“I FELT THE PRIVILEGE WAS NOT JUST FROM UJ TO ME, IT WAS ALSO FOR ME TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH UJ. I WAS BROUGHT UP IN SOUTH AFRICA WHERE THE RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY (RAU) WAS THE CENTRE OF AFRIKANER APARTHEID CULTURE AND I LOVE THE IDEA THAT RAU HAS MADE THE TRANSFORMATION FROM BEING A UNIVERSITY OF OPPRESSION TO A UNIVERSITY OF LIBERATION,” HE SAID. TRAILBLAZER IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS PROF RAPHAEL KAPLINSKY: A In the realm of development economics, few figures command the level of respect and admiration as Professor Raphael Kaplinsky. His recent accolade – a prestigious Honorary Doctorate from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) – serves as a testament to his profound impact on the field and his unwavering commitment to understanding and improving the economic landscapes of developing countries. When asked what achievements he believes led him to this honour, Prof Kaplinsky said he was privileged to receive it and he firmly believes that academics have a responsibility to make the world a better place. “I felt the privilege was not just from UJ to me, it was also for me to be associated with UJ. I was brought up in South Africa where the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) was the centre of Afrikaner apartheid culture and I love the idea that RAU has made the transformation from being a university of oppression to a university of liberation,” he said.
Prof Kaplinsky at graduation
From the onset of his career, Prof Kaplinsky has been driven by a strong commitment and drive to social justice and equity – qualities that were evident during his early days as a political activist at the University of Cape Town. After going into exile in 1969, his intellectual journey took him from being a vocal opponent of apartheid to becoming an influential figure in shaping South Africa’s industrial strategy in the post-apartheid era. Prof Kaplinsky’s journey into academia and research began decades ago, marked by an insatiable curiosity about the intricate dynamics of global trade and industrial development. Born with a keen intellect and a passion for economic justice, he pursued his studies with rigour, eventually carving out a niche that has helped to reshape the discourse on industrialisation and economic policy in developing nations. His academic career, spanning several prestigious institutions, including the University of Sussex where he served as Professor of International Development, has been characterised by groundbreaking research and insightful analysis. Central to his work is the concept of global value chains (GVCs) – the intricate networks that span multiple countries and involve various stages of production. Prof Kaplinsky’s seminal contributions have illuminated how developing countries can strategically position themselves within these chains to foster economic growth, enhance their global competitiveness and be more inclusive. “We have a responsibility as professionals to give direction to where our society is going. We have to give direction to how society evolves, and we have to make sure that that direction ensures greater inclusion and equity in the meeting of the needs of the mass population,” he said. Beyond theoretical frameworks, Prof Kaplinsky is renowned for his empirical research, which often takes him to the heart of industrial hubs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His fieldwork has not only deepened our understanding of local
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