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Seminars

The Department hosts weekly lunch-time seminars (on Wednesdays)with local and international scholars and experts on a variety of topics.
For more information please see the Department’s Linkedin page

The Foreign Policy of the Trump Administration: What is different from and similar to previous U.S. policy and actions in Africa?

πŸ“…  18 March 2026  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Mr David YoungSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Mr David Young is a retired U.S. Ambassador, United Methodist minister, university lecturer, and leadership and life coach. As a diplomat, he led U.S. embassies in Malawi (as ambassador) and in Zambia, South Africa, and Nigeria (as chargΓ© d'affaires), focusing on human rights, democracy, health, and education. He also served in Asia and Latin America. As an ordained minister, he promoted Muslim-Christian interfaith dialogue in Nigeria and religious freedom in Vietnam. He lectures at the University of Missouri and serves as a leadership and life coach with clients in six countries. He holds a Bachelor's in Journalism (University of Missouri), a Diploma in Ecumenical Theology (Trinity College, Dublin), and Master's degrees in International Relations and Divinity (Boston University).

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At the Table or on the Menu? African Agency and Middle Powers in a Fragmented International Order

πŸ“…  25 February 2026  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Ms Aaliyah VayezSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Aaliyah Vayez is an international relations practitioner and analyst specialising in global governance, multilateral diplomacy, and geopolitical risk, with a particular focus on Africa's position within a changing international order. She is a Now Generation Network Fellow with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and was a Commonwealth Foundation Master's Scholar (2020–2021). As a manager at EUK Consulting, she has advised commercial and policy stakeholders on political, regulatory, and strategic risks across emerging markets. Previously an analyst at Castor Vali, she has published extensively on multilateralism, BRICS, G20 diplomacy, and Global South foreign policy, and provides commentary for the SABC and BBC.

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Widening the gap: the interactive effects of age, gender, and internet use in ideological placement and voting in European democracies

πŸ“…  18 February 2026  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. Marco LisiSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Marco Lisi is a Full Professor in the Department of Political Studies at Nova University of Lisbon and a researcher at IPRI-Nova. His research interests include political parties, electoral behaviour, political participation, and democratic representation. His recent articles include "Populism and democratic attitudes" (Party Politics, 2024) and "Do populists practice what they preach?" (International Political Science Review, 2025). He is involved in international collaborations including the Members and Activists of Political Parties (MAPP) project and the Political Party Database (PPDB), and has held visiting scholar appointments at Ohio State University and LUISS University.

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Old vs New Secessionist Claims: External Interference and Redrawing the Map of the Horn of Africa

πŸ“…  11 February 2026  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. Alexandra DiasSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Alexandra M. Dias is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Studies at NOVA University of Lisbon and a Researcher at the Portuguese Institute of International Relations (IPRI-NOVA). She has conducted fieldwork in the Horn of Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somaliland/Somalia) and Mozambique, and participated in International Electoral Observation Missions for the Somaliland Presidential Elections in 2010 and 2017. She is a founding member of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network and the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks, and is involved in the Juseltra research project on the effects of Portuguese colonialism in Africa.

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Building National Security Capability: the case of counter-terrorism covert intelligence

πŸ“…  23 April 2025  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

David AfricaSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker

David Africa is the author of Lives on the Line, an insider account of the six-year intelligence operation against People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad). He grew up in Manenberg, where he became involved in radical student politics in 1985, and subsequently the ANC underground and Umkhonto we Sizwe.

In April 1995 he joined the police Crime Intelligence division, serving as operational coordinator in one of the most successful intelligence operations in post-Apartheid South Africa. He has lectured at the Marshall Center for Security Studies in Germany and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, headed the UN security analysis unit in Iraq, and advised the OSCE on counter-terrorism strategy.

In 2007 he co-founded ACSIP. He currently serves as Programme Lead, Strategic Intelligence at E3G and has published in Routledge and written for South African and international media.

