Africa's relations with the United States : Developments after September 11, 2001

Pisani, Kobus du 한국아프리카학회 2002 한국아프리카학회지 Vol.16 No.-

In the current world system most countries prefer to stand close to the USA as the most powerful nation in the world, although many states might not feel comfortable with the measure of US domination of world affairs after the Cold War. This is also the case with the majority of African countries. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on targets in New York and Washington had a significant impact on US-Africa relations, because almost a third of all Muslims in the world live in Africa. After September 11 the majority of African people joined the rest of the world in condemning terrorism and African states supported anti-terrorist measures. However, when President George W. Bush launched his war on terrorism, opposition against the US military strikes against Afghanistan surfaced in several African countries amongst Muslims and non-Muslims. This showed that the US could not take African support for granted. In Congress warnings were sounded that poverty in Africa might be a breeding ground for terrorism. Senior officials of the Bush administration were dispatched to Africa to explain the American campaign against the Taliban. When the dust settled after September 11 economic issues dominated US-African relations. The declining trend in US development assistance to Africa during the 1990s was reversed when Bush announced the Millennium Challenge initiative early in 2002, aimed primarily at poverty alleviation. His approval of a new farm bill, which will increase subsidies to American farmers, drew heavy criticism form African leaders. They argue that what he is giving to Africa with one hand he is taking back with the other hand. All in al US-African relations seemed to return to normality early in 2002, with trade in terms of the Afroca Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) picking up. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) was launched, but has not yet started to show concrete results. What is clear is that the role of the USA in African development has become more important than ever.

Numerical investigation on beams prestressed with FRP

Pisani, Marco A. Techno-Press 2000 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.9 No.4

This paper aims to make a contribution to understanding which methods apply for structural analysis of beams prestressed with FRP cables. A parametric non-linear numerical analysis of simply supported beams has been performed. In this analysis the shape of the cross-section, the strength of concrete, the material adopted for the cables (steel, GFRP, CFRP), the prestressing system (bonded or unbonded prestressing) and the degree of prestressing were changed to collect a broad range of data which, the author contends, should cover the most frequent types of common practice. The output data themselves and their comparison allow us to suggest some rules that could be adopted when dealing with beams prestressed with these innovatory materials that have an elastic-brittle behaviour.

Strength of FRP RC sections after long-term loading

Pisani, M.A. Techno-Press 2003 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.15 No.3

The adoption of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars (whose behaviour is elastic-brittle) in reinforced concrete (RC) cross sections requires the assessment of the influence of time-dependent behaviour of concrete on the load-carrying capacity of these sections. This paper presents a method of computing the load-carrying capacity of sections that are at first submitted to a constant long-term service load and then overloaded up to ultimate load. The method solves first a non-linear visco-elastic problem, and then a non-linear instantaneous analysis up to ultimate load that takes into account the self-equilibrated stress distribution previously computed. This method is then adopted to perform a parametric analysis that shows that creep and shrinkage of concrete increase the load-carrying capacity of the cross section reinforced with FRP and allows for the suggestion of simple design rules.

A numerical model for externally prestressed beams

Pisani, M.A. Techno-Press 1996 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.4 No.2

A method to numerically evaluate the behaviour of single span beams, prestressed with external tendons and symmetrically loaded is presented. This algorithm, based on the Finite Difference Method, includes second order effects and large displacements in an attempt to more fully understand the behaviour of the beam up to collapse. The numerical technique discussed is particularly appropriate for the analysis of R.C. and P.C. beams rehabilitated or strengthened by means of external prestressing but it is reliable for the analysis of new beams as well.

