The State of Humanities in South Africa

In many parts of the world concern has been expressed over the diminishing role which the Humanities are playing in the so-called ‘knowledge chain’. These worries have pointed specifically to the weakening place of the Humanities within the academy, and, more generally, a deepening disregard of the Humanities in society. In a number of countries these concerns have led to initiatives and investigations into the Humanities, with recommendations on ways to both defend and rebuild them. In similar vein, ASSAf commissioned this ‘Consensus Study on the Future of the Humanities in South Africa’.
The starting point for such a Study was the undisputed view that the Humanities are indispensable, producing an essential set of analytical skills, along with bodies of knowledge without which our society, and the wider world, would be inscrutable. It is the Humanities that nurture the intellectual lifeblood of a democratic project through powers of informed analysis, judgement and creative critique.
It is also important to bear in mind that the Humanities in South Africa are decidedly ‘mixed’ in terms of international standing, social influence, patterns of deterioration and sites and instances of encouraging vigour and productivity on the one hand, while there are also concerning symptoms of decline with dangerous portents for the future. Some Humanities departments are producing internationally recognised experts; however, there are some extremely worrying signs of decline that need to be arrested and reversed as a matter of urgency – given the important role that the Humanities have to play in our society.