Volume 40, Issue 2, 2008
Acta Academica - Volume 40, Issue 2, January 2008
Volume 40, Issue 2, January 2008
Suid-Afrika se internasionale norm-entrepreneurskap
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 1 –27 (2008)
Die ambisieuse buitelandse beleid wat demokratiese Suid-Afrika sedert 1994 volg, bevat 'n sterk element van internasionale norm-entrepreneurskap. Hierdie grootliks self-opgelegde onderneming kan 'n reeks verwante take behels : die nakoming, formulering, bevordering en afdwinging van internasionaal aanvaarde norme van staatsgedrag. Suid-Afrika het inderdaad al vier verantwoordelikhede opgeneem. In die nakoming van universele norme sowel binnelands as in sy buitelandse betrekkinge het die land 'n voortreflike rekord daargestel. Die Republiek figureer prominent as 'n normformuleerder in multilaterale forums, veral in Afrika. Die sendingywer waarmee die nuwe Suid-Afrika aanvanklik norme in die buitewêreld bevorder het, word egter getemper deur 'n pragmatisme wat neig om voorkeur aan materiële gewin bo morele oorwegings te gee. Suid-Afrika toon selfs minder geesdrif vir normafdwinging. Omstrede kwessies soos Zimbabwe en Mianmar ontbloot inkonsekwentheid en dubbelsinnigheid in Suid-Afrika se norm-entrepreneurskap. Eerder as om sy inisiatiewe verder af te water, behoort Suid-Afrika hom tot 'n meer robuuste vorm van norm-entrepreneurskap te wend.
South Africa's international norm entrepreneurship
The ambitious foreign policy that democratic South Africa has pursued since 1994 contains a strong element of international norm-entrepreneurship. This largely self-imposed undertaking can involve a set of related tasks: upholding, formulating, promoting and enforcing internationally accepted norms of state conduct. South Africa has indeed taken up all four responsibilities. The country has established an exemplary record in respecting universal norms both domestically and in its foreign relations. South Africa features prominently as a norm formulator in multilateral forums, especially in Africa. The missionary zeal with which the new South Africa had originally promoted norms abroad has, however, been tempered by a pragmatism that tends to favour money over morality. The Republic has shown even less enthusiasm for norm enforcement. Contentious international issues like Zimbabwe and Myanmar revealed inconsistencies and prevarication in South Africa's norm entrepreneurship. Instead of watering down its initiatives even further, South Africa ought to embark on a more robust form of norm entrepreneurship abroad.
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 28 –52 (2008)
Taal bestaan nie in woordeboeke of teorieë nie, slegs in die spraak. Daarom wil ek verstaan wat gebeur as 'n mens praat. Spraak is nie net kommunikasiemiddel nie, maar die manier waarop die mens sigself in eie liggaam word. Taal is 'n vermoë tot selfuitbou en sodoende tot originariteit. Hierdie stelling word geargumenteer in 'n nadenke wat 'n pad loop via die taalgebeure, die subjek, die digkuns as originêre spraak, taalfilosofie, kompleksiteit van die taalfenomeen, dualisme en sy oorsprong, die lewende liggaam as oorwinning van die dualisme, die stem na menslike kennis.
Language ability and originarityLanguage is not to be found in dictionaries or theories, but in speech itself. My quest is to understand what happens in speech. Language is not merely a means of communication but the manner in which one becomes oneself in one's own body. Language is a means to self-realisation and thus to originarity. This position is argued by tracing a path via the speech events, the subject, poetry as originary speech, the philosophy of language, the complexity of language as a phenomenon, dualism and its origin, the living body as a victory over dualism, and the voice - to human understanding.
HIV / AIDS and modernity in Africa : a philosophical perspective
Author Michael Cloete
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 53 –81 (2008)
HIV / AIDS poses the greatest threat to human life in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the general awareness of the various modes of HIV-transmission has increased significantly over the past few years, the continuing threat of this deadly disease seems to be unstoppable. To make matters worse, our understanding of HIV / AIDS has been dominated by Western philosophical discourses that somehow question Africa's ability to understand fully the serious nature and extent of the HIV / AIDS pandemic. This article addresses the possibility of Africa's right to life from the perspective of the philosophical discourse of modernity in Africa.
