UCT Global Citizenship: Leading for Social Justice (Global-CLSJ) is an extra-curricular programme
providing you with an opportunity to critically engage with contemporary global debates and to reflect
on issues of citizenship and social justice. While voluntary and not credit-bearing, the programme will
be recognized on your academic transcript as a UCT Short Course. This course is free for students –
there are no course fees as the money comes from the VC’s fund.
Module 1: GLOBAL DEBATES, LOCAL VOICES
Living at the Southern tip of Africa in a country often labeled as part of the ‘Third World’ we may
sometimes forget that we are part of one world composed of seven continents and just under 200
countries, with a population of over six billion people. Where do our responsibilities lie: here, at home
in South Africa with its huge inequalities or ‘out there’, as part of one globe ravaged by continuing
exploitation of resources, people and the environment to the benefit of few rather than all? What
does it mean to be part of the ‘developing world’? What, if any, difference could we make to
earthquakes and wars in other far away places? How do we take our place in the world, responsibly
and respectful of all living things?
This course aims to help you to find your voice when headlines scream about environmental and
human disasters, when public arguments about rights to ownership of local resources and access to
international funds threaten to silence you, when as an ‘educated student’ you are asked to answer
questions about issues of collective survival and when you want to argue for global justice.
The course is composed of four topics.
Debating Development
What is development? Is it just a normal process of change that we are all part of? Planned
interventions aimed at turning something or someone into something else or a defined ‘other’,
perceived as more desirable or progress? Deliberate action towards achieving an alternative vision of
what is or might be? And if development is the result of particular inputs and exploits how do these
happen and in whose interests? South Africa is described as a ‘developmental state’; we are part of
the so-called ‘developing world’. This seems to suggest a move towards some more desirable state
perceived as ‘developed’. What are the agendas informing development initiatives? Who gets to say
what should happen – and what is the role of citizens in the process?
Africa in a Globalised World
Perceptions of Africa in the richer countries of the world range from images of begging bowls,
primitivism, tribalism and authoritarian leadership to assumptions about general lack of technologies,
economic backwardness and ignorance. Manuel Castells in his ‘Information Age’ argued that most of
Africa was sliding into a "fourth world"- a world that was a ‘black hole’ of the global information age.
Although he believed that something could be done about it, his description of the continent echoed
the language of "Afro-pessimism". Here, we want to debate and challenge some of the prevailing
prejudices and assert Africa in the context of the South and the world more generally. What are some
of its unique contributions and what can we do to expunge negative perceptions and prejudices?
War and Peace
Hate, fear and greed – Rajmohan Gandhi suggests these are the enemies of humankind, the forces
that cause wars and the miseries associated with it. Yet, how do people achieve changes perceived as
necessary and just when confronted with intransigent opponents? Are wars sometimes necessary and
justifiable? What drives conflict – greed or grievance? How have wars changed over the last century?
Can contemporary warfare and reconstruction efforts resolve political conflict and lead to peace?
What would we have our leaders do and what is the role of critical responsible citizens in the face of
social injustice and contestation?
Climate Change
Climate change is arguably the greatest environmental challenge affecting the globe today. Everyone’s
talking about it – some claim, the weather has always changed, so this is just part of a normal process;
others warn that we are on a fast terminal road to destruction. Is it really human activity that causes
catastrophic weather events? What exactly do ‘greenhouse gases’ mean? Should we introduce policies
to encourage behaviour that reduces future risk or rather invest in technologies and infrastructure
that help us adapt to global environmental change? What, if anything can we as individuals do about
it?
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Global Debates, Local Voices will begin in Week 1 of the second term and run to the end of the third
term with a closing ceremony at the beginning of September. The orientation, lab training and final
events sessions include all Global-CLSJ students from both modules 1 and 2.
Module 1 comprises the four topics outlined above. Each runs over a 2 week period and demands
approximately four hours dedicated work. The core content and learning activities will be presented
and moderated through a dedicated VULA site where you will be able to download materials and
interact with each other, the lecturer and tutors – at times when it suits you. In addition to the online
interactions there will be opportunities to meet together for lectures, discussions and events.
To successfully complete module 1 of the Global-Citizenship Programme, you would have to:
 Regularly log-on to the VULA site, complete a selection or all of the activities given and
participate actively in forum discussions
 Prepare for and attend the fortnightly events (or if unable to attend, complete the alternative
learning activity given by the tutors), and participate in planned group ‘action’
 Participate in the orientation, lab training and ‘reignition’ sessions
TERM WEEK
Semester 1
Week 7
DATE
Monday 11 Apr
5.00pm -6.30pm
Weeks 8
Tues 12 or Wed 13 Computer lab training - Orientation to various online
Apr or Thurs 14 - learning tools
TBA
Beginning 18 Apr
Debating Development
Weeks 9 & 11
TOPIC
Orientation to Global CSLJ programme – both modules;
workshop and welcome; VC and DVCs
 Lecture discussion Mon 18 Apr (6.30-8.00pm)
 Learning event Tues 3 May OR Thurs 5 May (5pm7pm)
Weeks 12 & 13
Beginning 9 May
Africa in a Globalised World
 Lecture/ discussion Mon 9 May (6.30-8.00pm)
 Learning event Tues 17 May OR Thurs 19 May
(5pm - 7pm)
Midyear Vacation
Beginning 6 June
Participate online and engage with tutors and other
students
Semester 2
Weeks 1
Weeks 2 & 3
Beginning 25 July
Re-ignition Event Mon 25 July (5pm-7pm)
Weeks 4 & 5
Week 6
Beginning 1 Aug
War & Peace
 Lecture discussion Mon 1 Aug (6.30-8.00pm)
 Learning event Mon 8 Aug OR Thurs 11 Aug (4pm
– 6pm)
Beginning 15 Aug
Climate Change
 Lecture discussion 15 Aug (6.30-8.00pm)
 Learning event Tues 23 Aug OR Thurs 25 Aug
(4pm – 6pm)
Thursday 1 or 2 Sept Global Citizenship: final event
Please note: times may be negotiable
INTERESTED?
To enroll for Module 1 of the UCT Global Citizenship: Learning for Social Justice - Global debates, local
voices – please complete the registration form and return it to ems@uct.ac.za. There are only limited
spaces available for this programme.
Please note, there is no charge to the student – the costs of this programme is sponsored by the VC’s
Strategic Fund.
For further details about the programme please contact one of the following:
Course co-ordinator: Astrid von Kotze astrid.vonkotze@uct.ac.za
Tutor : Bianca Tame Bianca.tame@uct.ac.za
Administration: Janet Small janet.small@uct.ac.za