Overview

Bringing together African and international scholars, this book gives an account of the present state of the discipline of political science in Africa - generating insights into its present and future trajectories, and assessing the freedom with which it is practiced. Tackling subjects including the decolonization of the discipline, political scientists as public intellectuals, and the teaching of political science, this diverse range of perspectives paints a detailed picture of the impact and relevance of the political science discipline on the continent during the struggles for democratization, and the influence it continues to exert today.

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9781350299504

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Reviews

This is a timely study about a discipline that urgently needs introspection. It is even more relevant not because it focuses on Africa but rather because of the lessons the study of political science in Africa bears for a world that seems not to know anymore how to manage political power or to practice democracy. The authors marshal an impressive database that explains the epistemological grounding of the discipline, shows its contemporary relevance and, seen collectively, they help re-centre the study of political science in a very dynamic continent. The pathways for sustainable democratic future are already detectable in Africa and the lessons out of it are a compelling reason why this book is a must read. * Godwin R. Murunga, Executive Secretary, CODESRIA *

This is a timely study about a discipline that urgently needs introspection. It is even more relevant not because it focuses on Africa but rather because of the lessons the study of political science in Africa bears for a world that seems not to know anymore how to manage political power or to practice democracy. The authors marshal an impressive database that explains the epistemological grounding of the discipline, shows its contemporary relevance and, seen collectively, they help re-centre the study of political science in a very dynamic continent. The pathways for sustainable democratic future are already detectable in Africa and the lessons out of it are a compelling reason why this book is a must read. * Godwin R. Murunga, Executive Secretary, CODESRIA * This book is a powerful compendium of analyses and suggestions for further study that are key to understanding the current state of political science on the continent. * Nadine Machikou, Deputy President of the African Association of Political Science * This book is an invitation to the fruitful and ambiguous adventure of political science in Africa. It brings together several national experiences. * Luc Sindjoun, Former President of the African Association of Political Science * The book provides a comprehensive overview of how Political Science in, and about, Africa has contributed to answering the key question about how we should govern ourselves and live together in our policies in line with current thinking in the discipline. * Cheryl Hendricks, Executive Director, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation *

Author Information

Liisa Laakso is a senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala. Before 2019 she served three years as Rector of the University of Tampere and before that six years as Dean at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences. Siphamandla Zondi joined the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, South Africa after four years as professor in the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria. He is also a senior research fellow at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Studies.

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