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The Self-Deception Trap: Exploring the Economic Dimensions of Charity Dependency within Africa-Europe Relations

πŸ“…  16 April 2025  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. Carlos LopesSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Professor Carlos Lopes is based at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, UCT. He is an Affiliate Professor at Sciences Po, Paris, a Foundation Fellow of the International Science Council, an ODI Senior Visiting Fellow, and a Chatham House Associate Fellow. He has held senior leadership positions across the UN system, including Policy Director for Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. He was designated in 2018 as the AU High Representative for Partnerships with Europe and is a widely published author with over 20 books.

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BOOK LAUNCH: Election 2024 South Africa – Countdown to Coalition

πŸ“…  26 March 2025  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. Collette Schulz-Herzenberg & Prof. Roger SouthallSpeakers

β–Ά About the speakers

Prof. Collette Schulz-Herzenberg is an associate professor in Political Science at Stellenbosch University, specialising in political behaviour and South African electoral politics.

Prof. Roger Southall was Professor of Political Studies at Rhodes and later Professor of Sociology at Wits. His recent books include Whites and Democracy in South Africa (2022) and Smuts and Mandela. Other than that, he walks dogs.

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Who will rule SA in 2025: the GNU, Trump, and new leaders

πŸ“…  5 March 2025  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Adriaan BassonSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Adriaan Basson is editor-in-chief of News24 and author of five books on corruption and current affairs. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the CNN African Journalist of the Year and the Taco Kuiper award. A founding member of amaBhungane, his books include Zuma Exposed (2012) and Who Will Rule South Africa? (2023). He is a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative.

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FIFTH JICA CHAIR LECTURE – The Relevance of Human Security in a Polarising World: Asia, Africa and Beyond

πŸ“…  26 February 2025  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. Yoichi Mine & Dr Guy LambSpeakers

β–Ά About the speakers

Prof. Yoichi Mine is Executive Director at the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development.

Dr Guy Lamb is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University.

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Why should we be studying migration governance in Africa?

πŸ“…  16 February 2025  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. Alan HirschSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Prof. Alan Hirsch is a Senior Research Fellow at the New South Institute, directing the Migration Governance Reform in Africa programme. Emeritus Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, UCT. He managed economic policy in the South African Presidency (2002–2012) and has served on President Ramaphosa's Economic Advisory Council since 2019.

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(South) Africa and China – What kind of Relationship?

πŸ“…  16 October 2024  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Dr Sven GrimmSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Dr Sven Grimm is Head of Department on Knowledge Cooperation and Training at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) in Bonn, and Extraordinary Professor of Political Science at Stellenbosch University.

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Afro-Asian Engagements via Summit Diplomacy: From TICAD and FOCAC to IAFS and IAF

πŸ“…  11 October 2024  πŸ•  09:00 – 10:00

Prof. IstvΓ‘n TarrΓ³sySpeaker – University of Pecs, Hungary

β–Ά About the speaker
IstvΓ‘n TarrΓ³sy is Full Professor of Political Science at the University of Pecs, Hungary. He directs the Hungarian Africa Research Center, was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of Florida (2013–14), and is Editor-in-Chief of the Hungarian Journal of African Studies.

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Between East and West: Hungarian Political Culture in a Historical Perspective and the Changing Context of Foreign Policy Pragmatism

πŸ“…  9 October 2024  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Prof. IstvΓ‘n TarrΓ³sySpeaker – University of Pecs, Hungary

β–Ά About the speaker
IstvΓ‘n TarrΓ³sy is Full Professor of Political Science at the University of Pecs, Hungary, and Visiting Professor at Jagiellonian University, KrakΓ³w. He directs the Hungarian Africa Research Center and is Editor-in-Chief of the Hungarian Journal of African Studies.

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Greening Industrial Policy: Lessons for South Africa

πŸ“…  2 October 2024  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Dr Michael HectorSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Dr Michael Hector is an economist at Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) in Pretoria, holding a PhD in Political Science from Stellenbosch University. His work focuses on sustainable development, green industrial policy, and the manufacturing sector in South Africa.

