Professor Mills Soko
Prof Mills Soko teaches International Business and Strategy at Wits Business School, and is a former Director of UCT Graduate School of Business.
He holds a BSoc Sci degree from the University of Cape Town, an MA in International Studies from the University of Stellenbosch, as well as an MA and a Doctorate in International Political Economy from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
His doctoral thesis examined the political economy of trade policy reform in post-apartheid South Africa.
He was previously employed by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa as a researcher on parliamentary affairs, monitoring and preparing reports on the work of parliamentary committees in South Africa's first democratic national legislature.
He also worked as researcher to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and Public Enterprises in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). This was followed by his appointment as Head of Policy and Legislation in the NCOP, where he oversaw and coordinated the work of committee researchers.
Professor Soko is a member of the editorial boards of Global Governance, Journal of Common Market Studies and AfricaGrowth Agenda. He is a research associate of the South African Institute of International Affairs as well as the Institute of Global Dialogue. He has served as a member of the Evian Group’s Council of Global Thought Leaders and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Trade Reference Group.
He is a member of the advisory board of Namibia Business School, and has previously chaired the board of Inyathelo (The South African Institute of Advancement). He also formerly chaired a working group on education and employment under the auspices of the Africa-Germany Partnership, an initiative of the former President of the Federal Republic of Germany Horst Köhler. And he was a member of the Warwick Commission on The Future of the Multilateral Trading System.
Professor Soko’s research interests include: international business and strategy; trade and investment; economic
diplomacy; emerging markets; regional integration with specific reference to Southern Africa; entrepreneurship; and business-government relations in South Africa.
Courses and Disciplines taught at WBS:
International Business and Economics; Strategy; Entrepreneurship.
Other Teaching Experience:
Visiting lecturer on the African Leadership module (MBA Programme) at the Nelson Mandela University Business School.
Research Interests:
Business strategy; international business; entrepreneurship and innovation; African political economy.
Industry and Professional Experience:
Member of the advisory boards of Namibia Business School and TSIBA Business School; Chair TSIBA’S Academic Advisory Council; member of the board of the Field Band Foundation; consults to a number of companies, including the MTN Group and Standard Bank.
Recent Publications and Scholarly Contributions:
Qobo, M., Soko, M., & Setlhalogile, M. (Forthcoming). Vaccine nationalism and global interplays of power: Implications for Africa. Africa Security Journal.
Soko, M., & Qobo, M. (2021). South Africa’s economic role in Africa since 1994. In Oqubay, A., Valodia, I., & Tregenna, F. (Eds), South African economic handbook. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Soko, M. (2021). South Africa and the world – A political economy journey through time. Bryanston: Tracey McDonald Publishers.
Soko, M., & Qobo, M. (2017). Economic, trade and development relations between South Africa and the European Union. The end of a strategic partnership? South African Journal of International Affairs, 24(2).
Soko, M., & Qobo, M. 2016. The role of the BRICS in Africa's development: Drivers and strategies. Journal for Contemporary History, 41(1).
Other Scholarly Contributions:
Editorial Board Member: Global Governance, Journal of Common Market Studies and AfricaGrowth Agenda.
WBS representative for Selection and Recruitment of Professors.
WBS International Accreditations Committee member.
Recent Media:
Soko, M. (2020). South Africa’s auditor-general Kimi Makwetu: An exceptional and true civil servant. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/south-africas-auditor-general-kimi-makwetu-an-exceptional-and-true-civil-servant-150182
Soko, M. (2020). Here’s why South Africa and its neighbours are anxious about EU and UK post-Brexit trade talks. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/heres-why-south-africa-and-its-neighbours-are-anxious-about-eu-and-uk-post-brexit-trade-talks-146414
Soko, M. (2020). What drove Asia’s economic success stories, and what should Africa emulate? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-drove-asias-economic-success-stories-and-what-should-africa-emulate-143361
Soko, M. (2020). Why one of three African candidates fits the bill as the new head of the WTO. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/why-one-of-three-african-candidates-fits-the-bill-as-the-new-head-of-the-wto-143013
Soko, M. (2020). South Africa must get ready for an inevitable loosening of trade ties with the US. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/south-africa-must-get-ready-for-an-inevitable-loosening-of-trade-ties-with-the-us-139770
Soko, M. (2020). Business and government must work together to rebuild SA after Covid-19. Fin24. https://m.fin24.com/Opinion/mills-soko-business-and-government-must-work-together-to-rebuild-sa-after-covid-19-20200521
Soko, M. (2020). Much ado about Cuban doctors – so what’s behind their recruitment? Fin 24. https://www.fin24.com/Opinion/mills-soko-much-ado-about-cuban-doctors-so-whats-behind-their-recruitment-20200430
Soko, M. (2020). What corona virus has taught us about SA’s leadership. Fin 24. https://www.news24.com/fin24/opinion/mills-soko-what-coronavirus-has-taught-us-about-sas-leadership-20200421
Soko, M., & Qobo, M. (2020). Victimisation of Africans in China threatens Afro-Sino relations. Daily Maverick. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-14-victimisation-of-africans-in-china-threatens-afro-sino-relations/
Soko, M. (2020). China’s corona virus combat shows decisive leadership important. Fin24. https://www.fin24.com/Opinion/mills-soko-chinas-coronavirus-combat-shows-decisive-leadership-important-20200329
Soko, M., & Qobo, M. (2020). Wealthy South Africans must stand up and be counted in this hour of need. Business Day. . https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2020-03-24-wealthy-south-africans-must-stand-up-and-be-counted-in-this-hour-of-need/
Qobo, M., & Soko, M. (2020). A bold response, but co- ordination is the missing element. Business Day. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2020-03-16-a-bold-response-but-co-ordination-is-the-missing-element/
Soko, M., & Qobo, M. (2020). Not business as usual for MBA Schools. Sunday Times. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2020-03-08-not-business-as-usual-for-mba-schools/
Qobo, M., & Soko, M. (2020). Sovereign wealth fund in the middle of an economic crisis? How does that work? Business Day. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2020-03-02-sovereign-wealth-fund-in-the-middle-of-an-economic-crisis-how-does-that-work/
Qobo, M., & Soko, M. (2020). South Africa has to find direction – now. Daily Maverick. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-02-03-south-africa-has-to-find-direction-now/