Research

NRF C2 Rated Researcher

Founder and Lead of the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group - see more here

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PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS

1. Anciano, Fiona and Wheeler, Joanna (eds.) 2021. Political Values and Narratives of Resistance: Social Justice and the Fractured Promises of Post-colonial States. United Kingdom: Routledge

2. Anciano, Fiona and Piper, Laurence. 2019. Democracy Disconnected: Participation and Governance in a City of the South. United Kingdom: Routledge 

PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES

1. Dube, M., Anciano, F. and A. Mdee. 2023. The Illusion of the Container Based Sanitation Solution in Khayelitsha, South Africa, Water Alternatives. 

2. Yu, D., Swanepool, C., Sims, D. and F. Anciano (2023) (accepted) Do assessment loads affect student academic success? An investigation at an Economics Department at the undergraduate level. South African Journal of Higher Education.

3. Anciano, F. and Piper, L. 2022. Localising governance in the African city: A grounded model of multiple and contending forms of security governance in Hout Bay, Cape Town. Commonwealth and Comparative Studies. doi.org/10.1080/14662043.2022.2082676

4. Anciano, F. dos Reis, K. Swanepoel, C. and D. Yu. 2022. ‘Exploring the alignment of first-year summative assessments with Bloom’s Taxonomy: a longitudinal study’ South African Journal of Higher Education. 36(5)

5. Ferguson, C., Mallory, A., Anciano, F., Russell, K., Valladares, H.D.R.L., Riungu, J. and Parker, A., 2022. A qualitative study on resource barriers facing scaled container-based sanitation service chains. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development. DOI:10.2166/washdev.2022.218

6. Piper. Anciano, F. and von Lieres, B. 2021. Defiant citizenship: marginality, race, and the struggle for place in Hangberg, South Africa. Citizenship Studies, 1-20. DOI: 10.1080/13621025.2021.1935749

7. Ferguson, C., Mallory, A., Hutchings, P., Remington, C., Lloyd, E., Kiogora, D., Anciano, F. and Parker, A., 2021. An evaluation of different provision strategies for scaled-up container-based sanitation. H2Open Journal, 4(1), pp.216-230. DOI:10.2166/h2oj.2021.112

8. Anciano, F. 2018. "Decolonising Clientelism: ‘Re-centring’ Analyses of Local State–Society Relations in South Africa." Politikon Vol.45. No.1. pp.94-111.  DOI: 10.1080/02589346.2018.1418214

9. Anciano, Fiona 2017. Clientelism as Civil Society? Unpacking the Relationship between Clientelism and Democracy at the Local Level in South Africa. Journal of Asian and African Studies, Vol. 53 No.4. pp.593–611. DOI: 0021909617709487.

10. Anciano, Fiona 2016. ‘A Dying Ideal: Non-racialism and Political Parties in Post-Apartheid South Africa’, Journal of Southern African Studies, Vol.42, No.2. pp.195-214

11. Piper, Laurence and Anciano, Fiona 2015. ‘Party over Outsiders, Centre over Branch: How ANC Dominance Works at the Community Level in South Africa’, Transformation, Vol. 87, No. 1. 

12. Anciano, Fiona 2014. ‘Non-racialism and the African National Congress: Views from the Branch’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Vol.32. No.1. April. pp.35-55

13. Anciano, Fiona and Selemani, Johnny 2012. ‘Rethinking Non-Racialism: Reflections of a Selection of South Africa Leaders’, Politikon, Vol.39. No.1. April. pp149-169

14. White, F. 2010. Deepening Democracy: A Farm Workers' Movement in the Western Cape’, Journal of Southern African Studies. Vol.36. No.3. September. pp.673-691 

15. Mistry, J. Berardi, A. and White, F. 2009. ‘Skills at Master's Level in Geography Higher Education: Teaching, Learning and Applying’, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, Vol.33 No.1 pp.123-48

PEER REVIEWED BOOK CHAPTERS

1. Gready, P, Anciano, F.. Mushengyezi, A. Papane, B. and Mvelase, Z. (2023). ‘Universities as Sites of Protection: Insights from the Global South’ ‘in Felisa Tibbitts and Andre Keet (eds) Emancipatory Human Rights And The University. Routledge: United Kingdom. 