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Analysis of Global Trends, Determinants, and Elements of Digital Foreign Policy in Africa

πŸ“…  25 September 2024  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Mmakoena Mpshane-NkosiSpeaker

β–Ά About the speaker
Mmakoena Mpshane-Nkosi is a PhD candidate at the University of Johannesburg, holding an MA in Politics. Her thesis is entitled 4IR and the Emergence of Digital Foreign Policy: A Global Comparative Study. She is an NIHSS-SAHUDA 2021/2022 Masters Grant Recipient.

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The Future of Disarmament, Security & Peacebuilding: Insights from African & Asian Contexts

πŸ“…  19 September 2024  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:45

Prof. Lindy Heinecken, Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer & Dr Guy LambSpeakers

β–Ά About the seminar
This seminar discusses how peacebuilding and peacekeeping can adapt to rapidly changing global conflict landscapes, addressing the role of DDR programmes with comparative insights from Asia and Africa, drawing on the Norwegian Research Council-funded DISARM project.

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Peacebuilding in Africa today: Challenges and Opportunities

πŸ“…  18 September 2024  πŸ•  13:00 – 14:15

Dr Julia Palik & Dr Nicholas MarshSpeakers – Peace Research Institute Oslo

β–Ά About the seminar
This seminar explores the complex nature of conflicts across the African continent, and how conflict prevention, mediation, management, and post-conflict reconstruction can be better tailored to today's peace challenges in Africa.

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Legal Prostitution: A Crime Against Humanity?

πŸ“…  21 August 2024  πŸ•  12:30 – 13:45

Prof. Max WaltmanSpeaker – STIAS Fellow; Halmstad University, Sweden

β–Ά About the seminar
This seminar examines empirical evidence showing legal prostitution significantly increases systematic attacks against prostituted persons. Drawing on international law and the Rome Statute of the ICC, it argues legal prostitution should be recognised as a crime against humanity.

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Corporate Intelligence Career Paths: Reflections from Crisis24

πŸ“…  31 July 2024  πŸ•  12:30 – 13:45

Chandre Bezuidenhout, Barend Botes, Muamr Mollajee, Alexandra Steenekamp & Charlize WhiteSpeakers – Crisis24

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Twenty Years of Poland in the European Union: Economic achievements, challenges and prospects

πŸ“…  26 July 2024  πŸ•  12:30 – 13:45

Prof. Marek WroblewskiSpeaker – University of Wroclaw; Permanent Representative of Poland to the WTO

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PREMIER DEBATE

πŸ“…  7 May 2024

Hosted by the Department of Political Science in collaboration with the Stellenbosch University Museum, in the run-up to the 2024 National and Provincial Election.

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EU – Africa Relations: Beyond the rhetoric of "the partnership of the equal"

πŸ“…  24 April 2024

Prof. Andrzej PolusSpeaker – Institute of International Studies, University of Wroclaw

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Huawei or the American Way? Why Brazil and South Africa did not securitize 5G

πŸ“…  17 April 2024

Prof. Janis Van der WesthuizenSpeaker – Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University

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The FW de Klerk Foundation's Human Rights Report Card 2023

πŸ“…  10 April 2024

Daniela EllerbeckSpeaker – Manager Constitutional Programmes, FW de Klerk Foundation

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Digital Platform Regulation and Geopolitics: Comparing perspectives on South Africa and Europe

πŸ“…  27 March 2024  πŸ•  13:15 – 14:30

Prof. Ingrid SchneiderSpeaker – Department of Informatics, UniversitΓ€t Hamburg

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Co-Governance, Food and Communities / (Geo)Politics of Biometric Technologies

πŸ“…  13 March 2024  πŸ•  13:15 – 14:30

Dr Manfredi Valeriani & Carolina PolitoSpeakers – LUISS University

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SPECIAL SEMINAR: South African Insights on Ukraine's Path to Peace

πŸ“…  11 March 2024  πŸ•  14:00 – 16:00

Prof. Tim Murithi, Dr Maksyn Yakovlyev, Oleana Lapenko, Isabel Bossman, Dr Elvis Fokala & Oleksandra RamantsovaSpeakers

β–Ά Programme

Regional Security: Prof. Tim Murithi (IJR) & Dr Maksyn Yakovlyev (NaUKMA)

Nuclear Safety: Oleana Lapenko (Dixi Group) & Isabel Bossman (SAIIA)

Forceful Deportation of Children: Dr Elvis Fokala & Oleksandra Ramantsova

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Nuclear Necropolitics in South Africa

πŸ“…  21 February 2024  πŸ•  13:15 – 14:30

Prof. Jo-Ansie Van WykSpeaker – Research Professor, Department of Political Science, UNISA

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Who will watch the watchmen?