MIV / VIGS en moderniteit in Afrika : 'n filosofiese perspektief
MIV / VIGS hou die grootse bedreiging in vir die menslike bestaan in sub-Sahara Afrika. Alhoewel algemene bewustheid van die verskeie vorme van MIV-oordraagbaarheid in die laaste paar jaar aansienlik vermeerder het, blyk dit dat die voortdurende bedreiging van hierdie dodelike siekte onstuitbaar is. Om dinge te vererger, is ons begrip van MIV / VIGS gedomineer deur Westerse filosofiese diskoerse wat Afrika se vermoë om die ernstige aard en omvang van die MIV / VIGS pandemie ten volle te verstaan, in twyfel trek. Hierdie artikel spreek die moontlikheid van Afrika se reg op lewe aan vanuit die perspektief van die filosofiese diskoers van moderniteit in Afrika.
Authors: Malcolm De Roubaix and Paul Cilliers
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 82 –109 (2008)
This article examines the implications of a postmodern ethics for bioethical problems. Traditional approaches to bioethics, with specific reference to "principlism", depend on a modernist strategy which attempts to produce gene ralised solutions. Making use of complexity theory, it is shown that the factors specific to each instance cannot be reduced in an objective way. The contingency of each individual case has to be considered. This leads to an ethics which cannot be the result of following universal rules, but one that has to accept the responsibility for the outcome of our decisions, even if these outcomes are not fully predictable. The responsibility for our choices cannot be shifted onto some a priori principle.
Kompleksiteit, postmodernisme en die bio-etiese dilemma
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die implikasies van 'n post-moderne etiek ten opsigte van bio-etiese probleme. Tradisionele bio-etiese benaderings, met spesifieke verwysing na beginselmatigheid (principlism), maak staat op modernistiese strategiëe wat veralgemeende oplossings na vore bring. Deur kompleksiteitsteorie aan te wend, word aangetoon dat die faktore wat spesifiek is aan elke situasie, nie in 'n objektiewe manier gereduseer kan word nie. Die gebeurlikheid van elke individuele geval moet oorweeg word. Dit lei tot 'n etiek wat nie tot stand kom deurdat universele reëls nagekom word nie, maar wat bereid is om verantwoordelikheid te aanvaar vir die besluite wat geneem word, selfs al is die uitkomste van die besluite nie ten volle voorspelbaar nie. Die verantwoordelikheid van besluite kan dus nie verskuif word na 'n a priori beginsel nie.
Biracial identity : more than just Black and White
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 110 –128 (2008)
This article draws on the insights of research on nine Indian-White biracial young adults to consider how they interpret their social reality. Life-history research was used to discover the complexities that make up the participants' everyday lives and to understand what they believe about themselves. The key findings reveal that the participants' struggles with identity indicate the complexity of identity, but those struggles are not always related to race. Their descriptions of their identity formation reveal an ongoing dialectical process that involved the making of choices amongst various social identities as they moved from one circumstance to another.
Tweerassige identiteit : meer as net swart en wit
Die artikel is gebaseer op die navorsingsinsigte verkry van nege Indiër-Blank tweerassige jong volwassenes in terme van hoe hulle hul sosiale werklikheid interpreteer. Lewensgeskiedenisnavorsing is gebruik om die kompleksiteit van hul daaglikse lewe te ontdek en om te verstaan wat hul oor hulself glo. Die sleutelbevindinge toon aan dat die nege deelnemers met aspekte rakende hul identiteit worstel en dit dui op die kompleksiteit van laasgenoemde en dat sulke worstelinge nie altyd verband hou met ras nie. Die beskrywinge van hul identiteitsvorming openbaar 'n voortdurende dialektiese proses wat die maak van keuses vanuit verskillende sosiale identiteite insluit soos hulle van een situasie na 'n volgende beweeg.
