by Paul Hendler | 25 Jun 2017 | Finance, Grassroots struggle, Housing, Land processes, Political economy, Urban processes
Recently Helen Zille caused a storm. This was because she tweeted that colonialism wasn’t all that bad. In doing this she implied that it brought development to the backward parts. For this the ANC attacked her. Also her party, the DA, is having a disciplinary...
by Paul Hendler | 30 Apr 2017 | Free Debate, Grassroots struggle, Insights
Almost every commentator agrees that the levels of South African anger are too high. Anger exists between ethnic (black/white) groups, men and women, and men and children. South African anger is a manifestation of splits in the “rainbow nation”. A critical...
by Paul Hendler | 19 Jan 2017 | Climate Science, Energy, Finance, Global Warming, Grassroots struggle, Insights
In 2007 I contributed to a piece for the Presidency on Oil-Climate-Finance. Simon Ratcliffe, Jeremy Wakeford and Jack Holiday made the major content inputs. We analysed the impact of Oil, Climate and Finance on SA’s political economy. We projected two scenarios...
by Paul Hendler | 29 Nov 2016 | Grassroots struggle, Insights
There is a global context to our local developmental challenges. Therefore, we need to think about the global political economy. This will help us to craft better local strategies. Hence, global thought guides local action. As a result we inform our local practices by...
by Paul Hendler | 29 Nov 2016 | Finance, Grassroots struggle, Housing, Insights, Neighbourhood Economies
Shouldn’t government be doing more to plan and implement sustainable human settlements? Which leads to the question, what is the state? Also, in whose interest does it work? Can grassroots forces achieve sustainable and affordable housing and amenities? At INSITE this...
by Paul Hendler | 24 Nov 2016 | Grassroots struggle, Housing, Insights, Land processes, Urban processes
Can professional analysts be partisan but objective in their study of urban conflicts? This is an important question. Should technicians of practical knowledge respond to the ethical and political issues in urban development? Are built environment professionals simply...