SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL STUDIES SAAPS _________________________________

Mid-term Report September 2005

By Professor Susan Booysen SAAPS President

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1. September 2005

The current SAAPS Executive Committee and Council have been in office since September 2004. It is my pleasure to report back to SAAPS membership about the activities and projects that these SAAPS bodies have initiated and implemented in the past year. The following sections provide a concise overview. More information is available from the Executive Committee members, and also from the SAAPS website on www.saaps.org.za.

See the Addendum to this brief document for an indication of which projects are linked to which Exco members. We invite you to be in contact with us, and to exchange ideas on both the further elaboration of existing projects and possible additional projects.

AAPS and SAAPS cooperation SAAPS continues to prioritise cooperation with AAPS, and I am in regular contact with the AAPS head office in Pretoria. A range of our members will be attending the postponed AAPS conference (in the same week as the SAAPS Research Colloquium). More of us would have been in Cairo, had it not have been for near-clash in dates. SAAPS has extended it best wishes to our continental counterpart for a their meeting. We also look forward to welcome Dr Eddy Maloka, the incoming AAPS president, to our Colloquium on Friday 23 September 2005. We have requested Eddy (also one of our Exco members) to brief SAAPS on possible ways in which to further extend our cooperation with AAPS.

SAAPS website The SAAPS website (on www.saaps.org.za) was launched in mid-2005. A huge amount of work preceded the launch. The website has now become our major medium of communication with members and other scholars. It has already borne fruit, for example in the building of the membership base and in providing information about SAAPS projects. We hope to extend the range of information that is available on the site, and look forward to your suggestions. We are currently exploring proposals for a permanent logo, which will help establish the SAAPS identity, including on this website. Requests for the inclusion of new items may be submitted to Prof Susan Booysen (sbooysen@icon.co.za), and requests for updates of existing information to Dr Pieter Fourie (pf@rau.ac.za).

Best student award, 2004 (awarded in 2005) It is my pleasure to announce that the SAAPS Best Student Awards for 2004 have been finalised. The best undergraduate student is Mr Harry Meadon, University of Cape Town (UCT). The best Honours student in the SAAPS competition is Mr James Dray of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). SAAPS’ congratulations go to both these students and their respective universities. We thank the four judges who spent a substantial amount of time working through the nominations. The judges concurred that the two winners were outstanding students, who had delivered work of a most impressive standard. Book prizes for the two winners will be donated by the Africa Institute of South Africa. The competition was tough, and our congratulations therefore also go to all of the students who were nominated by their departments. The next round of nominations – for the best 2005 students – will be called in early 2006.

Politikon In mid-2005 the Executive Committee took the decision to extend Politikon to three issues per annum. We wish to thank the editor, Dr Stephen Louw, for his inputs. The third issue is being implemented with effect from the current year. Dr Louw has commissioned a special issue, under guest editorship of Dr Shireen Hassim. The focus is on gender. In general, all Political Studies scholars are encouraged to submit their completed article writings for consideration by Politikon.

Biennial Conference, 2006 The SAAPS 2006 Biennial Conference is to be hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), from 5-8 September 2006. The core theme will be Continental Unity. However, submissions are invited on topics that deal with the whole range of Political Studies interests. Our thanks go to HOD Keith Gottschalk and his UWC colleagues for their enthusiasm and professionalism in preparing for what promises to be one of the biggest SAAPS conferences ever. The Call for Papers is being issued at the 2005 Research Colloquium. Please also see the SAAPS website.

Assistance to students to present papers at SAAPS events In 2004, we took the decision to provide modest financial assistance to students who wish to present papers at the SAAPS Colloquium and Conference. This process has started, and a small number of students are already benefiting at the September 2005 Colloquium. The remainder of the apportioned funds will be on offer to facilitate student participation in the 2006 Conference. The SAAPS website provides further information, both on the project and the contact persons.

SAAPS seminar series SAAPS has made modest progress in the institution of regular seminar series that may be presented by a host institution or department, in conjunction with SAAPS. Our colleagues at UKZN have completed a successful seminar series that was financially supported by SAAPS. The modest financial support may be used, for example, for catering, or assistance in the organisation of the seminars. The quid pro quo is that the seminars have to promote SAAPS, encourage membership and involve Political Studies students. Colleagues from all universities and institutions are invited to apply. More details are available on our website.