πŸ“…  18 October 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

David Ansara & Mark OppenheimerSpeakers – Free Market Foundation / Johannesburg Bar

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Exploring Risk and Intelligence: The Investigations Industry

πŸ“…  11 October 2023  πŸ•  12:00 – 14:00

Saif Islam, Dylan Williams & Dr Vaughn MaurelSpeakers – Corporate Intelligence and Risk Experts

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Decoding the Ballot: AI is Reshaping Democracy on the African Continent

πŸ“…  4 October 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Dr Scott Timcke, Hanani Hlomani & Zara SchroederSpeakers – Research ICT Africa

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The World of the Right: Radical Conservatism and International Order

πŸ“…  20 September 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Prof. Michael Williams & Prof. Rita AbrahamsenSpeakers – University of Ottawa, Canada

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Is Reducing Candidacy Ages Enough? #NotTooYoungToRun and Youth Parliamentary Representation in Nigeria

πŸ“…  30 August 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Omomayowa AbatiSpeaker – Doctoral candidate, Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University

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The Legacies of Radical, Liberal, and Stalled Liberal Reforms in Southern Africa

πŸ“…  23 August 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Dr Salih O. NoorSpeaker – Collegiate Assistant Professor, University of Chicago

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Looking Back at Africa's Constitutional Past, Learning from Mistakes, and Reflecting on the Future

πŸ“…  16 August 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Prof. Jan ErkSpeaker – University Mohammed VI Polytechnique, Morocco

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The China Factor in Africa's Pursuit of Digital Sovereignty

πŸ“…  2 August 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Dr Mandira BagwandeenSpeaker – Senior Research Fellow, Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, UCT

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How offensive can we be? The Hate Speech Bill and freedom of speech

πŸ“…  26 July 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Anton HarberSpeaker – Adjunct Professor & Caxton Chair, Department of Journalism, Wits University

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Democracy's Destruction? The 2020 Election, Trump's Insurrection, and the Strength of America's Political Institutions

πŸ“…  24 July 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Prof. James L. GibsonSpeaker – Sidney W. Souers Professor of Government, Washington University in St. Louis

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Neighbourhood Policies of Regional Powers: Competing Spatial Formats

πŸ“…  26 April 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Dr Victoria ReinhardtSpeaker – Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Leipzig

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Pathways to Sustainable Development: Ecological Modernisation in Africa

πŸ“…  19 April 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Dr Michael HectorSpeaker – Junior Lecturer, Political Science, Stellenbosch University

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The state of government-business relations in SA, and the implications for the political economy outlook

πŸ“…  12 April 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Simon FreemantleSpeaker – Senior Political Economist, Standard Bank

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How ideas and ideologies shape African politics – and why we can't understand it without them

πŸ“…  29 March 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Prof. Nic CheesemanSpeaker – Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham, UK

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China in Africa and the geopolitics of competing connectivity initiatives in Africa

πŸ“…  22 March 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Dr Tim ZajontzSpeaker – International Relations, Technische UniversitΓ€t Dresden, Germany

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Making Universities more African: Decolonisation as a Politics of Belonging

πŸ“…  15 March 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Anye NyamnjohSpeaker – Senior Research Officer, University of Cape Town

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Journey to Monitoring & Evaluation as Career and Lessons Learned

πŸ“…  22 February 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Ntina ReiersgordSpeaker

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Instrumentalised Religion and Current Global Affairs: The war in Ukraine

πŸ“…  15 February 2023  πŸ•  12:15 – 13:30

Prof. Silviu RogobeteSpeaker – West University Timisoara, Romania

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