Proven researchers' perceptions of influences on academics' research output : a case study
Authors: Salome Schulze and Eldrie Gouws
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 129 –152 (2008)
This article reports on the perceptions of a group of proven researchers at a higher education institution on various aspects of research. The aim was to make recommendations on how the research output of academics may be improved. Wenger's theory of learning in communities of practice was used as the theoretical framework. The approach was qualitative, by means of a case study design. Data was gathered mainly by means of interviews and document analysis. The findings indicate that individual motivation plays a significant role. However, communities of practice also play a role in stimulating the research development of novices and experienced researchers. Institutional support for learning systems can foster optimal participation in research communities.
Bewese navorsers se persepsies van invloede op akademici se navorsingsuitsette : 'n gevallestudie
Die artikel beskryf die persepsies van 'n groep bewese navorsers by 'n hoëronderriginstansie oor verskeie aspekte van navorsing. Die doel was om aanbevelings te maak oor hoe akademici se navorsingsuitsette verbeter kan word. Wenger se teorie oor leer binne praktykgerigte gemeenskappe is gebruik as teoretiese raamwerk. Die benadering was kwalitatief deur middel van 'n gevallestudie-ontwerp. Data is hoofsaaklik ingesamel by wyse van onderhoude en dokumentanalise. Dit is bevind dat individuele motivering 'n belangrike rol speel. Aan die ander kant speel navorsingsgemeenskappe ook 'n rol om navorsingsontwikkeling by nuwelinge en ervare navorsers te stimuleer. Instellings se ondersteuning van leersisteme kan optimale navorsingsdeelname aan navorsingsgemeenskappe bewerkstellig.
A perspective on university academic workload measurement
Authors: Fred Cawood, Halil Yilmaz, Cuthbert Musingwini and Galina Reznichenko
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 153 –179 (2008)
Internationally, universities are increasingly seen as being part of the wider community, which has an impact on academic workload. This paper explains the importance of a model for investigating such academic workloads. Quantifying and reporting workloads are complex tasks. Despite this complexity, the model developed at the University of the Witwatersrand's School of Mining Engineering gives some insight into the three main components of academic workload, namely lecturing, research and administrative services. Today there is a better understanding of the meaning of workload, the problems to consider when quantifying workloads, the relationship between workload and performance and the issues to consider for staff development. This perspective concludes with lessons learnt over a five-year period.
'n Perspektief op die werksladingsmeting van universiteitsakademici
Internasionaal word universiteite al hoe meer beskou as deel van die breë gemeenskap, wat 'n impak het op die werklading van akademiese personeel. Hierdie artikel sal die belangrikheid van 'n model vir die ondersoek van akademiese werklading verduidelik. Die meting en rapportering van akademiese werklading is kompleks. Ten spyte daarvan verskaf die model van die Universiteit van die Witwatersrandse Skool vir Mynbou insig in die drie hoofkomponente van akademiese werklading, naamlik dosering, navorsing en administrasie. Deesdae is daar 'n beter begrip van wat hierdie werklading behels, die moeilikhede wat oorbrug moet word by werkladingsberekening, die verband tussen werklading en prestasie, en hoe om personeelontwikkeling daarvolgens te beplan. Die perspektief sluit af met lesse geleer oor 'n vyf-jaar periode.
Studiestaking aan landbouopleidingsinstellings : waarskynlike oorsake en moontlike strategieë vir studente-ondersteuning
Authors: Alwyn Louw and Eli Bitzer
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 180 –204 (2008)
Studiestaking in Suid-Afrika ontvang toenemend aandag aangesien dat ongeveer 'n kwart van alle studente hul studies gedurende die eerste studiejaar staak. Hierdie ondersoek wou vasstel waarom studente aan landbou-opleidingsinstellings studies staak of verleng. 'n Kwalitatiewe ondersoek en in-diepte onderhoude met sewentien stakelingstudente van vier landbou-opleidingsinstellings bevind dat studente hul studies hoofsaaklik staak weens akademiese of sosiale redes en dat dat bepaalde faktore leerintegrasie verhoed. Laasgenoemde is essensieel vir studiesukses. Bevindinge dui ook daarop dat 'n verskeidenheid faktore onvoldoende akademiese integrasie bevorder terwyl die vernaamste faktore wat bydra tot 'n gebrek aan sosiale integrasie, swak deelname aan of 'n ongesonde balans in sosiale aktiwiteite is. 'n Teoretiese raamwerk word voorgestel waarmee die uitvalverskynsel in landbou-opleiding beter begryp en voorkom kan word.
