Internationally acclaimed South African academic, Professor Raphael Kaplinsky, celebrated a significant milestone on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, as he was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Renowned for his pioneering work in industrial policy, innovation, and development, Prof. Kaplinsky’s contributions have left an indelible mark on the global economic landscape.
From activism to academia
Prof. Kaplinsky’s research has profoundly shaped post-apartheid South Africa’s industrial policy. Forced into exile due to his anti-apartheid activism, he earned his BA in Social Anthropology from UCT with Distinction, followed by an MA in Development Economics and a DPhil from the University of Sussex. Returning to South Africa in 1992 after the country’s liberation, he played a pivotal role in informing the government’s strategies for global reintegration and enhancing competitiveness.
Leading the Industrial Strategy Programme, he and his colleagues crafted a seminal report in 1994 that greatly influenced policy formulation, laying the foundation for South Africa’s post-apartheid industrial policy.
Championing equity and sustainable development
Over the past four decades, Prof Kaplinsky has continued to work with South African policymakers, the private sector, trade unions, and civil society groups, making exceptional contributions to public life and the well-being of society at large.
Through his work, he has remained deeply committed to the principles of equity and sustainable development, remarked UJ Registrar, Prof Bettine van Vuuren.
“His tireless advocacy for marginalised communities and his relentless pursuit of policies that prioritise social justice have inspired countless individuals.
In line with UJ’s focus on societal impact, Prof Kaplinsky also recognises the transformative power of technology in driving human progress. He also reminds us that technology must be harnessed with a clear sense of directionality to serve the greater good.”
Prof van Vuuren added that Prof Kaplinsky’s activism was a reminder that each person has a responsibility to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable world.
“Research cannot be divorced from action. By combining rigorous scholarship with meaningful engagement, Prof Kaplinsky has shown the profound impact that research driven activism can have on society. This resonates deeply with our own commitment as UJ reimagines a more equitable future.”
Prof. Kaplinsky’s influence spans continents, offering policy guidance and capacity building to governments across Africa, the Caribbean, and Southern Europe, along with international organisations such as the UN Family, World Bank, African Union, EU, and civil society groups. He holds positions as Honorary Professor at the Science Policy Research Unit and Emeritus Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.
Inspiring the next generation
Prof Kaplinsky addressed the graduates directly, ‘passing the baton’ onto them to help make a more sustainable world. Coming from a political family, Prof Kaplinsky was bound to end up in activism. He shared stories about the importance of speaking your mind, respecting people, standing up for what is right and never limiting yourself.
He challenged the graduates to do something about the mass unemployment in the country and the environmental crisis.
“In South Africa we have mass unemployment, we have people living in the informal sector without livelihoods and no prospect for a future. Surely, if you are going to be engaged scholars and human beings in the future you will also have the responsibility to make the world a better place. We have to think about rebuilding a better environment and change the thinking in economics which says the environment doesn’t feed you.
We have to think differently about the world we live in, about what we mean by growth and development and this I believe is the primary challenge which all of us face.”
Prof Kaplinsky added that for this to happen the state must work with the private sector and civil society. He concluded: “We need to focus our drive towards sustainability as missions, the first being inclusivity and the other being a more sustainable environment.”
