ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ

ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ President Pablo Oñate and Past President Dianne Pinderhughes were present in South Africa to participate in two international events. President Oñate participated in the 17th Biennial Conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), while Past President Pinderhughes attended the 16th Biennial Conference of the South African Association for Political Studies (SAAPS). Their involvement not only underscores ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ's unwavering support for political science associations in Africa, but also underlines its commitment to fostering partnerships and advancing political science within the African academic landscape.

AAPS held its 17th Biennial Conference and 50th Anniversary celebration at the University of Pretoria from 12-14 October 2023, under the theme Geopolitics of Knowledge in the COVID-19 Era, Exploring Epistemic Tension and Self-determination in Africa. On 12 October, ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ President Prof. Oñate took the stage at the opening ceremony to congratulate the participants on the 50th anniversary of AAPS and the resounding success of their international biennial conference. He also emphasized the strong ties that unite ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ and AAPS members throughout Africa.
Photo: ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ President Pablo Oñate addresses delegates at the opening ceremony.

As part of the conference program on 14 October, Prof. Oñate also met with presidents of national political science associations to discuss their activities and challenges in a post-global pandemic world. The discussion included AAPS members' participation in ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ's 75th Anniversary conferences in Montreal and Lisbon, as well as the 2025 ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ World Congress in Seoul.
Photo (from left to right): AAPS President and former ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ Vice-President Christopher Isike and ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ President Pablo Oñate.

ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ Past President Dianne Pinderhughes was a keynote speaker at the 16th Biennial South African Association for Political Studies (SAAPS) held from 13-15 September 2023 at the University of Mpumalanga, in Mbombela, South Africa, centered around the theme Africa in Contemporary Global Politics. Prof. Pinderhughes delivered a keynote address on 14 September summarizing the activities of selected political science associations including ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ, regional organizations such as AAPS and national organizations such as SAAPS, the American Political Science Association (APSA) and the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCBPS). Her objective with this talk was to share the importance of making these organizations and their activities transparent to the younger members, specifically graduate students and young faculty at South African Universities. 
Photo: Dianne Pinderhughes delivers a keynote address at the SAAPS conference.

Prof. Pinderhughes invited attendees to consider joining ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ, emphasizing the benefits of participating in ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ World Congresses, Summer Schools, research committees, and ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ's governance. She acknowledged the representative role of the ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ Executive Committee, on which South Africa has been represented by Siphamandla Zondi (2021-2023), Christopher Isike (2018-2021), and previously Dirk Kotze (2012-2014). More recently, Kgothatso Shai, former SAAPS President, was elected to ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ's 27th Executive Committee (2023-2025). Concluding her presentation, Prof. Pinderhughes invited participants to join the upcoming 2025 ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ World Congress of Political Science in Seoul, South Korea. At the Association's Dinner Gala, Prof. Pinderhughes greeted members of SAAPS and distributed certificates of involvement to all those who worked at the conference.
Photo (from left to right): ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ EC member and former SAAPS President Kgothatso Shai and ÉÙ¸¾×ÔÅÄ Past President Dianne Pinderhughes.

The Ali Mazrui Lecture Series was also launched at the conference, featuring the former President of AAPS, Luc Sindjoun, as its inaugural speaker. Prof. Sindjoun delivered a lecture entitled "The Problematic of International Cultural Order," which is available HERE.