South Africa is a microcosm for all the world’s greatest unresolved itches. Here we have fair-skinned folk living in shiny new cities with first-rate infrastructure and access to all the best that […]
Gavin Chait
Economist, data scientist, entrepreneur, author. Fascinated by the frontiers of human progress: innovation vs ignorance; wealth vs poverty. Oh, and coffee. @GavinChait and https://gavinchait.com
Realpolitik in Iran: unknown unknowns
The problems of realpolitik are these: their nuances are not ours, and our nuances are not theirs. The Iranians have chosen to hold hostages representing people opposed to George Bush’s policies in […]
Do you hate the poor enough to be charitable?
You’re going to despise me, so let’s get that over and done with. It is winter in Cape Town. Temperatures plunge to the low single Celsius digits. Worse than that though is […]
Nigeria, or the idiots guide to stealing an election
In 1492 Rodrigo Borgia, a Spanish cardinal, is said to have bribed all his rivals the equivalent of millions of dollars in order to become Alexander VI, the 215th Catholic Pope. In […]
The future of newspapers II: of shock-jocks and self-made media-stars
Journalists know real excitement: of being first to cover a news story; of offering the critical insight that unlocks events and brings down corrupt elites. Competition between journalists and media companies has […]
The future of newspapers, journalistic integrity and the battle for Google’s soul
In 2005 a major media company with an international presence handed information on the activities of its journalists to an autocratic police state. A few of these journalists were subsequently arrested, tortured, […]
The miracle of Belfast, the horror of Zimbabwe, and the opportunity for France
Several days of rioting have greeted Sarkozy’s victory in France. He must be quite thrilled about this. In June there are parliamentary elections in which he must win a majority in order […]
Islam, Shari’ah Law, and Cultural Capitalism
“If I was a non-Muslim travelling by plane I would always ask for the halaal meal,” says Saliegh Salaam. “Not only will the meal be prepared to a significantly higher standard than […]
Sarkozy’s French Election: when elephants fight only the grass gets trampled
There is an African saying that, “When elephants fight only the grass gets trampled.” It eloquently expresses the despair that ordinary people feel when the people who claim to represent their interests […]
Why it matters that Sarkozy won the French election
It just so happens that – at the start of the Gulf War – the majority of heads of state who supported the war were on the right of the political divide […]
Progressive Culture | Scholars & Rogues 