22 FACULTY OF HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2021 curriculum, with further inclusion, spotlighting and leadership with knowledge generated from African scholarship. Such perspectives featured prominently in our Introductory modules (POL1A and POL1B), as well as second year Public Policy, African Political Thought and Defining Moments in African history (POL2A and POL2C respectively), as well as our theoretical education. Just as theoretically rich and decolonial in scope, our third-year modules also directed our students towards practical engagement (Foreign Policy Analysis, Militarisation of African Politics, and International Law in International Relations) and introduced them to research methods and comparative analysis. Our Honours offering has continued to be diverse, with courses drawing directly from the research expertise of our staff. In 2021, the success rate of our Honours module has perhaps the highest it has ever been, owing to the excellence of our students, the supportiveness of our staff and the richness of our curriculum. We have seen completion of 12 PhD and MA students for the year 2021. Journals, books, special issues and conferencing Coalition talks, royal intrigue, misuses of digital platforms and emerging technologies, cabinet shuffles, growing unemployment, growing terrorism, unprecedented riots, and coups d’état; the year 2021 has been one of seismic occurrences and perhaps the opening of a new era in South African politics. The year has also seen major developments on the broader African and global landscapes that will have longlasting reverberations. Naturally, our staff have rose to each occasion to help extract meaning and offer interpretations of these. As such, three special issues, and numerous journal articles and book chapters as well as countless interviews and newspaper articles have come out with a focus on these. The special issues included the following: • ‘(Counter-)terrorism in Africa: Reflections for a new decade’ in the South African Journal of International Affairs guest edited by Sven Botha and Suzanne Graham • ‘COVID-19, Politics and International Relations: hopes and impediments’ in Politikon guest edited by Siphamandla Zondi • ‘Youth Unemployment, COVID-19 and Technology’ in The Thinker guest edited by Bhaso Ndzendze and Gift Sonkqayi A total of 3 books were published by staff members of the department: • Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies by Bhaso Ndzendze and Tshilidzi Marwala • The BRICS Order: Assertive or Complementing the West? edited by David Monyae and Bhaso Ndzendze • Decolonial Voices edited by Siphamandla Zondi A total of some 19 journal articles and chapters (so far captured), placing us as the second-most prolific department in the entire faculty. Our research this year has covered a number of areas including the concept of ‘Pan-Africanism from below,’ Russia’s relations with South Africa, the AU’s silencing of the guns goal, the evolution of the BRICS association, coalition government in Port Elizabeth (Gqebera), nuclear history, and many others. We also hosted two major conferences, in addition to six well-received webinars, including one led by President Joseph Kabila and chaired by Professor Chris Landsberg: • On 25-26 March 2021, we hosted the AAPS Conference under the theme of ‘Rethinking Politics in Africa.’ The conference was especially noteworthy for having revived the organisation, which had been moribund for about a decade. The conference saw speakers from across the continent and broader political science fraternity attend and deliver papers. • On 31 August and 1 September 2021, we hosted a conference under the theme of ‘Civil Society as an Agent of Change and Innovation in Africa.’ The conference was funded by the Ford Foundation and saw more than 50 presenters deliver papers from across the continent. The presenters included academics as well as civil society practitioners. The keynote address was delivered by His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe. Staff highlights • The highlight of the year has been the ascension of Prof Mcebisi Ndletyana to the rank of Full Professor. This is an inspired promotion and is a welcome development for the department and the broader profession of political science. • Two of our staff members, Professor Fritz Nganje and Professor Siphamandla Zondi hold NRF rankings. • Dr Otto has served as Guest Editor to the journal African Security Review, while Professor Nganje continues his important role as Assistant Editor at Politikon: South African Journal of Politics. • Professor Mcebisi Ndletyana had his book serve as the subject of an entire special issue in the Journal of Southern African Studies. • Professor Siphamandla Zondi served as the president of two associations: the African Association of Political Studies and the South African Association of Political Studies.
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