Public Policy 85 is a seminar designed to provide real world international policy experience for a select group of students engaged with the Rockefeller Center. Twelve seniors will be selected to study our 2022F topic: Racial Reconciliation in South Africa.
South Africa has a unique history, including the Apartheid system that imposed race-based controls by a white government on the majority-Black population. This rigid system of racial segregation gradually came to an end in the 1990s. In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as the nation’s first Black president, ushering in a new era for the country. South Africa established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help the country deal with the gross human rights abuses committed during the Apartheid era.
Despite the radical political changes that have occurred in South Africa, prosperity remains elusive for the vast majority of the country’s 60 million people, roughly 80 percent of whom identify as Black African. South Africa is still working to ameliorate the economic and social costs of its Apartheid past. In addition, the country has been particularly hard hit by covid-19, which has taken an additional human and economic toll.
The mission of this Rockefeller Public Policy 85 task force is to write a memo that: 1) Recommends a set of policies to promote racial reconciliation and broaden economic opportunity in South Africa; and 2) Determines what lessons from South Africa are applicable to the United States and other countries working to overcome racism and discrimination.
During 22F, the participating students will study this topic in depth. During winterim, the participating students will travel with Professor Wheelan to meet with local policy leaders: politicians, academics, journalists, businesspeople, diplomats, activists, aid workers, and other experts “on the ground” who can inform the study of these issues.
Students are responsible for airfare to and from South Africa, though financial aid will be awarded roughly in proportion to a student’s Dartmouth financial aid package. The Rockefeller Center will cover lodging, transportation, and most meals while in South Africa.
Students participating in Public Policy 85 should expect the following:
1. A heavy reading load, beginning with assigned summer reading.
2. Intensive group work, including a final policy memo written collectively by the 12 students in the course.
3. A fall course meeting in the 6A Period (M,Th 6:30-8:20pm).