2. Pretorius, J. and Anciano, F (2022) ‘But is it war? The experience and contestation of a securitized Covid-19 response in South Africa’ in, Ramokgadi, S. and Mkhize, M. (eds) SunMedia, Stellenbosh. 

3. Anciano, Fiona. 2021. 'Chapter Four: Fractured Social Contracts:  Protest and Poaching in Cape Town, South Africa' in Anciano, Fiona and Wheeler, Joanna (eds.) Political Values and Narratives of Resistance: Social Justice and the Fractured Promises of Post-colonial States. United Kingdom: Routledge

4. Anciano, Fiona and Wheeler, Joanna. 2021.'Introduction: Rethinking Political Values, Resistance and the Social Contract in Post-Colonial States' in Anciano, Fiona and Wheeler, Joanna (eds.) Political Values and Narratives of Resistance: Social Justice and the Fractured Promises of Post-colonial States. United Kingdom: Routledge

5. Piper, Laurence, von Lieres, Bettina and Anciano, Fiona 2017. 'Chapter 8: The Tale of Two Publics: Media, Political Representation & Citizenship in Hout Bay Cape Town' in Herman Wasserman and Anthea Garman (eds.) Media and Citizenship in South Africa. Johannesburg: HSRC Press

6. Anciano-White, Fiona 2013. ‘Rethinking Non-Racialism: Reflections of a Selection of South Africa Leaders’ in Everatt, D. (ed.) Non-Racialism in South Africa,  United Kingdom: Routledge.

7. Anciano-White, Fiona 2012. ‘Agents of Change? Reflecting on the Impact of Social Movements in Post-Apartheid South Africa’ in Dawson, M and Sinwell, L. (eds.) Contesting Transformation: Popular Resistance in Twenty-First –Century South Africa. London: Pluto Press

8. White, Fiona 2007. ‘South Africa’ in Polet, F (ed.) The State of Resistance: Popular Struggles in the Global South. London: Zed Books 

9. Gillett, A, Smith, L Mottiar, S and White, Fiona 2004. ‘Public Money, Private Failure: Testing the Limits of Market Based Solutions for Water Delivery in Nelspruit’ in David A. McDonald, D. (ed.) The Age of Commodity: Water Privatization in Southern Africa, USA: Stylus Publishing. 

GENERAL PUBLICATIONS (ALL MEDIA)

• Anciano, 2023. ‘Notes’ In Hartmann, S. (ed) Reading with Muriel Dimen/Writing with Muriel Dimen: Experiments in Theorizing a Field, United States: Routledge 

• Anciano, 2022. ‘People of Participedia’ Episode Two. Participeida Network Podcast. 26 May. 

• Anciano, F and Wheeler, J. 2021. ‘Podcast S03 Ep11: Political Values and Narratives of Resistance: Social Justice and the Fractured Promises of Post-colonial States’. Between the Lines Podcast. Institute for Development Studies. UK. October 28.

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. ‘The government is saying black lives don’t matter’: Opposing State Brutality in Cape Town’. Lockdowndiaries. June 22. 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. 'COVID-19 exposes South Africa’s unequal schooling system'. LSE Blogs. May 29. 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. 'A milestone or a deadend? South Africa’s social grants in the time of Covid-19'. Lockdowndiaries. May 29 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. ‘WhatsApp with the new grants? GovChat flooded by millions of messages’. Daily Maverick. 27 May.

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. 'Covid-19 and Cape Town: Frustration Grows As Lockdown Exacerbates the City’s Inequalities'. Lockdowndiaries. May 27. 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. ‘Lockdown Diaries: The politics of food parcels in Cape Town’. Daily Maverick. 13 May. 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. ‘Policing the Lockdown in Cape Town’. Scottish Institute for Policing Research. 8 May. 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. ‘Everyday support in lockdown shows Cape Town is a city of many stories’. LSE blogs. 28 April 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. "We are still waiting" – protesting under lockdown in South Africa’. Open Democracy. 24 April. 

