New South Institute

Strengthening Delicate Democracies by Building Effective and Accountable Institutions

Latest Insights

28/03/2025
Indispensable Nations: Pratap Mehta’s Latest Analysis on the Rise and Fall of Nationalism in Foreign Affairs

Pratap Bhanu Mehta, a senior fellow and board member at the New South Institute, has published a detailed analysis on the rise of nationalism with Foreign Affairs, a globally respected journal, on March 25.

28/03/2025
Highlights from the NSI Workshop on Public Service Reform at GIBS

On Wednesday, 19 March, the New South Institute (NSI) hosted a technical workshop focused on initiatives surrounding public service reforms. The session, held at GIBS in Johannesburg under Chatham House Rules, brought together key figures to discuss the future of public administration and the path towards effective governance.

Our Impact

NSI’s purpose is to provide evidence-based policy and applied research on complex problems of government in delicate democracies. We will judge our success on whether our insights and recommendations lead to actions by government to improve performance of state institutions and the other cornerstone institutions of democracy.

Our Projects

NSI provides evidence-based policy and applied research on complex problems of government in emergent democracies. NSI’s team has deep expertise in research, policy and advocacy. We currently run six research programmes. All adopt a common approach characterised by a focus on institutions and how to build them, research that brings theory and practise together, both in-country and comparatively, and an emphasis on working through partnerships with those who must implement the change. Our big data capability and analytics adds significant value to our research.

Our Aim

The New South Institute (NSI) is not simply a research institute and policy advisory - though we are excellent at that. The NSI believes that people with passion can change the world by building democracies and capable governments - especially in fragile democracies that live with challenges of state capture, social fragmentation and civil war. This is what we call the New South.

Partners

Events

NSI is dedicated to winning important arguments in the public domain by organising and participating in a diversity of events: conferences, lectures, webinars and interviews, both face-to-face and online.

Donate

As we work to strengthen delicate democracies, your support helps us build effective and accountable institutions. Each contribution is a step towards this vital goal. Visit our donation page