Student dropout at agricultural training institutions : probable causes and possible student support strategies
Student dropout in South Africa increasingly receives attention as approximately one quarter of students admitted to higher education institutions discontinue their studies during the first year. This investigation aimed to determine why students discontinue or extend their studies. Using a qualitative approach and in-depth interviews, data was generated from seventeen students who dropped out from four acgriculture training institutions. Findings indicate that dropout can be attributed mainly to academic and / or social factors. These factors prevent adequate learning integration, essential to studying successfully. Various factors appear to be responsible for inadequate academic integration while ineffective social integration could be the result of too little or unbalanced and unhealthy social activities. A theoretical framework is proposed that could offer improved understanding and prevention of student dropout.
Lifeskills training for children with problem and deviant behaviour : the Noupoort Youth and Community Development Project
Author Francois Steyn
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 205 –243 (2008)
This article describes the development, implementation and outcomes of two community-based lifeskills programmes in Noupoort for children with troubled behaviour. Results show that approximately one out of every five children re-engaged in misconduct or criminal behaviour following participation in the programmes. Continued offending occurred predominantly in property-linked crimes. This indicates a need for improved assessments and alternative or additional support for some of the participants. Although most parents / guardians of referred children valued the programmes, practice indicates that it is difficult to secure their involvement. The study includes descriptions of comparative situations from South Africa and international evidence in respect of intervention with troubled behaviour of children.
Opleiding in lewensvaardighede vir kinders met afwykende gedrag : die Noupoort Jeug- en Gemeenskapsontwikkelingsprojek
Hierdie artikel beskryf die ontwikkeling, implementering en uitkomste van twee gemeenskapsgebaseerde lewensvaardigheidsprogramme in Noupoort vir kinders met sorgwekkende gedrag. Bevindinge wys daarop dat ongeveer een uit elke vyf van die betrokke kinders weer in wan- en kriminele gedrag betrokke was na deelname aan die programme. Herhaalde oortreding behels meestal eiendomsmisdade - 'n aanduiding dat verbeterde assessering en alternatiewe of bykomende ondersteuning vir sommige deelnemers benodig word. Alhoewel meeste ouers / voogde van verwysde kinders die programme van waarde ag dui die praktyk daarop dat hul deelname moeilik is om te verkry. Vergelykende situasies van Suid-Afrika en internasionale bevindinge rakende ingrepe met die sorgwekkende gedrag van kinders word ook aangebied.
Student / learner discipline and bullying : a comparative analysis of legal risk management in schools in Australia and South Africa
Authors: J.P. Rossouw and Doug Stewart
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 244 –274 (2008)
This article briefly discusses some legal determinants that influence education in Australia and South Africa, respectively. It is evident that schools whose hierarchy members fail to take the necessary steps to ensure a non-threatening environment may be held liable if negligence can be proven. The focus is therefore on principles and procedures regarding the management of learner discipline, with specific reference to bullying. The article concludes with an analysis of qualitative data from a research project into learner discipline in Australia and South Africa, and a comparison of the respective risk management strategies.
Leerderdissipline en afknouery : 'n vergelykende analise van risikobestuur in Australiese en Suid-Afrikaanse skole
Hierdie artikel ontleed kortliks enkele regsdeterminante wat 'n invloed het op die onderwys in Australië en Suid-Afrika. Dit is duidelik dat skole wat in gebreke bly om 'n veilige omgewing te verseker, aanspreeklik gehou kan word indien nalatigheid bewys kan word. Die fokus is dus beginsels en prosedures ten opsigte van die bestuur van leerderwangedrag, met spesifieke verwysing na afknouery. Die artikel sluit af met kwalitatiewe inligting uit 'n navorsingsprojek in Australië en Suid-Afrika rakende leerderdissipline, en 'n ver-gelyking van die onderskeie risikobestuursbenaderings.