Dr. Bhaso Ndzendze — University of Johannesburg

About Bhaso Ndzendze

Download Bhaso’s CV here.

Curriculum Vitae of Bhaso Ndzendze, PhD

Last Updated: December 2021

  1. Personal Information
  • Born: 1995
  • Gender: Male
  • Nationality: South African
  1. Contact Information
  1. Research Areas
    • Africa’s international relations (China, EU, and US, interstate conflict and MIDs)
    • Trade
    • Technology dynamics in international relations
  2. Education

4.1. Degrees

BA (2016), BAHons (2017), MA (2018), PhD (International Relations), University of the Witwatersrand. Dissertation: Explaining East Africa’s Interstate Wars, 1977-2000: Towards a Typological Theory? 2020.

4.2. Certificates

  • Executive Programme: Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.
  • Executive Programme: Artificial Intelligence, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.
  • Certificate: EU-Russia Relations: University of Tartu, Estonia. Foreign Policy Actors, Institutions and Policy-Making.
  • Certificate: Basic Mandarin, Nanjing Tech University, China.
  1. Work Experience
    • Current roles:
  • Head of Department, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg (since June 2021).
  • Head of Unit, 4IR and Digital Policy Research Unit (4DPRU), Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg (since November 2021).
  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg (Courses: ‘Introduction to International Relations,’ ‘International Law,’ ‘Africa-China Relations’, ‘Defining Moments in African Politics’ and ‘Technology Dynamics in International Politics’) (since October 2020).
  • Commissioning Editor: Theory, E-International Relations (since 2020).
  • Research Chair: Quality of Democracy, South African Association of Political Studies (since 2020).
  • Quarterly Contributor, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Ubuntu Magazine) (since 2020).
    • Work history:

Research Director, University of Johannesburg Centre for Africa-China Studies (2018-2020). Research Coordinator, University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute (2017-2020). Researcher in the Office of the Senior Director: Administration and Strategic Initiatives, University of Johannesburg (2017-2018). Assistant Lecturer, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg (April 2019 to September 2020). Freelance Researcher, Embassy of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in the Republic of South Africa (2016-2017). Editor-in-Chief, The Wits Independent (student newspaper), University of the Witwatersrand (2015). Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand (2014).

