Peter Vale holds the Mandela Chair of Political Science at Rhodes University. Formerly in the School of Government and Professor of Social Theory at the University of the Western Cape. His former appointments include Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University, UNESCO Professor of African Studies at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Professor of Southern African Studies at UWC. Between 1999 and 2001, he was Acting Vice-Rector and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the same institution.

Peter Vale P.Vale@ru.ac.za 7

Vale's academic work reflects a forceful engagement with the theory and practice of social relations beginning with his interest in international relations and politics: most recently, however, he has shifted his attention towards the issues of identity and community; concerns that are traditionally served by the study of anthropology and sociology. Aside from many journal articles, chapters in books and monographs, Vale has been an energetic contributor to the popular media.