Professor Helliker is a Professor Emeritus in the Department, after retiring in 2021. He is a Research Professor and continues to head the Unit of Zimbabwean Studies which he founded in 2015 (see the Unit website under ‘Research’ on the department’s website).
E-mail: k.helliker@ru.ac.za
Research Interests: agrarian and land reform, everyday lives, urban and rural livelihoods, state theory, civil society and social movements, politics of emancipation
Research Output at Rhodes University
19th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2011 (number 5 in the Faculty of Humanities)
9th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2012 (number 2 in the Faculty of Humanities)
8th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2013 (number 1 in the Faculty of Humanities)
22nd Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2014 (number 5 in the Faculty of Humanities)
3rd Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2015 (number 2 in the Faculty of Humanities)
4th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2016 (number 2 in the Faculty of Humanities)
19th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2017 (number 3 in the Faculty of Humanities)
4th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2018 (number 1 in the Faculty of Humanities)
4th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2019 (number 2 in the Faculty of Humanities)
6th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2020 (number 1 in the Faculty of Humanities)
4th Top Researcher at Rhodes University 2021 (number 1 in the Faculty of Humanities)
Published Articles and Chapters
Helliker, Kirk, Bhatasara, Sandra and Manase Kudzai Chiweshe (forthcoming), “Land lobbying and mobilisation: civil and uncivil society in the 1990s in Zimbabwe”. In: Max Gromping and Jessica C. Teets (Eds.). Lobbying the Autocrat: The Dynamics of Policy Advocacy in Non-Democracies. Michigan: University of Michigan Press.
Matanzima, Joshua and Kirk Helliker (2023). “Contextualising Tonga lives and Livelihoods in Zimbabwe”. In Helliker, Kirk and Joshua Matanzima (Eds.). Tonga Livelihoods in Rural Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (2022). “Politics at a distance from the state: radical, South African and Zimbabwean praxis today”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (Eds.). Politics at a Distance from the State: Radical and African Perspectives. Los Angeles: PM Press.
Alexander, Tarryn and Kirk Helliker (2022). “A feminist perspective on autonomism and commoning, with reference to Zimbabwe”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (Eds.). Politics at a Distance from the State: Radical and African Perspectives. Los Angeles: PM Press.
Van der Walt, Lucien, Gilton Klerck and Kirk Helliker (2022), “State capitalism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Colonial rule, capitalist development and class formation”. In Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra, Anna Grossman, Illya Okhamatovskiy, Pei Sun, Geoffrey Wood and Mike Wright (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of State Capitalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chadambuka, Patience and Kirk Helliker (published online, 2022). “Two sides of the stream: the politics of belonging between foreign ex-farm workers and A1 farmers on a fast track farm in Zimbabwe”, African Identities.
Mwonzora, Gift and Kirk Helliker (published online, 2022). “Truce and reconciliation in Zimbabwe: From Mugabe to Mnangagwa”, Critical African Studies.
Kirk Helliker, Joshua Matanzima and Patience Chadambuka (2022). “Theorising and Historicising the Livelihoods of Ethnic Minorities in Zimbabwe”. In: Kirk Helliker, Patience Chadambuka and Joshua Matanzima (Eds.). Livelihoods of Ethnic Minorities in Rural Zimbabwe. New York: Springer.
Mazwi, Freedom, George Mudimu and Kirk Helliker (2022), “Capital penetration and insubordination of the peasantry under neoliberalism in Africa”. In: Freedom Mazwi, George Mudimu and Kirk Helliker (eds). Capital Penetration and the Peasantry in Southern and Eastern Africa: Neoliberal Restructuring. New York: Springer.
Gimenez-Amoros, Luis and Kirk Helliker (published on online) (2021), “The Orchestration of Post-Colonial Zimbabwe: The Soundtrack of Three Zvimurenga and the Present”, Muziki (Journal of Music Research in Africa).
Helliker, Kirk, and Gerald Mazarire (2021), “Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe: Crisis? What Crisis?”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Gerald Mazarire (Eds.) Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe. Special Edition of Journal of Asian and African Studies, 56(2).
