Ivor Chipkin

Co-Founder and Director

Publications

Scholarly Articles

1. Chipkin, I. and Vidojević, J. (2026) ‘Elite Contestation in South Africa, 2006–2018: The Making and Unmaking of a Power Elite’, Journal of Southern African Studies, published online ahead of print. doi: 10.1080/03057070.2026.2626233.
2. Chipkin, I. (2025) ‘From revolution to anti-imperialism: Does South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel help resolve the organic crisis within the ANC?’, South African Journal of International Affairs, published online ahead of print. doi: 10.1080/10220461.2025.2587021.
3. Chipkin, I. (forthcoming) ‘Democracy is not the only game in town: elite contestation and the future of South Africa’, Journal of Southern African Studies (forthcoming).
4. Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘On contradiction et al.: overcoming the crisis of government in South Africa‘, Journal of Public Administration, 59(1). doi: 10.53973/jopa.2024.59.1.a2.
5. Chipkin, I. (2023) ‘Nazism, nationalism and the war in Ukraine: a reply to Kögler’, European Journal of Social Theory, 26(4). doi: 10.1177/13684310231165215.
6. Chipkin, I. (2023) ‘Nazism, contemporary Europe and the war in Ukraine’, New Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy, 2023(88). Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-nagenda_v2023_n88_a7 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
7. Chipkin, I. and Swilling, M. (2022) ‘Politiques de la trahison : comment la nation est dévalisée’, NAQD, 40, pp. 162–195. doi: 10.3917/naqd.040.0162. (In French.)
8. Chipkin, I. and Vidojević, J. (2022) ‘Time and temporality in organisations: the case of Eskom’, Development Southern Africa, 39(2), pp. 237–250. doi: 10.1080/0376835X.2021.1981829.
9. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘The dark side of democracy: popular sovereignty, decolonisation and dictatorship’, Političke Perspektive: časopis za istraživanje politike, 12(1), pp. 35–52. doi: 10.20901/pp.12.1.02.
10. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘Why has South African state capture not led to growth and development, as it did in China?’, New Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy, 2022(86). Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-nagenda_v2022_n86_a4 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
11. Vidojević, J. and Chipkin, I. (2021) ‘The gendered character of welfare: reconsidering vulnerability and violence in South Africa’, Social Dynamics, 47(3), pp. 472–487. doi: 10.1080/02533952.2021.1992878.
12. Chipkin, I. (2021) ‘From democracy as a political system to democracy as government: a contribution to democratic theory from public administration’, Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa, 105, pp. 1–25. doi: 10.1353/trn.2021.0004.
13. Chipkin, I. (2018) ‘Sovereignty and government in Africa after independence’, Social Imaginaries, 4(1), pp. 113–131. doi: 10.5840/si2018416.

Books

1. Chipkin, I., Khan, F., Nakarada, R., Stubbs, P. and Vidojević, J. (forthcoming) Theory from the Non-Aligned Movement and the Global South and Their Afterlives. Johannesburg: Jacana Publishing.
2. Chipkin, I. and Swilling, M., with Peter, C., Friedenstein, H., Bhorat, H., Mondi, L., Qobo, M., Prins, N. and Duma, S. (2018) Shadow State: The Politics of State Capture. Johannesburg: Wits University Press. Available at: https://shop.wits.ac.za/product/shadow-state-state-capture/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
3. Chipkin, I. (2007) Do South Africans Exist?: Nationalism, Democracy and the Identity of “the People”. Johannesburg: Wits University Press. doi: 10.18772/12007044457.

Book Chapters

1. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘Zondo and the topography of power: prologue’, in Haffajee, F. (ed.) Days of Zondo: The Fight for Freedom from Corruption. Johannesburg: Maverick451. Available at: https://nsi.org.za/publications/zondo-and-the-topography-of-power/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
2. Chipkin, I. (2018) ‘The end of tyranny: how civil society in South Africa fought back’, in Rodríguez-Garavito, C. and Gomez, K. (eds) Rising to the Populist Challenge: A New Playbook for Human Rights Actors. Bogotá: Dejusticia, pp. 101–112. Available at: https://www.dejusticia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Rising-to-the-populist-challenge_1.pdf (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
3. Chipkin, I. (2017) ‘Corruption’s other scene: the politics of corruption in South Africa’, in Murphy, J. and Jammulamadaka, N. (eds) Governance, Resistance and the Post-Colonial State: Management and State Building (Routledge Studies in Management and State Building). Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 21–44.
4. Swilling, M., Bhorat, H., Buthelezi, M., Chipkin, I., Duma, S., Mondi, L., Peter, C., Qobo, M. and Friedenstein, H. (2017) Betrayal of the Promise: How South Africa Is Being Stolen. State Capacity Research Project. Cape Town: University of Cape Town. Available at: https://nsi.org.za/publications/betrayal-of-the-promise-how-south-africa-is-being-stolen/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

