Special issue to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s global impact

st days in 1960s Uganda, Transition has documented the social and political realities in contemporary South Africa.  Now, for an upcoming special issue, we invite contributors to reflect upon

1. the past several decades and the future of transition in South Africa as it relates to Nelson Mandela’s work, and
2. the global, cross-cultural reach and impact of Nelson Mandela’s work and life story.

We seek proposals for submissions of essays and interviews which identify fresh, unexpected perspectives and unusual locations or populations impacted. We prefer specific localized examples and anecdotes, and/or intimate reflections on personal or organizational impact. Thoughtful critiques are also welcomed. How has Mandela’s example shaped struggles for social justice around the world? How have activists and intellectuals contributed in turn to shape global visions about Mandela, the man and the icon?

We will also consider full submissions of short fiction, poetry, and original artwork on the theme between now and October 1, 2014.

Favored submission topics will be novel, exhibiting duende (having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression, and authenticity).

Send abstracts of not more than 250 words to transition@fas.harvard.edu  by May 1, 2014. Those invited to send full submissions will be notified by early June. Invitation to submit is not a guarantee of publication. The final content deadline will be October 1, 2014.

A note on style: We expect nonfiction pieces published in Transition to display the virtues of high-quality literary fiction, especially narrative prose, which leads the reader naturally from one sentence to the next. Rich description and attention to voice, tone, imagery, and word choice are all appreciated. We also welcome provocative points of view that stimulate debate. Please see our full submission guidelines, and our online archive of sample articles, when crafting your proposal.