Global South Africans

Ian Goldin, director of the 21st Century School at Oxford, spoke at GSA launch in London last month. Here are his speaking notes:

The South African Diaspora played a major role in overcoming apartheid and sustaining the anti-apartheid struggle, as well as providing support to the ANC and others in exile.  The return of South Africans and the engagement with ideas from around the world has greatly strengthened the constitution as well as policy in a wide range of areas. The return and engagement of global South African’s ideas, skills and capital was a vital part of the ‘miracle’ of transformation.

The world and South Africa is entering a challenging period.  Now that the honeymoon is over, the role of global South Africans will be even more important.

Global Networks have played a key role in the development of many countries. Lebanon would not survive without financial transfers from its community abroad, Taiwan’s growth rests on technological transfers from its international community as has the Indian IT growth.  And Israel depends on the political as well as other support of its network abroad.  When the challenges are greatest, the role of the international network becomes more important and is often essential.

From my Government experience (DBSA, Olympic Bid, Advisor) I came to appreciate the key contribution of South African’s who had the skills necessary to help us in raising capital abroad, developing new project finance products and provide trusted information and guidance on key developments in global markets and politics.

From my World Bank experience, I came to observe the powerful role that diaspora’s play, as has been the case in Lebanon, Argentina, Turkey and many other countries, especially at times of crisis and during periods of transformation and reconstruction (for example, Kosovo, Rwanda, DRC).

Now, as an academic at Oxford University, I have a greater appreciation of the power of ideas.  Sharing ideas and bringing new experiences from the global community can help South Africa move up the learning curve more rapidly to ensure it does not repeat others’ mistakes and provides the best possible options for its citizens.

As committed individuals who are committed to a Better Life for All in South Africa, we can all play our part by active engagement and support in many ways, every day.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.