Policy Documents

1. Chipkin, I. (2026) South Africa’s Third Transition: Democracy, Constitutionalism, Rationalisation. (NSI Working Paper No. 05/2026). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
2. Vidojević, J. and Chipkin, I. (2025) The Making of a Settler Colony: Israel, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Politics of Third World Solidarity (NSI Working Paper No. 01/2025). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
3. Chipkin, I., Coetsee, S. and Makhasi, Y. (2025) Retiring the 1994 Generation of Public Servants: From a Party-State Public Service to One Ready for Multi-Party Democracy (Government in Numbers, Issue 01). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
4. Chipkin, I. (2024) Democracy, Power and Evidence-Informed Policy-Making: The Case of Public Service Reform in South Africa. Bristol: University of Bristol.
5. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2024) Beyond Political Discretion: Reforming South Africa’s Senior Civil Service (NSI White Paper). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
6. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2024) Towards a Merit-Based Senior Civil Service: Strategies for Reform in South Africa (NSI Policy Brief). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
7. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2024) The 5 Cs of the Current Crisis of Government and How to Overcome Them (NSI Report). Johannesburg: New South Institute. Available at: https://nsi.org.za/publications/south-african-public-service-reform-insights/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
8. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2023) The Five Cs of the Contemporary Crisis of Government and How to Overcome Them (NSI Working Paper). Johannesburg: New South Institute. Available at: https://nsi.org.za/publications/south-african-public-service-reform-insights/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
9. Chipkin, I. (2023) South Africa: An Agenda for Reform (Policy Brief). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
10. Chipkin, I. (2023) The Function of the Police: Crime, Social Emergencies, and Disorder (Report). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
11. Chipkin, I., Le Roux, M. and Leite, R. (2022) Personalising and De-Personalising Power: The Appointment of Executive Officers in Key State Institutions (Policy Brief). Johannesburg: New South Institute.
12. Chipkin, I., Vidojević, J., Rau, L. and Saksenberg, D. (2022) Dangerous Elites: Protest, Conflict and the Future of South Africa (Southern Africa Report 49). Johannesburg: Institute for Security Studies and Government and Public Policy.
13. Leite, R. and Chipkin, I. (2021) The Paradox of Reform: A Response to the Ramaphosa Government’s Proposal for Professionalising the Public Service (GAPP Working Paper 1(5)). Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy.
14. Chipkin, I. (2020) The Provincialisation of Power in South Africa (GAPP Working Paper 1(2)). Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy.
15. Chipkin, I. and Vidojević, J. (2020) Overcoming the Challenges of Governance: A New Way of Monitoring and Predicting Organisational Capacity (GAPP Working Paper 1(3)). Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy.
16. Chipkin, I. (2020) Defining “State Capture” in South Africa: Democracy, Bureaucratic Autonomy and Elite Populism (GAPP Working Paper 1(1)). Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy.
17. Chipkin, I., Moloi, P., Lehohla, P. and Ajam, T. (2020) The Governance of Economic Planning (Report). Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy.

Additional Works

1. Chipkin, I. (2022) Making Sense of State Capture in South Africa: Submission to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector Including Organs of State. Johannesburg: Government and Public Policy Think-Tank. Available at: https://nsi.org.za/publications/submission-to-the-state-capture-commission-making-sense-of-state-capture-in-south-africa/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

