 The people’s perspective of public participation in infrastructure and housing provision in South Africa: evidence from a factorial survey…

Research Seminar Series | Presentation 1

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13 September 2022 14h00 - 15h30 Extractive industry indigenisation, unfulfilled pledges and mining-induced displacement vulnerabilities: The case of internally displaced persons in Arda Transau, Zimbabwe…

Seminar Series | Researching State-Society Relations in Southern Africa

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In September 2022, The Public Affairs Research Institute is launching a workshop series to offer scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students an opportunity to share their…

A New Call for Papers | Covid-19, States and Societies

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After publishing the Covid-19, States and Societies Series online in 2020, with fascinating submissions from 14 countries, PARI now seeks academic papers (7000 words) to…

Covid-19, States and Societies | Social contracts around the world

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Covid-19, States and Societies is a new series which presents texts from around the globe, detailing relationships between states and societies: how they have unfolded…

Workshop and Exhibition | Gated Communities and Townhouse Complexes

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Gated Communities & Townhouse Complexes Workshop and Exhibition   In collaboration with IFAS (French Institute of South Africa) and LAVUE (Université Paris, Nanterre), PARI co-hosts…

Watch | Talking Democratization in Buenos Aires

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Rethinking Democratization in Africa and Latin America, 19-23 March 2018, hosted by PARI and the New School, NY in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Read more about…

Talking Democratization in Buenos Aires

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International Workshop | Conferencia Internacional RETHINKING DEMOCRATIZATION IN AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA: VIOLENCE, STATE, CITIZENSHIP, AND MARKETIZATION | REPENSADO LA DEMOCRATIZACIÓN EN AFRICA Y AMÉRICA…

Seminar | Joel Hellman on State Capture

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This Friday 23 February, PARI is delighted to host a seminar  on state capture with Professor Joel S. Hellman from 13:00 to 15:00. Hellman wrote…

Podcast: Democracy and the Poor

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Audio of a public lecture by Andreas Kalyvas.

Democracy and the Poor

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A public lecture by PARI visiting professor, Andreas Kalyvas 3 August, 5-7pm Wiser Seminar Room, 6th floor, Richard Ward Building, Wits University The lecture examines…