  1. Selected Publications

6.1. Journal articles and book chapters

  • ‘Federalism with South African Characteristics? Traditional Authorities and Customary Law in a Democratic, Constitutional State’, The Thinker, 76(2), 2018.
  • with Emmanuel Matambo, ‘Between Setbacks and Innate Potential: The African Union and the African Security Landscape,’ The Thinker, 79(1), 2019.
  • ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Linkages with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in Historical Perspective,’ Transnational Corporations Review, 11(1): 38-49, 2019.
  • ‘Is there a Reverse Correlation in Growth of Japanese and Chinese Exports to Africa? Evidence from South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, 2007-2017’, Tamkang Journal of International Affairs, 23(2): 39-80, 2019.
  • ‘Realpolitik in the Africa–One China Nexus, 2001-2008: The Cases of Chad and Malawi’, Studia Europea, 2(1): 53-80, 2019.
  • ‘Inversely Correlated? Comparing EU-27 and Chinese Exports to South Africa, 2007-2018’, 28(1), The European Foreign Affairs Review, 2020.
  • ‘Domestic Audiences and Economic Opportunity Cost: African Democratisation as a Determinant in the Recognition of China over Taiwan, 2001–2018,’ Journal of Asian and African Studies 56(3), 2020.
  • ‘BRICS and the Economics of Terrorism,’ Latin American Report, 36(2), 31-54, 2020.
  • With Anelisa Mzungulu, ‘Alleviating Unemployment in South Africa: Harnessing Comparative Advantage in the Services Sector,’ The Thinker, 88(3), 18-29, 2021.
  • ‘South Africa-Russia Trade Relations in the Mbeki-Putin Years, 1999-2008,’ Southern African Strategic Review, 43(1), 79-102.
    • Books
  • Co-edited with David Monyae, The BRICS Order: Assertive or Complementing the West? (Palgrave Macmillan). 2020.
  • With Tshilidzi Marwala, Artificial Intelligence and International Relations (World Scientific Press). 2021.
  • Beginner’s Dictionary of Contemporary International Relations (Arrow, ISBN: 0620744677). 2017.
  • The Continent we Construct (Verity Publishers, ISBN: 0994665407). 2015.
    • Forthcoming books
  • Artificial Intelligence and International Relations Theories (Palgrave Macmillan). December 2020. Accepted.
  • Asia-Pacific Regional Competition and the Evolution of Sino-South African Trade. Palgrave Macmillan. Forthcoming 2022. Accepted.
  • East Africa’s Interstate Wars: Causes, Costs and Solutions. E-IR Publishers. Forthcoming 2023. Accepted.
    • Book chapters
  • ‘Autochthonous Routes to Democracy,’ pp. in Monyae, D and Ndzendze, B, The BRICS Order: Assertive or Complementing the West?. Palgrave Macmillan: London.
  • ‘Strains in Sino-Indian Relations: Wither the BRICS?,’ pp. in Monyae, D and Ndzendze, B, The BRICS Order: Assertive or Complementing the West?. Palgrave Macmillan: London.
  • with Tshilidzi Marwala, ‘Chapter 23: South Africa and the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ in The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy, edited by Fiona Tregenna, Arkebe Oqubay, and Imaan Valodia. Oxford University Press. Forthcoming 2021.
  •  ‘All Hands on Deck: University-Industry Collaboration and Patent Filings in South Africa, 2009-2019,’ Trends in African Higher Education, edited by Omar Egesah. Oxford University Press and Addis Ababa University Press. Forthcoming 2021.
  • with Nomzamo Gondwe, ‘ESwatini-Taiwan Relations: Domestic Audience Costs and China’s Irrelevance?’ in China and Taiwan in Africa: The Struggle for Diplomatic Recognition and Hegemony, edited by Sabella O. Abidde. Springer. Forthcoming 2022.
  • ‘China vs Taiwan in Africa: The Role of Electoral Competitiveness,’ Title TBC, edited by Sabella O. Abidde. Forthcoming 2022.
  • ‘Assessing China’s “New Assertiveness” in Historical Context,’ Critical Reflections on Asian Disputes, edited by Moises de Souza. E-IR Publishers. Forthcoming 2022.
  • Book reviews
  • The Eagle and the Springbok: Essays on Nigeria and South Africa by Adekeye Adebajo (Jacana, 2018: Johannesburg) in International Affairs, 94(3).
  • Toussaint Louverture: A Black Jacobin in the Age of Revolutions by Charles Forsdick and Christian Høgsbjerg (Pluto/Wits University Press, 2017: Johannesburg) in The Thinker, 76.
  • From the Outside In: Domestic Actors in South Africa’s Foreign Policy by Chris Landsberg and Lesley Masters (Jacana, 2018: Johannesburg) in The Thinker, 77.
  • China and India’s Development Cooperation in Africa: The Rise of Southern Powers by Philani Mthembu (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018: London) in International Affairs, 95(3).

 

 

  • Reports
  • ‘2017 in Review: What the future holds for Africa-China relations,’ CGTN Africa, December 31, 2017.
  • ‘Turning crisis into opportunity? Agricultural exports to China during the trade war,’ South African Institute of International Affairs, 30 July 2020.
  • With Olumide Abimbola and Faten Aggad, ‘What is Africa’s Digital Agenda?,’ African Policy Research Institute, July 2021.
  • Selected popular press articles (Business Day, Cape Times, Daily Maverick, Mercury, Mail & Guardian, Sunday Independent, The Mercury, Pretoria Times, The Thinker)
  • ‘A proxy for intra-alliance economic confidence: Private sector BRIC shareholding in Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed companies, 2010-2018’, Foreign Affairs and Policy Institute of South Africa.
  • Published interview(s)
  • Interview with Ambassador Smuts Ngonyama (to Japan) on the future of South African economic diplomacy, July 2020. E-IR.

 

  1. Student Supervision Record

7 honours, 5 masters and 4 PhD projects graduated or under supervision on topics including FDI, the 4IR, labour unions, trade, China-Africa relations, and the BRICS. Record available on request.

  1. Courses Developed

The International Political Economy of Africa-China Studies (POL8X13), Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg. 2018.

Africa’s Defining Moments (POL2C), Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg. 2019.

Technology Dynamics in International Politics (POL8X27), Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg. 2019.

International Law in International Relations (POL3C), Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg. 2020.

