Steven Robins

Steven Robins is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at the University of Stellenbosch. He was born in Port Elizabeth and completed his schooling at Grey High School. Professor Robins then went on to study Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town, and completed his doctoral studies at Columbia University in New York. Professor Robins’ doctoral research was on the politics of land reform in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. He taught in the Department of Anthropology & Sociology at the University of the Western Cape for seven years, and moved to Stellenbosch University in 2003. He has published on a wide range of topics including the politics of land, ‘development’ and identity in Zimbabwe and South Africa; the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (2000TRC); urban studies and most recently on citizenship and governance. His recent book entitled From Revolution to Rights in South Africa: Social Movements, NGOs and Popular Politics (2000James Currey and UKZN Publishers, 2008) focuses on globally connected social movements, NGOs and CBOs that are involved democratic struggles over access to AIDS treatment, land and housing. He has edited a book entitled Limits to Liberation After Apartheid: Citizenship, Governance and Culture which was published by David Philip, James Currey and Ohio University Press, (20002005). Steven has also edited a book (2000with Nick Shepherd) entitled New South African Keywords (2000Jacana and Ohio University Press, 2008).

His area of expertise focuses on transnational NGOs and social movements; the politics of rights, citizenship and governance; HIV/Aids; urban and rural development; and land, housing, and identity issues.
Professor Steven is currently working on the following research projects:

• Development Research Centre (2000DRC) on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability with the Institute for Development Studies, Sussex University, UK.
• South African National Research Foundation (2000NRF) and IDS Research Projects on AIDS, globalisation and therapeutic citizenship. These projects involve case studies of health citizenship and the politics of AIDS in South Africa.
• SANPAD project on Popular Land Struggles, Elites and Transfrontier Conservation Areas in Southern Africa. This project is being done in collaboration with Dutch partners from the Free University, Amsterdam.