Deon Geldenhuys holds an MA degree from the University of Pretoria and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. After completing his studies in England in 1977, he taught Politics at the University of Stellenbosch and then joined the South African Institute of International Affairs as a researcher. In 1981 he was appointed to the Department of Politics at the then Rand Afrikaans University and promoted to professor in 1985.
His main academic interest is in international relations, a field in which Prof. Geldenhuys has published several books and scholarly articles. His most recent book, Contested States in World Politics, appeared in 2009 and his latest article, 'The continuing allure of statehood', featured in Politeia, vol. 28(2), 2009.
Having been in academia for a good many years, Prof. Geldenhuys has taught a wide range of Politics modules at the undergraduate level, including introductions to Politics and International Relations, foreign policy analysis, South African foreign policy, good governance, and international conflict and cooperation. His honours modules have focused on key issues in international relations, such as the 'responsiblity to protect' (R2P).
Prof. Geldenhuys is a past president of the Political Science Association of South Africa. He is actively involved in the RISC research consortium based at the University of Luxembourg, and as an Alexander von Humboldt scholar he pays regular research visits to Germany.
In 2010 Prof. Geldenhuys will be on sabbatical leave, working on his latest research project dealing with crimes against humanity.
Selected Recent Publications
Books:
Geldenhuys, D (2004) Deviant Conduct in World Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Articles in accredited journals:
"The sins of Saddam", South African Journal of International Affairs, volume 10(2), Winter/Spring 2003, pp. 127-138.
"The rule-breaking conduct of Qaddafi’s Libya", Strategic Review for Southern Africa, volume 25(2), November 2003, pp. 55-77.
"Afrika en die globalisering van goeie regering" (Africa and the globalization of good governance), Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, volume 43(1 & 2), 2003, pp. 1-8.
"Castro’s Cuba: The defiant deviant", Unisa Latin American Report, volume 20(2), 2004, pp. 4-23.
"The special relationship between South Africa and Zimbabwe", in M Hough & A du Plessis (eds), State Failure: The Case of Zimbabwe, Institute for Strategic Studies, University of Pretoria, 2004, pp. 102-144.
"Darfur and Sudan’s politics of deviance", Africa Insight, volume 35(3), 2005, pp. 38-47.
"Pretoria and Pyongyang: Supping with sinners", South African Journal of International Affairs, volume 2(2), Winter/Spring, 2005, pp. 143-156.
"Brothers as keepers: Africa’s new sovereignty regime", Strategic Review for Southern Africa, volume 28(1), May 2006, pp. 1-29.
"Het volke aanspraak op state?" (Do nations have a claim to states?), Journal for Contemporary History, volume 31(2), September 2006, pp. 16-32.
"’n Internasionale perspektief op selfbeskikking in Suid-Afrika" (An international perspective on self-determination in South Africa), Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, volume 46(4), December 2006, pp. 443-455.
"South Africa and Myanmar: Beware the politics of perfidy", South African Journal of International Affairs, volume 13(2), Winter/Spring 2006, pp. 161-174.
"South Africa’s role as international norm entrepreneur", in P Nel & W Carlsnaes (eds), In Full Flight: South African Foreign Policy after Apartheid, IGD Publishers, Midrand, 2006, pp. 93-107.