John Aerni-Flessner
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lesothojohn.bsky.social
John Aerni-Flessner
@lesothojohn.bsky.social
Assoc Prof, African History, MSU, RCAH.
Dreams for Lesotho: http://undpress.nd.edu/9780
Historical Dictionary: tinyurl.com/3tyha6jt
Publications here: https://tinyurl.com/ynvwp6c5
Lesotho, Southern Africa, development, borders, running, Michigan
#Botswana taking #gold and #bronze in the men's 400 at the #WorldAthleticsChampionships is just amazing.

A country of 2.5 million. 2 of the top 3 (and 3 of top 8) men in the world right now at 400 meters.

#Pula!
September 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Academic year starting? Wondering what you want/need to write?

How about a chapter on the legacy of James Ferguson? CfP for special issue of Anthropology Southern Africa on his scholarly legacy and how to extend his work.
#Lesotho, #Zambia, #gender, #Labour, #Modernity
August 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Just received the cover for my latest book! Coming in February 2026 to a bookstore near you in Southern Africa (available in North America and Europe, too), but published in RSA. Exciting stuff!
August 12, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Call for papers: Special issue of Anthropology Southern Africa: The Legacy of James #Ferguson

Abstracts due by 31 Oct. I am serving as co-guest editor and happy to answer questions. Encouraging early career scholars from Southern Africa!
June 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
And in case you are wondering why I have a no-AI policy in my classes, it is because the machines are dumb.

Jonathan met with LBJ, even if some AI-drivel I didn't ask for pops up in an attempt to gaslight me (and the official USA State Department History)!
May 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This is a big deal in terms of the #border between #Lesotho and #SouthAfrica.

#Basotho now get 90 days visa at the border instead of the prior 30.

#BiNationalCommission
#SADC
#Movement
#Passports
May 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
First step of the #Lesotho Government's plan to try to stay on the good side of new USA administration--approve a long-stalled #Starlink application

(hint: It most likely won't work, but will cause problems down the road when you try to regulate after the fact)
April 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Here is one from wikimedia commons that shows basically the same thing:

commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
January 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I always find this map drives home the points I am trying to make about colonialism = extraction exquisitely:
January 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
My personal fav...
January 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Hate to be too pessimistic, but this could mark the start of a return to the 'bad old days' of coalition merry-go-round with near-constant changes, floor-crossing, and other political instability.

#Lesotho
#Politics
November 26, 2024 at 3:01 PM
7 PM Thursday in Snyder-Phillips Hall (basement Theater): documentary on #redlining in #Lansing in conjunction with the Historical Society of Greater Lansing

"They Even Took the Dirt"
Talk-back with community members who lived through this.
Free parking on MSU campus after 6 PM. See you there!
March 4, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Table of contents for those wanting to see it!

Looks at borders, borderlands, and crossers (along with borderlands residents) across the SADC region
November 13, 2023 at 9:41 PM
Book day (again--2nd in 2 weeks)!

'Migration, Borders, and Borderlands: Making National Communities in Southern Africa' is here!

Two years in the making, co-edited with Chitja Twala, Munyaradzi Mushonga and Grey Magaiza.

Tell your academic library to get a copy!

rowman.com/ISBN/9781666...
November 13, 2023 at 9:40 PM
Always a very exciting day to come home and find your new book on the doorstep. Even more exciting when it is one you have worked on with your co-authors for almost 3 full years!

A new version of the Historical Dictionary of #Lesotho is out!
November 2, 2023 at 8:33 PM
Speculative new Cabinet for #Lesotho after the Matekane Government brought in new parties to make up for the members of the ruling RFP who left in an effort to bring about No-Confidence.

This brings the BAP into government, increases cabinet by 5 (if correct) and brings new DPM
October 31, 2023 at 2:45 PM