Helliker, Kirk, Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai, Bhatasara, Sandra and Gift Mwonzora (2021), “Everyday crisis-living in contemporary Zimbabwe”. In: Helliker, Kirk, Bhatasara, Sandra and Manase Kudzai Chiweshe (Eds.). Everyday Crisis-Living in Contemporary Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Mwonzora, Gift and Kirk Helliker (2020), “Learning and performing political violence: ZANU-PF youth and the 2008 presidential run-off election in Zimbabwe”, African Studies (published online on 20 September 2020).
Helliker, Kirk and Tendai Murisa (2020). “Zimbabwe; continuities and changes”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Tendai Murisa (Eds.). Crocodiles in Still Waters: The Legacies of Mugabe’s Rule in Zimbabwe. Special Edition of Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 38(1).
Helliker, Kirk and Sandra Bhatasara (2018). “Writing the chimurengas: locating the contribution of Terence Ranger in the making of Zimbabwean history”. In: Chigora, Percysledge, Mahomva, Richard and Majahana Lunga (Eds.). Reinventions and Contestations of Thought-Power. Bulawayo: Lan Readers.
Helliker, Kirk and Sandra Bhatasara (2018). “Inside the land occupations in Bindura District, Zimbabwe”. African Studies Quarterly 18(1).
Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (2018). “Politics at a distance from the state: radical, South African and Zimbabwean praxis today”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (Eds.). Politics at a Distance from the State: Radical and African Perspectives. Routledge: London.
Alexander, Tarryn and Kirk Helliker (2018). “A feminist perspective on autonomism and commoning, with reference to Zimbabwe”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (Eds.). Politics at a Distance from the State: Radical and African Perspectives. London: Routledge.
Bhatasara, Sandra, Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai and Kirk Helliker (2018). “Introduction: theorising the political economy of livelihoods in contemporary Zimbabwe”. In: Helliker, Kirk, Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai and Sandra Bhatasara (Eds.). The Political Economy of Livelihoods in Contemporary Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Takawira, Wadzanai and Kirk Helliker (2018). “Sex work as a livelihood strategy in the border town of Beitbridge”. In: Helliker, Kirk, Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai and Sandra Bhatasara (Eds.). The Political Economy of Livelihoods in Contemporary Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Bhatasara, Sandra and Kirk Helliker (2018). “The party-state in the land occupations of Zimbabwe: the case of Shamva District”. Journal of Asian and African Studies 53(1).
Helliker, Kirk (2017). “‘We give off a lot of heat but not a lot of light’: NGOs and land advocacy in Zimbabwe from 1995 to 2005”. In: Sally Matthews (Ed.). NGOs and Social Justice in South Africa and beyond. Durban: UKZN Press.
Naidoo, Lalitha, Klerck, Gilton and Kirk Helliker (2017). “Resisting accumulation by dispossession: organisation and mobilisation by the rural poor in contemporary South Africa”. In: Dip Kapoor (Ed.), Against Colonisation and Rural Dispossession. London: Zed Press.
Alexander, Tarryn and Kirk Helliker (2016). “El feminismo autónomo, el comunizar y las ocupaciones de tierra en Zimbawe”, Bajo el Volcán. 16(24).
Alexander, Tarryn and Kirk Helliker (2016). “A feminist perspective on autonomism and commoning, with reference to Zimbabwe”. In: Helliker, Kirk and van der Walt, Lucien (Eds.). Politics at a Distance from the State. Special Edition of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies 34(3).
Lucien van der Walt and Kirk Helliker (2016). “Politics at a distance from the state: radical, South African and Zimbabwean praxis today” In: Helliker, Kirk and van der Walt, Lucien (Eds.). Politics at a Distance from the State. Special Edition of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies 34(3).
Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai, Helliker, Kirk and Loveness Chakona (2015). “Patriarchy, women, land and livelihoods on A1 farms in Zimbabwe”, Journal of Asian and African Studies 50(6).
