Ryan works on the policy, strategy and politics of building state capabilities for development in South Africa and comparatively. His focus in this regard has been on the relationship between politics and public administration, human resourcing, public procurement, programmatic politics and patronage systems, and the dynamics of broader political regimes. He has been involved in various support initiatives in these domains, working with government, political parties, labor unions and civil society to frame institutional reforms.

Ryan is currently studying for a PhD in Political Science at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. His thesis looks at state-building in the post-apartheid metropolitan municipalities of eThekwini and Nelson Mandela Bay.

Brunette, R. and J. Klaaren (2020) ‘The Case for Encouraged Whistleblowing in Public Procurement in South Africa’. State Reform Policy Brief. Public Affairs Research Institute.

Klaaren, J. and R. Brunette (2020) ‘The Public Procurement Bill Needs Better Enforcement: A suggested provision to empower and incentivise whistleblowers’. African Public Procurement Law Journal, 7(1): xxx

Brunette, R., J. Klaaren and P. Nqaba (2019) ‘Reform in the Contract State: Embedded directions in public procurement regulation in South Africa’. Development Southern Africa, 36(4): 537–54.

Olver, C., M. Buthelezi and R. Brunette (2017) ‘Party Political Funding and the South African State’. Submission to the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee on the Funding of Political Parties. Working Paper. Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute.

Meny-Gibert, S. and R. Brunette (2015) ‘Reflections On A GTAC Project To Improve Supply Chain Management In A Provincial Education Department’. A PARI report for the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC).

Brunette, R. (2015) ‘South Africa’s Agrofuels Industry: A Non-Starter?’ An African Centre for Biosafety report.

Brunette, R., I. Chipkin, G. Tshimomola and S. Meny-Gibert (2014) The Contract State: Outsourcing And Decentralisation In Contemporary South Africa’. A PARI report. Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute.

 

Brunette, R., J. Klaaren and P. Nqaba (2019) ‘Reform in the Contract State: Embedded directions in public procurement regulation in South Africa’. Development Southern Africa, 36(4): 537–54.

Olver, C., M. Buthelezi and R. Brunette (2017) ‘Party Political Funding and the South African State’. Submission to the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee on the Funding of Political Parties. Working Paper. Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute.

Meny-Gibert, S. and R. Brunette (2015) ‘Reflections On A GTAC Project To Improve Supply Chain Management In A Provincial Education Department’. A PARI report for the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC).

Brunette, R. (2015) ‘South Africa’s Agrofuels Industry: A Non-Starter?’ An African Centre for Biosafety report.

Brunette, R., I. Chipkin, G. Tshimomola and S. Meny-Gibert (2014) The Contract State: Outsourcing And Decentralisation In Contemporary South Africa’. A PARI report. Johannesburg: Public Affairs Research Institute.

 

Op Eds

The Politics of South Africa’s Patronage System: The process of anti-patronage reform (Daily Maverick)

The Politics of South Africa’s Patronage System: Part One (Daily Maverick)

How will South Africa tackle corruption? (Mail and Guardian)

Our movement against corruption will fail without public sector reform (Daily Maverick)

Decentralised procurement fails the state (Mail and Guardian)

Politics of patronage is dealt a blow by Gordhan (Business Day)

Elite Struggle Over Zuma is Making Weapons Against the Poor (Daily Maverick)

How Not to Talk About Corruption in SA (Africa Is A Country)

The Lame Duck President (Africa Is A Country)