• Anciano, F., Cooper-Knock, S., Dube, M., Majola, M. and Papane, B., 2020. ‘Inside Information: The political economy of Covid-19 rumours in Cape Town’. Corona Times. 24 April. 

• Anciano, F. and Piper, L. 2019. 'Cape Town’s taxi violence - rooted in attempts to govern competition'. News 24. 20 April.

• Anciano, F. and Piper, L. 2019. 'How cities can approach redesigning informal settlements after disasters' The Conversation. 5 May

• Anciano, F. 2018. 'Hangberg: Why fishers have been turned into poachers'. Daily Maverick. 14 August. 

• 2013. ‘The ANC: Still a Home for All? Non-Racialism and the African National Congress: View from Branch Members’, Research Report, January. Johannesburg: Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

• 2011. ‘A Women Led Social Movement Union: Sikhula Sonke Challenging Inequality’, South African Labour Bulletin. Vol.35 No.1

• 2010. ‘Positioning Civil Society Post-Polokwane: Coming to Terms with ANC Political Leadership Changes’, Research Report no 124, April. Johannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies (with Maxine Reitzes)

• 2009. ‘Endorsement and Discontent: Understanding ANC Electoral Dominance amongst Widespread Service Delivery Protests’, Synopsis. Vol. 10. No.4. Johannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies (with Thabo Rapoo)

• 2009. ‘2009 Elections’, South African Labour Bulletin. Vol.33 No.3

• 2009. ‘The 2009 Elections: Understanding the ANC’s Dominance’. Synopsis. Vol. 10, No. 2. Johannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies

• 2007. ‘Les Nouveaux Mouvements Sociaux de L’après-apartheid’ in Polet, F. (ed.) Etat des résistances dans le Sud - 2007, Belgium: Tricontinental Centre

• 2007. ‘Afrique Du Sud - L’hégémonie De L’anc Au Défi De La Contestation Sociale’ in Amnesty International Libertés !, No. 430, January 2007.

• 2005. ‘South Africa’s Social Movements: The New Watchdog of Democracy?’ in Polet, F. (ed.) Globalising Resistance, Belgium: Tricontinental Centre

• 2005. The Commonwealth Institutions in a Globalised World: Reflections on Four Decades. London: Royal Commonwealth Society (with V. te Velde) 

• 2003. ‘Co-Production as a Form of Service Delivery: Community Policing in Alexandra Township’ Research Report. Johannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies (with S. Mottair)

• 2003. ‘The Privatisation of Water: the Nelspruit Case Study’. Research Report. Johannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies (with L. Smith and S. Mottair)

• 2002. ‘The District Health System: dying for a decision’. Synopsis. Vol. 6, No. 2. Johannesburg: Centre for Policy Studies

SELECTED CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

• 2023. Keynote speaker. Participatory democracy: opportunities, challenges and lessons for government decision-making. SUPPORT-SYSTEMS research consortium webinar. March 8.

• 2023. Host and speaker. Resilience in times of crisis: Learning from and with Community Based Organisations. International Pandemics and Cities Symposium. University of the Western Cape. 13 February. 

• 2022. The Contradictions of Container Based Sanitation: Lessons from Khayelitsha, Cape Town. UWC Research Week 2022: UWC Contribution to SDG 2030 Agenda. Cape Town, 27 October.

• 2022. Thinking Flexibly: From Hybrid Teaching to Work Integrated Learning. UWC Academic week:  Implementing Flexible Provisioning and Curriculum Transformation and Renewal. 31 August.

• 2022. From social infrastructure to pandemic resilience?: Learning from and with community-based organisations. Development Studies Conference. 8 July.

• 2022. ‘Democracy in Times of Crisis’. Keynote panel. Participedia Partners Conference. McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. 10 June. 