Helliker, Kirk (2014). “Politics and governance”. In: Stewart, Paul and Johan Zaaiman (Eds.), Sociology: A South African Introduction, Cape Town: Juta.
Helliker, Kirk and Peter Vale (2014). “South African Marxisms, past and present”. In: Vale, Peter and Estelle Prinsloo (Eds.), The New South Africa at Twenty: Critical Perspectives. Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
Helliker, Kirk (2014). “Imagining civil society in Zimbabwe and ‘most of the world’”. In: Ebenezer Obadare (Ed.). The Handbook of Civil Society in Africa, New York: Springer.
Helliker, Kirk, Hendricks, Fred and Lungisile Ntsebeza (2013). “Conference on ‘Land, Race and Nation in South Africa’, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 19-22 June 2013”, Agrarian South 2(3).
Helliker, Kirk (2013). ‘Reproducing white commercial agriculture in South Africa”. In: Hendricks, Fred, Ntsebeza, Lungisile and Kirk Helliker (Eds.). The Promise of Land: Undoing a Century of Dispossession in South Africa. Johannesburg: Jacana.
Hendricks, Fred, Ntsebeza, Lungisile and Kirk Helliker (2013). “Land questions in South Africa”. In: Hendricks, Fred, Ntsebeza, Lungisile and Kirk Helliker (Eds.). The Promise of Land: Undoing a Century of Dispossession in South Africa. Johannesburg: Jacana.
Hendricks, Fred, Ntsebeza, Lungisile and Kirk Helliker (2013). “Colonial pasts and democratic futures in South Africa”. In: Hendricks, Fred, Ntsebeza, Lungisile and Kirk Helliker (Eds.). The Promise of Land: Undoing a Century of Dispossession in South Africa. Johannesburg: Jacana.
Helliker, Kirk (2013). “NGOs and rural movements in contemporary South Africa”, Social Dynamics 39(2).
Helliker, Kirk (2013). “Civil society and state-centred struggles”. In: Moore, David, Kriger, Norma and Brian Raftopoulos (Eds.). ‘Progress’ in Zimbabwe? London: Routledge.
Helliker, Kirk and Vale, Peter (2013). “Marxisms past and present”, Thesis Eleven 115(1).
Helliker, Kirk and Vale, Peter (2012). “Radical thinking in South Africa’s age of retreat”, Journal of Asian and African Studies 47(4).
Helliker, Kirk (2012). “Civil society and state-centred struggles”, Journal of Contemporary African Studies 30(1).
Murisa, Tendai and Helliker, Kirk (2011). “Contemporary rural realities”. In: Helliker, Kirk and Tendai Murisa (Eds.), Land Struggles and Civil Society in Southern Africa, New Jersey: Africa World Press.
Helliker, Kirk (2011). “Land reform and marginalised communities in the Eastern Cape countryside of post-apartheid South Africa”. In: Kirk Helliker and Murisa, Tendai (Eds.). Land Struggles and Civil Society in Southern Africa, New Jersey: Africa World Press.
Helliker, Kirk (2010). “The state of emancipation: with, within, without?”, Interface: A Journal for and about Social Movements 2(1).
Helliker, Kirk (2009). “Dancing around the same spot? Land reform and NGOs in Zimbabwe: the case of SOS Children’s Villages”, African Sociological Review 13(2).
Sadomba, Wilbert and Kirk Helliker (2009). “Transcending objectifications and dualisms: farm workers and civil society in contemporary Zimbabwe”, Journal of Asian and African Studies 45(2).
Helliker, Kirk (2008). “Dancing on the same spot: NGOs”. In: Moyo, Sam, Helliker, Kirk and Tendai Murisa (Eds.). Contested Terrain: Land Reform and Civil Society in Contemporary Zimbabwe, Pietermaritzburg: SS Publishers.
Helliker, Kirk, Moyo, Sam and Tendai Murisa (2008). “Introduction” in Sam Moyo, Helliker, Kirk and Tendai Murisa (Eds.). Contested Terrain: Land Reform and Civil Society in Contemporary Zimbabwe, Pietermaritzburg: SS Publishers.
