The South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) came into life in May 2001, as the result of the merger of the South African Political Studies Association (SAPSA) and the South African Chapter of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS-SA). The Association is the official body of the disciplines of Political Science and International Relations in South Africa.
The primary international affiliations of SAAPS are the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), and the World International Studies Committee (WISC).
Our Vision
To be the leading scholarly and professional association for political science and related disciplines in South Africa.
Our Mission
To provide a platform for scholars and practitioners to engage on critical issues affecting state, economy, and society in Africa and the world based on cutting edge research and advance high-quality teaching in political science and related disciplines.
History
Founding and Early Years (1970s–1990s)
The association was originally established in 1973 during a period of intense political upheaval in South Africa. Originally named the Political Science Association of South Africa (PSASA), it was formed by a group of academics seeking to advance the study of politics amid apartheid’s restrictions on intellectual freedom. The association provided a rare platform for critical political discourse, though its early membership was largely confined to white universities due to apartheid-era’s racial segregation.
Transition to Democracy (1990s–2000s)
Following South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994, SAAPS underwent a significant transformation:
• Rebranding (1995): Following the incorporation of the South African Chapter of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), the association was renamed SAAPS to reflect inclusivity and its role in a post-apartheid South Africa.
• Expansion of Membership: SAAPS actively recruited scholars from historically Black universities, fostering diversity in political science scholarship.
• Launch of Politikon: The association’s flagship journal, Politikon, became a key outlet for cutting-edge research on South African and African politics.
Growth and Challenges (2010s–Present)
In recent years, SAAPS has faced both opportunities and challenges:
• Conference Tradition: The biennial SAAPS Congress emerged as a premier academic event, attracting international scholars.
• Journal Sustainability: Politikon maintained its reputation as a leading African political science journal, though financial pressures from open-access publishing loomed.
• Membership Decline: Despite growth in political science students, SAAPS struggled to retain members, partly due to competition from new or sister associations and shifting academic priorities.
• Strategic Renewal (2024): A major strategy session in August 2024 set a roadmap to revitalize SAAPS through research committees, public engagement, and institutional reforms.
Governance & Structure
• Executive Committee: Elected biennially, comprising a President, Deputy Presidents, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Treasurer, and additional portfolio holders.
• Council: Includes representatives from universities, research committees, and co-opted experts meant to enhance institutional memory and diversity of representation.
• Research Committees: Among others, focus areas include African Politics, IR/Diplomacy, and Quality of Democracy.