Political Science in Africa

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.

Acknowledgements
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Contributors

1. Political science discipline in Africa: Freedom, relevance, impact
Liisa Laakso, Nordic Africa Institute, Sweden

2. Political science and the study of Africa: Mapping the theoretical and conceptual terrain
Shadrack Wanjala Nasong’o, Rhodes College, Memphis, USA

3. Political science and development management: Parallel tracks and critical junctures in Africa
Göran Hydén, University of Florida, USA

4. Mainstreaming decolonisation in political science in Africa
Eghosa E. Osaghae, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

5. What does the decolonial turn for political sciences in Africa entail? And where do we start?
Siphamandla Zondi, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

6. A neglected subject: The politics of mourning the (de)humanised
Lebohang Motsomotso, University of South Africa, South Africa

7. Political science for whom? Reflections on teaching and learning political science in selected African universities
Christopher Isike & Olumuyiwa B. Amao, University of Pretoria, South Africa

8. Policy studies as a sub-discipline of political science in Africa: Teachings, research trends and professional expertise in Cameroon
Ruth Mireille Manga Edimo, University of Yaounde II, Cameroon

9. Beyond disciplinary polemics? The challenge of informal structures in the study of local political institutions in Africa
Matthew Sabbi, Universität Bayreuth, Germany

10.Ethnicity and democracy in Africa: A comparative study of Ghana and Nigeria
Maame Adwoa A. Gyekye-Jandoh, University of Ghana, Ghana

11. Research on gender, women and politics in Africa: Contributions and innovations
Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Brandeis University, USA & Aili Mari Tripp, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

12. The impact of political science research on teaching political science in Southern Africa
Njekwa Mate, University of Zambia, Zambia

13. Use of empirical data in research and teaching of political science in Africa
Olugbemiga S. Afolabi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria & University of Johannesburg, South Africa

14. Political scientists as public intellectuals in Africa: Perspectives on relevance
Adigun Agbaje, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

15. Political scientists and intellectuals in the political evolution of Cameroon: 1960-2020
Fabien Nkot, Molo Helene Amelie & Isa Adamu, University of Yaounde II, Cameroon

16. A critical review of the state of academic freedom in Ghana’s public universities: From pre-independence till the Fourth Republic
Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, University of Ghana, Ghana

17. The politics of political science in Africa: An afterword
Siphamandla Zondi, University of Johannesburg, South Africa