African Political Science and International Relations in Focus
African Political Science and International Relations In Focus
“The evolution of humanity says that Africa reaffirms that she is continuing her rise from the ashes. Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now! Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace.”
-Thabo Mbeki (1996)
African Political Science and International Relations in Focus is a new book series introduced to further dialogue with the African continent, calling attention to a vast array of political phenomena which require innovative and new approaches to some pressing and under-researched topics in the African context. Africa is an epicentre of so many politically inclined phenomena. On the one end of spectrum, Africa is stage of innovation, diplomatic triumphs, indigenous wisdom, resilience, and agency. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Africa is a host of vicissitude, conflict, social injustices, political corruption, fledgling political institutions, geopolitics, and environmental degradation among other phenomena. Combined, these symmetrical, yet co-existing realities call for a rigorous interrogation of the Continent’s past, present, and future political phenomena, and trajectories.
As these dual realities persist, the scholarly spotlight turns towards Africa. African Political Science and International Relations in Focus engages this momentum by serving as a platform for African scholars, Afro-centric scholars, scholars in the African diaspora, early-career scholars and students both from Africa and interested in Africa’s affairs to showcase their work and glean new insights on security issues, conflict management, diplomacy, foreign policy, international organisations, Africa’s international political economy, African agency, the international citizenship of African states and Africa’s relationship with international law, good governance, electoral processes, active citizenship and sustainable development among other areas of study in Political Science and International Relations.
Submissions are open to scholars, students, and practitioners alike.
Areas of interest
As a publication medium that embodies domestic and international political landscapes, African Political Science and International Relations in Focus welcomes proposals from, but not limited to, the following areas:
- (Good) international citizenship
- Africa-China relations
- Africa-US relations
- Africa-Nordic relations
- Africa’s contributions to diplomatic theory
- Africa’s relations with middle and emerging powers
- Africa’s relationship with and contributions to international law
- Africa’s resilience against international pressures (ie diseases or negative impact of conflicts external to the continent)
- Africa’s small island developing state (SIDS) (Domestic and international aspects)
- African agency within the transnational context
- African contributions to theories in Political Science
- African elections
- African political culture and public policy making
- African political culture and state institutions
- African political thought
- Conflict management (peace-making, peacekeeping and peacebuilding)
- COVID-19 and Africa on the international stage
- Diplomatic practice in Africa (all tracks and typologies of diplomacy)
- Foreign policy
- Gender issues (gender relations, female participation, female representation, LGBTQA+ issues in Africa etc).
- Informal means of political participation on the continent
- International development
- International political economy
- International relations theory
- International security
- Media and political communication
- Multilateral governance
- Non-state actors and the international stage
- Political activism
- Research methodology and ethics when conducting research in the African context
- Responses and/or alternatives to Westphalian statehood
- Sustainable development and the sustainable development goals
- Teaching and learning International Relations and Political Science in the African university
- Technology/politics-technology nexus
- Youth issues (Africa’s youth bulge, youths as agents of change, challenges facing youth empowerment)
Types of submissions we accept
Books
We welcome proposals for authored and co-authored manuscripts which fall within the scope and thematic areas outlined above. Books should be between 120,000 and 150,000 words in length. This word limit includes the main text, tables, illustrations, and references. As part our commitment to early-career development, the series editors welcome proposals based on high-quality doctoral dissertations. Recent doctorial graduates wishing to take advantage of this opportunity are advised to make sure that their manuscript complies with DHET policy.
Edited collections
Edited collections are essential to the scholarly discourse. The series editors welcome proposals which align with the scope and thematic areas outlined above. An edited collection should seek to advance collective understanding of the series’ focus areas. A good edited collection consists of 12-15 chapters with a diverse pool of contributors that has a geographical balance (both within the African continent and wider international community) as well an array of established and early-career scholars. Edited collections should be between 120,000 and 150,000 words in length. This word limit includes the main text, tables, illustrations, and references.
Shorts
The series editors acknowledge the importance of producing scholarship which is useful to policy makers and practitioners. To this end, we welcome policy-orientated proposals that discuss policy issues and possible solutions to them. Additionally, we welcome pocketbooks which provide accessible digests of African leaders, policy issues, institutions, and political ideas among other areas. Shorts should be no more than 50, 000 words in the length. This word limit includes the main text, tables, illustrations, and references.
“Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our story.”
-Paul Kagame (2013)
Series editors
Sven Botha, (Co-Series Editor), University of Pretoria
Victoria Graham (Co-Series Editor), University of Johannesburg
Jo-Ansie van Wyk (Co-Series Editor), University of South Africa
Editorial board
Bridget Bwalya Umar, University of Zambia (Zambia)
Caroline Varin, Professors Without Borders (UK)
Cassandra Veney, Case Western Reserve University (USA)
Eka Ikpe, Kings College London (UK)
Fiona Anciano, University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
Happy Kayuni, University of Malawi (Malawi)
Jennifer Chiriga, SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) (Zimbabwe)
Suzanne Graham, University of Johannesburg (South Africa)
Editorial policy
African Political Science and International Relations in Focus is guided by the following editorial guidelines:
- All proposals are reviewed by two of series editors
- Once a proposal has been reviewed favourably, authors/editors will be invited to submit a full manuscript for peer review.
- All manuscripts undergo a double-bind peer review process.
- Authors/editors will be expected to respond to the peer review feedback and make revisions before a manuscript can be published.
- Proposals received where one or more of the series editors and/or editorial board members are authors, editors, or contributors, must be reviewed objectively. To safeguard the objectivity of the review processes, concerned individuals must declare their conflict of interest and allow for the reviews to be conducted by a natural third party.
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