Editorials

1. Chipkin, I. (2026) ‘Capturing America: What South Africa can teach the US about defending democracy’, The Africa Report, 19 March. (Accessed: 26 March 2026)
2. Chipkin, I. (2026) ‘Public service reform could herald South Africa’s “third transition”‘, Times Live, 1 March. (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
3. Chipkin, I. (2025) ‘South Africa’s police serve the ANC insiders, not the people: here’s how it happened‘, The Conversation, 22 July. (Accessed: 29 July 2025).
4. Chipkin, I. (2025) ‘Ageing civil servants offer opportunity to transform public service‘, Sunday Times, 18 May.
5. Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘The Public Service Amendment Bill could clip the wings of politicians in public service hiring’, News24, 3 March.
6. Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘History has been made, paving the way for major public service reform in South Africa’, Global Government Forum, 3 March.
7. Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘If Ramaphosa is gone in the dawn’, News24, 10 June.
8. Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘Could real reform of the civil service be on the cards at last?’, Sunday Times, 23 July.
9. Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘South Africa’s Faustian bet on everything from electricity to Israel’, The Jewish Independent, 28 May.
10. Leite, R. and Chipkin, I. (2024) ‘Political influence or merit-based appointments? How South Africa can resolve the tension over top public service jobs’, Global Government Forum, 12 April.
11. Chipkin, I. (2023) ‘Civil service reform could spell massive change and be defining legacy of the Ramaphosa administration’, Daily Maverick, 5 October.
12. Chipkin, I. (2023) ‘The very basics of a tolerable life – safety, light and water – are insecure because of institutional failures’, Daily Maverick, 13 April. Available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-04-13-safety-light-water-why-the-basics-of-a-tolerable-life-are-insecure/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
13. Chipkin, I. and Vidojević, J. (2023) ‘Africa is not a country’, Brave New Europe, 26 October. Available at: https://braveneweurope.com/ivor-chipkin-jelena-vidojevic-africa-is-not-a-country (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
14. Leite, R. and Chipkin, I. (2023) ‘Political influence or merit-based appointments? How South Africa can resolve the tension over top public service jobs’, Global Government Forum, 12 April. Available at: https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/political-influence-or-merit-based-appointments-how-south-africa-can-resolve-the-tension-over-top-public-service-jobs/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
15. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2023) ‘Can public administration be professionalised? An ingenious plan, put on ice, needs to be renewed’, Sunday Times, 26 March. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/opinion-and-analysis/opinion/2023-03-26-can-public-administration-be-professionalised/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
16. Leite, R. and Chipkin, I. (2023) ‘Building blocks: lessons from the Global South on reforming the architecture of government’, Global Government Forum, 4 January. Available at: https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/building-blocks-lessons-from-the-global-south-on-reforming-the-architecture-of-government/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
17. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘Phala Phala is not a crisis for South Africa; it is a crisis for Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC’, Daily Maverick, 4 December. Available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2022-12-04-phala-phala-is-not-a-crisis-for-south-africa-it-is-a-crisis-for-cyril-ramaphosa-and-the-anc/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
18. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2022) ‘After state capture: how to reform the South African state’, PoliticsWeb, 25 October. Available at: https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/its-time-to-rebuild (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
19. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘If China can make corruption work in its favour, why not South Africa?’, Sunday Times, 16 October.
20. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘The idea of South Africa is blowing in the wind – we are in the middle of an epochal change’, Daily Maverick, 11 October. Available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2022-10-11-nationalism-and-south-africa-we-are-in-the-middle-of-an-epochal-change/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
21. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘Holding the bureaucratic line’, BusinessLive, 30 June. Available at: https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/opinion/on-my-mind/2022-06-30-ivor-chipkin-holding-the-bureaucratic-line/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
22. Chipkin, I. (2022) ‘A tale of two countries: why has state capture seen China boom and South Africa bust?’, Global Government Forum, 27 June. Available at: https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/a-tale-of-two-countries-why-has-state-capture-seen-china-boom-and-south-africa-bust/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
23. Chipkin, I. and Leite, R. (2021) ‘The ANC years: democracy suffers when there’s a disconnect between the head and the body’, Daily Maverick, 7 November.
24. Van den Heever, A., Chipkin, I., Vidojević, J. and Eliseeva, A. (2021) ‘Why South Africa needs a universal basic income grant’, New Frame, 4 November. Available at: https://www.newframe.com/why-south-africa-needs-a-universal-basic-income-grant/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
25. Butler, A. and Chipkin, I. (2021) ‘What is at stake in government reform? Nothing less than holding the country together’, Daily Maverick, 27 April.
26. Butler, A. and Chipkin, I. (2021) ‘Ramaphosa must now make good on his public service reform promise’, Daily Maverick, 25 April.
27. Chipkin, I. (2021) ‘Will President Ramaphosa be ready to stand up to the ANC’s Ramaphosa?’, News24, 23 April. Available at: https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/fridaybriefing/ivor-chipkin-will-president-ramaphosa-be-ready-to-stand-up-to-the-ancs-ramaphosa-20210422 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
28. Chipkin, I. (2020) ‘The paradox of local government: sacrificing service delivery at the altar of equity’, Daily Maverick, 30 November.
29. Chipkin, I. (2020) ‘Let a thousand citizen blossoms bloom – kick-starting and policing the SA economy’, Daily Maverick, 14 October.
30. Chipkin, I. and Khumalo, B. (2020) ‘Economic crisis and renewal: the paradox of government in South Africa’, Daily Maverick, 19 August.
31. Moloi, P., Lehohla, P., Yako, P., Ajam, T. and Chipkin, I. (2020) ‘Getting government right, now – and after Covid-19’, Daily Maverick, 19 May.
32. Chipkin, I. and Vidojević, J. (2020) ‘Universal basic income grant: when nothing is affordable, we had better choose the best unaffordable solution’, Daily Maverick, 29 April.
33. Chipkin, I. (2020) ‘”Pencil pushers” aren’t the issue: bureaucrats are inappropriately politicised’, BusinessLive, 20 April. Available at: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2020-04-20-pencil-pushers-arent-the-issue-bureaucrats-are-inappropriately-politicised/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
34. Vidojević, J. and Chipkin, I. (2019) ‘Breaking Eskom’s death spiral: the answer’s in the data’, Daily Maverick, 31 October.
35. Chipkin, I. (2019) ‘Provincial elites catapulted into the cabinet weaken state capacity’, BusinessLive, 22 February. Available at: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2019-02-22-provincial-elites-catapulted-into-the-cabinet-weaken-state-capacity/ (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
36. Swilling, M. and Chipkin, I. (2018) ‘Shadow State: the politics of state capture – how it all came together’, News24, 21 August. Available at: https://www.news24.com/life/books/shadow-state-the-politics-of-state-capture-how-it-all-came-together-20180821 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).