Against the Tide by Steven Friedman

The African Presidents who visited Russia and Ukraine won't persuade the two sides to end the war. In fact, it seems likely that neither side took them seriously. But that does not mean that they had no business telling them how much damage the war is doing to Africa. And the fact that they will be ignored tells us what is wrong with the world, not what is wrong with Africa.

That is the argument of this week's Against the Tide Column which was mailed to subscribers earlier today. To read it, please visit the Against the Tide website and subscribe. If you can't afford to subscribe, please mail info@againstthetide.co.za to discuss a reduced or free subscription.

Steven Friedman is a public commentator and an academic, currently employed as a Research Professor at the University of Johannesburg. He has been writing on South African politics for the entire democratic period both as a scholar and public commentator. He has published books on South Africa’s transition to democracy, the role of the trade union movement, and current South African politics. He has also written columns and articles for several South African newspapers. His writing seeks to use academic research to shed light on current politics but to ensure that this is conveyed in a way easily understood by people who have no academic training.