• 2021. ‘Grant Writing Workshop: International Funding’ Lead speaker and facilitator. University of the Western Cape Research Webinar. 22 November.

• 2021. ‘Publishing in High Impact Journals’. Panel Member. University of the Western Cape EMS Webinar. 

• 2021. ‘Mind the Gap: Mapping institutional pathways of civic organisations in informal settlements’ International Political Studies Association. 26 July.

• 2021. ‘Lockdown experiences in South Africa and Egypt’ American University Cairo Global South Dialogue. 21 April

• 2021. ‘Research sustainability and the impact of our research. What does this mean?’ UWC Research and Innovation Webinar. 29 April 

• 2020. ‘The Lockdown Diaries: Cape Town’. South African Cities Studies Conference (SACSC), Online, 31 August – 4 September 2020

• 2020. Invited speaker to panel on 'Subjects and Citizens in the time of COVID-19' PLAAS webinar. University of the Western Cape

• 2019. Invited speaker on panel on 'Decolonising learning and teaching' at PLAAS. University of the Western Cape.

• 2019. Speaker on keynote panel. 'Fractured Social Contracts: The Moral Economy of Protest and the City'. South African Association of Political Studies Regional Colloquium, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town. 18 October 2019.

• 2019.  'Democracy Disconnected: the Failure of Urban Participatory Governance in a City of the South, City Futures IV Conference, Dublin, Ireland. 20 - 22 June

• 2019. 'Subaltern Informality and Public Authority’ University of York Workshop on Citizenship Futures, Rethinking Citizenship in an Era of Growing Informality, York, United Kingdom. 12-14 June.

• 2019. 'Trauma and Work integrated learning', Swedish-South African Work Integrated Learning workshop , UWC, Cape Town. 6 May 

• 2018. 'The Moral Economy of Poaching and Protesting in South Africa'. Exploring ‘Moral Economies’ of Protest and Participation in BRICS: Comparing Theories, Establishing Linkages. Cape Town, South Africa. 16-18 July

• 2018. 'Informality and Urban Governance: from land to livelihoods.’ University of York Workshop on Informality, Hope and Sustainable Development, York, United Kingdom. 18-19 June 

• 2018. ' United by Crime, Divided by Security: disconnected democracy and urban governance in South Africa'. African Centre for Cities International Urban Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. 1-3 February 

• 2017. 'Contentious Politics and the Struggle for the City. The promises and perils of inclusionary infrastructure for vulnerable groups in India and South Africa'. CORD Network Workshop on “Creating Inclusive and Resilient Cities”. Bellagio, Italy. March 6-10

• 2016. 'Competing Suburbanisms: Disconnected Democracy and Urban Governance in Hout Bay, South Africa' Global Suburbanisms Africa Workshop. Organised by the Major Collaborative Research Initiative (MCRI) on Global Suburbanisms, The City Institute at York University, Canada and the Wits City Institute. Johannesburg, South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand. 17-19 October

• 2016 'The Democratic Potential of Mediation Through Clientelism: A Case Study of the Peace and Mediation Forum in South Africa' International Political Studies Association Biannual Conference. Poznan, Poland. 23-28 July.

• 2016. 'Poaching the bay: disconnected democracy and urban governance in South Africa' South Africa Association of Political Studies Biannual National Conference. Cape Town: University of the Western Cape. September  

• 2016. ‘Clientelism and Urban Development: Unpacking the relationship between civil society, clientelism and democracy in a Cape Town in-situ housing project’.  Southern African Cities Studies Conference. Durban: DUT

•  2015. ‘A Dying Ideal: Non-racialism and Political Parties in Post-Apartheid South Africa’. EMS Research Week, Cape Town: University of the Western Cape

• 2014. 'Non-racialism and the African National Congress' South Africa Association of Political Studies Biannual National Conference. Pretoria: University of South Africa

• 2013. ‘Agents of Change? Reflecting of the Impact of Post-apartheid Social Movements’. South African Political Studies Association Regional Conference. Cape Town: University of the Western Cape