Strategies of Survival in Troubled Times and Unforgiving Places: The Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa in the 19th Century

Du Pisani, Kobus,김광수 한국외국어대학교(글로벌캠퍼스) 아프리카연구소 2014 Asian Journal of African Studies Vol.35 No.-

This paper deals with the history in the 19th century of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa, a sub-group of the Sotho-Tswana peoples of the southern African interior. Its focus is to • analyse strategies of survival employed by the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa in their interaction with other groups during times of turmoil and change in the region • contextualise the 19th century history of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa within the bigger picture of processes and patterns in the region. The paper reveals the many links between the 19th century history of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa and the central issues related to the broader South African historiographical context. The focus is on their ability, despite shifting power relations on the Highveld as a result of which they were progressively losing their political power, to apply their agency in protecting their interests through fluid alliances. However, the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa did not rely only on others to maintain an independent livelihood, but strove to help themselves. Unfortunately, by the end of the nineteenth century, as a result of a combination of factors the Bahurutshe had been economically weakened to the point where they were in danger of losing their selfsufficiency.

Strategies of Survival in Troubled Times and Unforgiving Places

Du Pisani, Kobus,Kim, Kwang Su 한국외국어대학교 아프리카연구소 2014 Asian Journal of African Studies Vol.35 No.-

This paper deals with the history in the 19th century of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa, a sub-group of the Sotho-Tswana peoples of the southern African interior. Its focus is to ? analyse strategies of survival employed by the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa in their interaction with other groups during times of turmoil and change in the region ? contextualise the 19th century history of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa within the bigger picture of processes and patterns in the region. The paper reveals the many links between the 19th century history of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa and the central issues related to the broader South African historiographical context. The focus is on their ability, despite shifting power relations on the Highveld as a result of which they were progressively losing their political power, to apply their agency in protecting their interests through fluid alliances. However, the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa did not rely only on others to maintain an independent livelihood, but strove to help themselves. Unfortunately, by the end of the nineteenth century, as a result of a combination of factors the Bahurutshe had been economically weakened to the point where they were in danger of losing their selfsufficiency.

Strength of FRP RC sections after long-term loading

M.A.Pisani 국제구조공학회 2003 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.15 No.3

Globalisation and cultural transformation: African and South African perspectives

( J. A. (Kobus) Du Pisani ) 한국외국어대학교 외국학종합연구센터 2004 International Area Studies Review Vol.7 No.1

One-way traffic or highway to mutual benefit? Part 1: China and Africa in the era of Mao Zedong

Jacobus A. du Pisani,Kwang Su, Kim 한국외국어대학교 국제지역연구센터 2007 International Area Studies Review Vol.10 No.2

Oral Poetry as “Voice” of the African People in the Historical Narrative: the Case of the Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa of Dinokana

김광수,Du Pisani, Kobus 한국외국어대학교(글로벌캠퍼스) 아프리카연구소 2013 Asian Journal of African Studies Vol.34 No.-

Praise poems have a function more than that of relating historical events. They usually contain many meaningless clichés, and they are composed during the rule or directly after the death of the chief or king. To the historians, the most important function of the praise poem is to provide understanding of the feel of the time in which it was created. In other words, it helps the historians to understand and apprehend what happened in that time period. It can be explained that the reason why praise poems are recited by many Southern Africans and continues to echo down the centuries is not only because praise poetry provides happiness and joy, but also it speaks to the people on behalf of individuals and the society. In that sense, praise poems clearly reflect collective identity or historical consciousness of the group or community. Maboko, or a Tswana praise poem, shows collective identity and historical consciousness. In that sense, praise poems can be considered as important records through which historical and cultural identity is revealed. This thesis deals with historical praise poems, which mainly praises greatness of a chief, gallantry of a warrior, tribe’s migration and settlement, and region that they reside. It is expressed by metaphorically citing aspects of nature such as animals, rivers and mountains. It is clear and agreed that historical praise poems do not contain accurate historical information and additional reference data should be supplemented before the poems can be used as historical data. However, names of chiefs, descriptions of events, criticisms and praises that the poems repeatedly mention reflect their historical consciousness. Bahurutshe people’s historical praise poems, which are the main concern of this paper, signify that they have strong historical consciousness, deep trust and confidence in the chieftaincy, and respect for their rulers. Furthermore, the poems show that they distinguish their culture from those of other nations, and they are very proud people.