Knowledge for Justice

The Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement have begun to redefine development in social and environmental terms. Change is picking up pace in many fields, even as conservative opposition continues. Achieving social, environmental and economic justice across local, national, regional and global levels will depend on fresh knowledge and durable networks that can bring many different realities, needs and priorities into view. Research, scholars and universities hold a kind of influence over these outcomes that may be unprecedented.

This edited volume brings together writers from southern Africa and the Nordic countries, each of whom examines the SDGs through their own field while focusing closely on how knowledge is produced. The first section looks frankly at the barriers that neoliberal dominance places in the way of meaningful transformation. The second section evaluates what North-South research partnerships and academic exchanges have taught us, and whether they can point toward genuine alternatives. The third section presents case studies that carefully map how difficult it is to make sure no one is left behind.

The collection is aimed at readers interested in North-South research networks and in current debates about the part knowledge production plays in development.

The Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD) is a network of higher education institutions spanning Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Universities in the region that have not yet joined are invited to do so.