Emerging Scholar Network Exco colleague Lubna Nadvi will be launching a survey of emerging Political Studies scholars. The survey aims at assessing the specifics of needs among this cohort of scholars. SAAPS hopes to use this information to provide further support to young and emerging colleagues. We call on both emerging and established scholars to give their cooperation.

Launch of SAAPS Regional Chapters Exco colleague and deputy president Gampi Matheba will be launching the SAAPS project to encourage the establishment of Regional SAAPS Chapters. We hope, through this project, to extend the network of SAAPS regional activities and thereby to build a stronger SAAPS. More details of this project are available from Gampi. He is also expected to be in contact with individuals from the range of provinces and regions within the next couple of weeks.

SAAPS Publication I am in contact with publishers in order to finalise the conceptualisation and planning for a SAAPS edited publication. It will focus on South African Politics and Political Economy, within the Southern African and African contexts. You are most welcome to contact me, should you have particular suggestions or if you wish to propose a particular contribution.

SAAPS Research Groups Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, also from Exco, is expected to be in contact with participants in this Colloquium within the next couple of weeks in order to formalise SAAPS study groups. The topic of papers that are presented at the Colloquium will be used as a guideline. However, you will also be encouraged to submit further indications of your research interests.

SAAPS Research Colloquium 2005 – Thanks to the Pietermaritzburg Campus of UKZN All of us in SAAPS wish to thank Ufo Uzodike and his colleagues (in particular also Kathy Acutt) for their skill, commitment and professionalism in planning and hosting the SAAPS 2005 Research Colloquium. Your efforts have done UKZN proud. Thank you very much indeed.

PROF SUSAN BOOYSEN sbooysen@icon.co.za Mobile 0832901636

ADDENDUM: FRAMEWORK FOR SAAPS REPORT TO MEMBERSHIP AND COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 2005

Council Members SAAPS Council Actions – Mid-term update, October 2004-September 2005 Prof Susan Booysen Direct and lead SAAPS Council and Executive Committee; Recruit hosts for SAAPS Research Colloquium, 2005; Recruit hosts for 2006 Biennial Conference; Proposal for and action on SAAPS publication; Liaison on SAAPS research projects; Liaison with Departments and Institutes, etc. to promote SAAPS and extend participation in activities and projects; SAAPS Best Student Award (2004, awarded in 2005); Promotion of seminar project; Promotion of project for student participation; Contact with AAPS; Initiate, organise, implement actions for SAAPS website, generate material for updates Mr Gampi Matheba Student empowerment and recruitment proposals; Initiate SAAPS seminars; Initiate SAAPS Regional Chapter formation Dr Thabisi Hoeane Ongoing financial management functions -- manage and report on finances; Membership recruitment; Updating of membership lists; General membership communication Dr Somadoda Fikeni Proposal on membership recruitment Ms Lubna Nadvi Winding up of affairs and hand-over of financial matters; Membership & communication lists handed over; Proposal with Pieter Fourie on advancement of emerging scholars Mr Anthoni van Nieuwkerk Initiation and coordination of study groups; Logo initiatives Mr Phil Mtimkulu Proposed assistance with collection of materials for newsletter and website Mr Pieter Fourie Collection of quotes for SAAPS website; Assistance in creation of website; Updating of AAPS website; Joint proposal on emerging scholarship Dr Cheryl Hendricks Assistance requested with initiation of seminars Prof Yolanda Sadie (Co-opted) Functions to be assigned Mr Keith Gottschalk (Co-opted) Hosting of 2006 SAAPS Biennial Conference Prof Heidi Hudson Promotion of range of SAAPS activities in Free State Dr Stephen Louw (ex officio: Politikon editor) Editing of Politikon, facilitation of emerging authorship Dr Eddy Maloka (ex officio: Immediate past president) Networking with international, including African, scholars and scholar networks covering range of activities Post-2004 Conference Council membership updates: Dr Cheryl Hendricks declared elected member (September 2004); Prof Yolanda Sadie accepts position as co-opted Council member (September 2004); Prof Maxi Schoeman resigns (September/October 2004); Dr Vincent Maphai and Prof Philip Nel indicate no longer available as Council members (early 2005); Exco co-opts Mr Keith Gottschalk and Prof Heidi Hudson (August 2005). Compiled by Prof Susan Booysen, SAAPS President