The virtual book discussion for Transnational Activities of Women-Focused Civil Society Actors in Southern Africa began with opening remarks and the introduction of one of the book’s co-authors, Dr. Cecilia Nedziwe, by the moderator, Dr. Cyril Obi, Director of the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Program.

The book discussion was led by three speakers: Prof. Siphokazi Magadla, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University, Dr. Lilian N.S. Kong’ani, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cape Town, and Erin Hazan, PhD Candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Dr. Cecilia Nedziwe thanked Dr. Obi and the APN and Next Gen team for the opportunity to discuss her book. She noted that the main point of her book is that non-state actors, particularly women-focused civil society organizations, play a crucial role in shaping regional norms and policies related to gender security within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. She introduces the concept of “regional thickening” to highlight how actors engage in transnational activities that influence state policies and foster regional cohesion, thereby challenging traditional state norms in international relations. She argued that these interactions not only contribute to the development and diffusion of gender norms but also have a transformative impact on regional security dynamics, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of regionalism.

The first discussant, Prof. Siphokazi Magadla, expressed pleasure having the opportunity  to discuss Dr. Nedziwe’s book. She praised Nedziwe for tracing the historical construction of regional identity, illustrating that regions are socially created. The establishment of the University of Botswana, Lesotho, and Switzerland is noted as an example of a key moment for fostering solidarity and self-determination against apartheid in Southern Africa.

Prof. Siphokazi Magadla also critiqued contemporary African states for prioritizing trade agreements over the free movement of people, which hinders transformative regional integration. She explored how the book examines how African women have turned to regional and global platforms for advocacy. Overall, she commended Nedziwe’s work for its depth and its relevance to advancing gender issues in Southern Africa, stating: “African women are central in the thinking and mobilization of a gender architecture that socializes states to accept the norm of gender equality as desirable and achievable on the local and individual level.”

The second discussant,  Dr. Lilian N.S. Kong’ani, praised the book, commending the authors for their insightful analysis of women’s agency in transnational civil society organizations across six SADC countries. She highlighted the book’s strong empirical basis and its framework, which showcases women’s roles in addressing gendered insecurities within various global and regional policy contexts. She also raised reflective questions about the authors’ positionality, the historical figures discussed, and the implications of women’s activities on men and boys, while also critiquing the trend of government funding in civil society for its potential impact on women’s advocacy efforts. She found the book to be a valuable resource for ongoing discussions on gender equality and development in Africa.

The third discussant, Erin Hazan, praised the book for its significant contributions to understanding gender advocacy in the region. She emphasized how the book highlights the power of transnational networks, showing how Southern African women-focused civil society organizations leverage these connections to advocate for gender equality on both local and global stages. In her words, “Independence movements in African countries often focus on liberation from colonial powers, but women’s rights were secondary concerns. The book shows  African women activists intertwining women’s rights with national independence and equality.”  In her opinion, both authors powerfully illustrate the historical context behind colonialism and apartheid, which continues to shape contemporary social and political struggles, and demonstrate how these organizations use international frameworks to hold governments accountable. She also appreciated the book’s comprehensive case studies, which provide depth to its arguments, as well as its engagement with intersectionality, recognizing the complex realities faced by women.

There were several highlights during the Q & A session. One of the questions was for Dr. Cecilia Nedziwe, asking based on her research, about the traits of norms that tend to successfully make it through the norm cycle. Furthermore, she was interrogated about the traits of those norms that do not make it through? In responding, she pointed out that successful norms tend to align with government interests, such as HIV/AIDS and climate change, leading to cooperation, while those addressing human rights are often rejected as threats. Cecilia also observed that efforts are ongoing in the SADC region to establish a legal framework for guaranteed civil society participation in intergovernmental processes.

Following the Q&A session, the author and all discussants thanked the APN and Next Gen team for the opportunity to discuss the book – Dr. Cecilia Nedziwe, in particular, thanked members of the audience for thoughtfully and critically engaging with her book. Dr. Cyril Obi announced that another virtual book discussion in the series would be scheduled for November.