Navigating geopolitcal complexity:How did South Afica's G20 stack up

NAVIGATING GEOPOLITICAL COMPLEXITY: HOW DID SOUTH AFRICA’S G20 STACK UP?

Emeritus Associate Professor Richard Calland, University of Cape Town; Director, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Africa Programme, United Kingdom

Friday 30 January  1.00 pm  COURSE FEES R115; Staff and students R58

In 2025 South Africa assumed the presidency of the G20 – the first on African soil – at a pivotal moment for both the global economy and the future of multilateralism, and at a time of ‘poly-crisis’. In this timely lecture, following the Leaders’ Summit in late November 2025, South Africa’s leadership of the G20 will be critically assessed – exploring the substantive policy outcomes achieved, from climate finance and debt reform to digital inclusion and development cooperation. The lecture will also reflect on how South Africa navigated complex geopolitical tensions to protect and strengthen the multilateral process, offering fresh insights into the role of middle powers in shaping global governance.

TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1575306885

Following 16 years based at the University of Cape Town as an Associate Professor in Public Law from 2007-2023, Richard Calland is now an Emeritus Associate Professor at UCT and a Visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of Witwatersrand School of Governance. Since 2022, he has led the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)’s new Board Leadership programme and in mid-2023 was appointed as Director of CISL’s new Africa programme. A prominent political analyst, and a columnist for the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa since 2001, his latest book – The Presidents: From Mandela to Ramaphosa, Leadership in The Age of Crisis (with Mabel Sithole) – was published in late 2022. Earlier books include Anatomy of South Africa: Who holds the power? (2006), The Zuma Years (2012) and Make or Break: How the next three years will shape South Africa’s next three decades (2016).