  1. Conferences, Panels and Guest Lectures
  • ‘The Three Great Experiments in World Peace, 1919-Present,’ Wits University (26 April 2018).
  • ‘Understanding China’s Interest in Africa,’ Wits University (12 May 2018).
  • ‘Traditional Authority and Customary Law in Post-1994 South Africa,’ South African Historical Association (HASA, 19-22 June 2018).
  • ‘Post-Reform Chinese and Post-Apartheid South African Youth in Comparative Perspective, 1978-2018: Congruence Analyses,’ 2018 Forum on China-South Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China; 25 June, 2018).
  • ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Linkages with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in Historical Perspective,’ University of Zimbabwe (24 August, 2018).
  • ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis’, Wits University (6 September, 2018).
  • ‘The Pre-Origins, Rise and Fall of ISIS,’ Wits University (3 October, 2018).
  • ‘Africa and the US-China Trade War,’ Policy Monitoring and Research Centre, Lusaka, Zambia (22 May 2019).
  • ‘The BRICS and the 4IR,’ University of Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo, Brazil (10 December 2019).
  • ‘Artificial Intelligence and South Africa’s International Relations,’ AI Dialogue of South Africa (5 August 2020).
  • ‘Global Tech Rivalries and the City of Johannesburg,’ City of Johannesburg Government (30 September 2020).
  • ‘African Languages and the 4IR’, Universities South Africa (30 October 2020).
  • ‘The International Politics Shaping our Future,’ (Keynote Address) Digital Council Africa (18 October 2021).
  • ‘China’s New Territorial Assertiveness: Lessons from Resolved Disputes,’ University of Central Lancashire (30 November 2021).
  • ‘China and the EU in Africa: A Decade of Soft Power Shifts in Review,’ University of Göttingen (14 December 2021).
  1. Seminars and Conferences Organised
  • Book Launch of Chuma Nwokole’s The Extinction of the Manai, 27 Nov. 2017. Participants: Professor Chuma Nwokole (Keynote Speaker), Raphael D’Abdon (Respondent).
  • ‘South Africa-China Relations at Twenty: Key Lessons for the Next Decade’, 16 Mar. 2018. Participants: Fmr. Dep. Minister of Foreign Affairs (South Africa) Ambassador Aziz Pahad, Ambassador Lin Songtian (Keynote Speaker), Dr Bob Wekesa (1st Respondent), Professor Garth Shelton (2nd Respondent).
  • ‘The Battle of the Giants: Shifting Sino-US Relations — Implications for Africa’, 11 May 2018. Participants: Professor Wang Dong (Keynote Speaker), Dr Henry Sun (Guest Speaker), Sanusha Naidu (Respondent).
  • ‘The New Cold War?’, 30 May 2018. Participants: Prof Alex Mezyaev (Keynote Speaker), Dr Essop Pahad (Respondent).
  • ‘Satellite Cooperation: The Next Frontier of Sino-African Relations’, 11 Jun. 2018. Participants: Dr Zhu Ming (Keynote Speaker), Professor Arthur Mutambara (Respondent).
  • ‘South African Economic Policy Since 1994’, 23 July 2018. Participants: Professor Mongane Wally Serote (Chair), Fmr. Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin (Keynote Speaker), Fmr. Minister in the Presidency Dr Essop Pahad (Respondent).
  • ‘China at 70: Policy, Institutions and Development’, 9 October 2019. Participants: Professor Martin Jacques, Ms Hannah Ryder, and Dr David Monyae.
  • ‘The Intellectual Work and Legacy of Thandika Mkandawire,’ 29 April 2020. Participants: Prof Gilbert Khadiagala, Dr Ibbo Mandaza and Elinor Sisulu (Chair).
  • ‘People-to-people relations during COVID-19’, 20 May 2020. Participants: Prof Siphamandla Zondi, Prof Qin Shengyong, and Dr Ying Cheng.
  • ‘‘China’s Global Diplomatic Relations: COVID-19 and Beyond,’ 24 June 2020. Participants: Kerry Brown.
  • ‘Nelson Mandela’s Soccer Diplomacy,’ 12 July 2020. Participants: Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr Danny Jordaan, President of the South African Football Association (SAFA); Neil Tovey, former captain of Bafana Bafana; the African soccer journalist Coudjoe Amankwaa; Gary Rathbone, General Manager of SABC Sport; and researcher David Maimela.
  • Civil Society as an Agent of Good Governance and Innovation in Africa (31 August to 1 September 2021).
  1. Awards and Honours
  • Distinguished Fellow, Mail & Guardian—Jakes Gerwel Fellowship (since 2020)
  • Mail and Guardian Young 200 – Education category (2019)
  • Walter and Albertina Sisulu Prize in International Relations (2017/18)
  • Postgraduate Merit Award, Wits University (2017 and 2018)
  • Korean Essay Contest, South Africa (2016)