On Friday the 12th of May, Kate Kuper from Bateleur Partners moderated a question-and-answer session with Ivor Chipkin and Alan Hirsch at the Conduit in London. The discussion focused on how institution-building, supported by good policy analysis, was a central, though neglected, element of protecting and building democracy in South Africa and in the global south.

As it happens, news of apparent South African arms sales to Russia had broken the afternoon before, together with the weakening of the Rand.

The conversation thus ranged from the current situation in South Africa, to state capture, to migration to foreign policy. The event attracted a large crowd and a lively discussion.