Helliker, Kirk (2007). “Marx, Weber and NGOs”, South African Review of Sociology 38(2).
Helliker, Kirk (2006). “Reclaiming the land” (review article), African Sociological Review 9(2).
Helliker, Kirk (2005). “A lot of critical thinking and a few great women”, African Sociological Review 8(1).
Helliker, Kirk (1987), “South African Marxist state theory: a critical overview”, Politikon 15(1).
Helliker Kirk, Roux, Andre and Roland White (1987), “‘Asithengi!’: Recent consumer boycotts”. In: Southern African Research Service (Ed.), South African Review 4. Johannesburg: Ravan Press.
Roux, Andre and Kirk Helliker (1986), “Voices from Rini: a survey of black attitudes towards a consumer boycott in Grahamstown”. Institute of Social and Economic Research Development Studies Working Paper No 23. Rhodes University. Grahamstown.
Bekker, Simon, Helliker, Kirk and Eileen Lambie (1981), “Quality of life in Grahamstown, East London and Mdantsane: preliminary results”, South African Journal of Sociology 12(1).
Published Books/Journals (author/editor)
Helliker, Kirk and Joshua Matanzima (Eds.). (2023) Tonga Livelihoods in Rural Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Helliker, Kirk and Lucien van der Walt (Eds.) (2022). Politics at a Distance from the State: Radical and African Perspectives. Los Angeles: PM Press.
Helliker, Kirk, Patience Chadambuka and Joshua Matanzima (Eds.). (2022). Livelihoods of Ethnic Minorities in Rural Zimbabwe. New York: Springer.
Mazwi, Freedom, George Mudimu and Kirk Helliker (Eds.) (2022). Capital Penetration and the Peasantry in Southern and Eastern Africa: Neoliberal Restructuring. New York: Springer.
Helliker, Kirk, Bhatasara, Sandra and Manase Kudzai Chiweshe (Eds.). (2021) Everyday Crisis-Living in Contemporary Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Helliker, Kirk, Bhatasara and Manase Kudzai Chiweshe (2021). Fast Track Land Occupations in Zimbabwe: In the Context of the Zvimurenga. New York: Springer.
Helliker, Kirk and Gerald Mazarire (Eds.) Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe. 2021. Special Edition of Journal of Asian and African Studies, 56(2).
Helliker, Kirk and Murisa, Tendai (Eds.) 2020. Crocodiles in Still Waters: The Legacies of Mugabe’s Rule in Zimbabwe. Special Edition of Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 38(1).
Helliker, Kirk and van der Walt, Lucien (Eds.). (2018). Politics at a Distance from the State: Radical and African Perspectives. London: Routledge
Helliker, Kirk, Chiweshe, Manase Kudzai and Sandra Bhatasara (Eds.). (2018). The Political Economy of Livelihoods in Contemporary Zimbabwe. London: Routledge.
Helliker, Kirk and van der Walt, Lucien (Eds.) (2016). Politics at a Distance from the State. Special Edition of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies 34(3).
Fred Hendricks, Ntsebeza, Lungisile and Kirk Helliker (Eds.). (2013). The Promise of Land: Undoing a Century of Dispossession in South Africa, Johannesburg: Jacana.
Helliker, Kirk and Murisa, Tendai (Eds.) (2011). Land Struggles and Civil Society in Southern Africa, New Jersey: Africa World Press.
Moyo, Sam, Helliker, Kirk and Tendai Murisa (Eds.) (2008). Contested Terrain: Land Reform and Civil Society in Contemporary Zimbabwe, Pietermaritzburg: SS Publishers.
Surplus Peoples Project Eastern Cape (1983), Forced Removals in South Africa: the Eastern Cape Vol 2. Cape Town: Surplus People Project.
Graduated PhD and Masters Students
(N.B. Masters – All are full theses unless indicated otherwise; Masters and PhD – I was sole supervisor unless indicated otherwise)
PhDs
MAs
Last Modified: Tue, 07 Feb 2023 16:04:57 SAST