Sam Nolutshungu
Encyclopedia
Samuel Clement Nolutshungu (April 15, 1945 – August 12, 1997) was one of the foremost South Africa
n scholars, and an internationally acclaimed expert on South African politics.
Born in King William's Town
in 1945, he studied first in the Lovedale High School
and after in the University of Fort Hare
. Because of apartheid he left in the 1960s South Africa for England
, and thanks to a scholarship
went to Keele University
where he obtained a first class degree in economics, history and politics. He successively taught in the Government Department of Manchester University between 1978 and 1990. From 1991 till his death he was professor of political science and African politics at the University of Rochester
, and since 1995 also acting director of the University's Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies.
In December 1996 he had been offered the most important position in the South African university system, the vice-chancellorship of the University of the Witwatersrand
, but was forced to turn down the offer on January due to a cancer
that brought to his death in Rochester
on August 12.
Nolutshungu produced a high number of significant articles, and published three books. His first book, South Africa in Africa: a study in ideology and foreign policy, published in 1975, was his doctoral thesis
; this work is considered to be the first major study of South African politics by a black
South African. It was followed in 1982 by another work on South African politics, Changing South Africa: political considerations, an analysis of the prospects for non-violent transition to a non-racial society. The study obtained the Johannesburg
Sunday Times
' Book of the Year Award. His last major work was Limits of anarchy: intervention and state formation in Chad, written in 1996, which examined Chad
ian modern history with the intention of exploring the dilemmas that involve "fictive states", i.e. countries which have to endure a fitful existence between too much and too little government.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n scholars, and an internationally acclaimed expert on South African politics.
Born in King William's Town
King William's Town
King William's Town is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The town is about 40 minutes' motorway drive WNW of the Indian Ocean port of East London...
in 1945, he studied first in the Lovedale High School
Lovedale (South Africa)
Lovedale was a mission station and educational institute in the VictoriaEast division of the Cape Province, South Africa...
and after in the University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
. Because of apartheid he left in the 1960s South Africa for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and thanks to a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
went to Keele University
Keele University
Keele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
where he obtained a first class degree in economics, history and politics. He successively taught in the Government Department of Manchester University between 1978 and 1990. From 1991 till his death he was professor of political science and African politics at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, and since 1995 also acting director of the University's Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies.
In December 1996 he had been offered the most important position in the South African university system, the vice-chancellorship of the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
, but was forced to turn down the offer on January due to a cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
that brought to his death in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
on August 12.
Nolutshungu produced a high number of significant articles, and published three books. His first book, South Africa in Africa: a study in ideology and foreign policy, published in 1975, was his doctoral thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
; this work is considered to be the first major study of South African politics by a black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
South African. It was followed in 1982 by another work on South African politics, Changing South Africa: political considerations, an analysis of the prospects for non-violent transition to a non-racial society. The study obtained the Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (South Africa)
The Sunday Times is a popular South African Sunday newspaper. It has an audited circulation of 504,000 and a weekly readership of 3.2 million, making it the largest weekly newspaper in South Africa. Recently it was involved in exposing a corruption scandal involving the South African government's...
' Book of the Year Award. His last major work was Limits of anarchy: intervention and state formation in Chad, written in 1996, which examined Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian modern history with the intention of exploring the dilemmas that involve "fictive states", i.e. countries which have to endure a fitful existence between too much and too little government.