Alan Hirsch

New Report: African Continental Initiatives for Mobility This NSI report examines how the African Union's Free Movement Protocol and AfCFTA impact migration governance and mobility across Africa, analysing legal frameworks, implementation gaps, and reform p...

How can continental African initiatives and institutions drive an agenda for freer, regular migration by Africans across African borders? Victor Amadi and I investigated this: nsi.org.za/publications...

East African countries and open borders: great strides, but still a long way to go The East African Community has been ambitious in creating a regional common market. This includes making it easy for people to move between countries.

Lots to learn from the East African experience of migration governance reform. Mostly positive lessons, but still a considerable to-do list.
url.za.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/UokKC0go6L...

NSI Report Assesses Uneven Migration Reform in the East African Community The New South Institute’s latest report reviews migration reform in the East African Community, highlighting progress in free movement and border integration, but noting uneven implementation and inst...

My report on migration governance reform in East Africa is finally out!
nsi.org.za/publications...

NSI Report Assesses Uneven Migration Reform in the East African Community The New South Institute’s latest report reviews migration reform in the East African Community, highlighting progress in free movement and border integration, but noting uneven implementation and inst...

My new report on migration governance reform in East Africa is finally out. nsi.org.za/publications...

My review of Andrew Sillen's story of a man enslaved at sea during the American Civil War is out. It'sa rollicking naval yarn and a passionate critique of apologist versions of the story and of the Civil War. It also shows the global dimensions of this domestic conflict.
epubs.ac.za/index.php/ne...

Zambia and South Africa have very different rules for refugees. What can we learn from this? Published in South African Journal of International Affairs (Ahead of Print, 2025)

I recently reviewed an interesting book on refugee reception in South Africa.
url.za.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/jliOCElX5x...

When Will US Academia and Business Speak Up Against Trump? | by Dani Rodrik - Project Syndicate Dani Rodrik argues that leaders in both sectors bear a disproportionate responsibility to come to democracy's defense.

Isn't it time to speak out? @drodrik.bsky.social on the necessity of confronting Trump.
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/w...

City of Cape Town proposes affordable housing on prime Green Point site The land value of the site ranks “among the highest in the southern hemisphere”

More than four hectares of prime land across the boundary of Green Point and Sea Point are to be auctioned off by the City of Cape Town for mixed-use development which includes affordable housing.

Read groundup.org.za/article/city... by Matthew Hirsch and Steve Kretzmann

I don't know if this has come before the East African Court of Justice. Unlikely that this issue is in the EA integration treaty or protocols? I think. I looked at the jurisprudence of the EACJ in respect of the commitment to human mobility in the EA Common Market protocol. Paper is in production.

In my forthcoming paper on the East African Community I show how the East African Court of Justice was weakened through amendments to its governing treaty that inhibited its jurisdiction over individual human rights issues. Including the right to travel across EAC borders.

I have recently been honoured with an appointment to Minister Godongwana's G20 Africa Expert Panel. I hope we can make a useful contribution
acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:...

NSI Welcomes Yoliswa Makhasi - New South Institute The New South Institute (NSI) is excited to announce the appointment of Yoliswa Makhasi as the new Head of our Public Service Reform programme. With over two decades of experience in public sector gov...

nsi.org.za/news/yoliswa...

We now have a hugely skilled, greatly experienced leader for our program of public sector reform and innovation in South Africa at the New South Institute. Great to have Yoliswa on board.

Yoliswa Makhasi on LinkedIn: I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Head for Public… | 29 comments I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Head for Public Service Reform at New South Institute! | 29 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com/posts/yolisw...

An Analysis of Migration Governance Frameworks in West Africa - New South Institute The New South Institute (NSI) is pleased to announce the publication of “An Analysis of Migration Governance Frameworks in West Africa: The Role of ECOWAS in Facilitating Free Movement and Regional In...

We are pleased to announce that our New South Institute paper on the movement of people in ECOWAS (West African Community) by Victor Amadi has just been published.
nsi.org.za/publications...

@bsky.app is finally coming of age. This is the first time I have had quicker reactions to a post on Bluesky than to my other social media. Hurray!

Politiques anti-immigration : pourquoi les règles drastiques de Trump et d'autres pays riches ne dureront pas sans main-d'œuvre immigrée, les pays du Nord sont confrontés à des difficultés économiques.

A French version of my article on global trends in migration policy and practice.
theconversation.com/politiques-a...

On American aid cuts/disruptions When the music stops, those who’ve outsourced their ambitions get exposed

Great primer on American aid cuts/disruptions by @kopalo.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/kenopalo...

Anti-immigration policies: why harsh new rules put in place by Trump and other rich countries won’t last Global north policies are increasingly nasty but these countries are ageing fast - without migrant labour, they face economic hardship.

While I understand and condemn the awful impact of current actions against migrants, I think south to north migrants will have the last laugh theconversation.com/anti-immigra...

Informal mining in South Africa is here to stay. Police brutality won’t end it – here’s what will South Africa’s police have resorted to medieval military tactics against illegal miners. But the solution lies elsewhere: massive regional economic repair.

Here, at last, is an article which places the zama zama story in historical, regional and social context. It wasn't simply opportunism that drove the zama zamas. Rosalind Morris explains why.
theconversation.com/informal-min...

Looking forward to my first offering at ICT's summer school at the end of January. Two lectures on fantasy and fact in migration policy.
summerschool.uct.ac.za/fantasy-and-...

Why is immigration such a sensitive issue? Do governments misunderstand the facts or just ignore them? What should they do? Come to my lectures at UCT Summer School on 31 Jan and 1 Feb for a great conversation.
summerschool.uct.ac.za/fantasy-and-...

You interrogate them until they confess, like they used to do.

YouTube video by Policy Center for the New South Migration, Development, and Power Asymmetries - Perspectives from Africa and Europe

I enjoyed this conversation with Ivan Martin on migration governance within and between Europe and Africa, facilitated by Imane Lahrich at the Policy Center for the New South. I hope this conversation will continue between the PCNS and the New South Institute.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2zl...

ATLANTIC CURRENTS 11th edition The 11 edition of Atlantic Currents explores the evolving dynamics within the Atlantic region. As the world grapples with profound transformations and unprecedented challenges, the Atlantic Basin emer...

I have a new essay out called 'Migration governance paradoxes and realistic pathways: An African perspective' in a collection published by the Policy Center for the New South. See here (where it is available at a price): www.policycenter.ma/publications...

COP29: Multilateral rules-based regime still works at climate talks, sort of There is growing scepticism about how long the current COP process can continue without significant changes. I agree there’s a problem, but is there a credible, practicable alternative?

A cheat's guide to Cop 29 outcomes. All you need to know without sensationalism.
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...

We have similar preoccupations in South Africa now, where the future potential for decent jobs, and exports, in manufacturing is much smaller than in the services sector.

What do Africans think about migrants. Are Africans hostile to migrants or is the problem that governments stand in the way of greater mobility? This paper set out to engage with these questions using a Delphi survey of experts and policymakers.
www.boell.de/sites/defaul...

Interesting that the DM of Home Affairs in SA says that the White Paper on on Citizenship, Immigration, & Refugee Protection which went through cabinet in April, before the election, is being reviewed to address the concerns of 'stakeholders'. Is this a formal process?
www.dha.gov.za/index.php/st...

Expanding legal pathways for labour immigration This report looks at labour immigration to the European Union and the European Commission’s efforts to provide legal pathways to workers to help respond to European labour and skills shortages.

Here’s a valuable new paper on labour migration pathways for Europe
odi.org/en/publicati...