Dear SAAPS Members and Other Interested Scholars

With this newsletter we welcome you to the website of the South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS). We trust that the website will become an effective channel of communication, both within SAAPS and between SAAPS and the wider community of scholars, students and other interested persons and organisations.

We bring you the following updates about SAAPS activities and projects (you are also welcome to navigate the website on www.saaps.org.za for further information):

SAAPS SEPTEMBER 2005 COLLOQUIUM:

The organisers of the SAAPS Biennial Research Colloquium are now awaiting your proposals for papers and panels. The Colloquium will take place in Pietermaritzburg from September 22 to September 23 2005. The School of Politics will be our hosts.

Panel and paper proposals should please be submitted to: Ms Kathy Acutt, Acutt@ukzn.ac.za, or Political Science, School of Politics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, SOUTH AFRICA.

SAAPS BOOK PROJECT:

We have been advancing the SAAPS book project. We are happy to confirm that the book will take the form of an undergraduate volume in the field of ''South African Politics and Political Economy in the context of Southern Africa''.

I am currently consulting on the composite themes and chapters. I welcome suggestions and specifically invite members and associated scholars to submit suggestions and proposals to me. I can be contacted on sbooysen@icon.co.za. We anticipate having panels or round tables in relation to the book at the September 2005 Colloquium.

SAAPS STUDENT PROMOTION PROJECT:

SAAPS has a modest project in place for the promotion of student participation in congresses and colloquia. Students who are interested in participation in the September Colloquium and will have research papers ready for presentation, should now please send in applications. We kindly request Departments of Political Studies and International Relations to bring the information to the attention of their students. A total of five to ten awards of between R500 and R2 000, depending on travel needs, will be made to successful applicants. The closing date is 29 July 2005.

Please send the following to the coordinating Exco member, Mr Gampi Matheba:

• Letter motivating your application;
• Brief curriculum vitae;
• Synopsis of approximately 500 words of your paper (also emphasising the research on which the paper is based);
• Full contact details.

COOPERATIVE SAAPS SEMINAR SERIES:

In planning seminar activities for the second semester of 2005, you are invited to bear in mind the SAAPS offer to co-sponsor departmental or other in-house seminar activities, think tanks or round-table discussions. We therefore invite departments, institutes, research organisations or student groups to join in the SAAPS seminar series by submitting their applications. For participation, email the Secretary-Treasurer, Dr Thabisi Hoeane, or Deputy President Gampi Matheba with details and request approval.

To confirm the background, SAAPS provides sponsorship of R300 for hosting Political Studies seminars under the joint auspices of SAAPS and the host department / institution / grouping of interested scholars. This small amount may be used at the discretion of the seminar organisers (refreshments, assistance, etc.).

The conditions are as follows: (i) The seminar must be promoted as a joint effort of the local department / institute and SAAPS; (ii) SAAPS membership forms must be on display and there must be encouragement for new members to join; and (iii) The seminars should encourage participation (either as presenters or as audience participants) from emerging scholars and/or students.

SAAPS BEST STUDENT AWARD:

The implementation of the SAAPS Best Student Award, 2004, is getting underway. We request heads of department and other senior academics please to start initiating their nominations. Kindly collate the necessary student portfolios. As in the past, include a letter of nomination / motivation by the Head of Department (or other senior academic), a curriculum vitae of the student, and two to three of the nominee’s best assignments. The award is done in two categories: Undergraduate and Honours. You are welcome to submit nominations in both categories. We shall confirm the details of the coordinating SAAPS Council person within the next week. In the interim, you may contact me on sbooysen@icon.co.za.

WEBSITE:

Finally, we invite you to submit suggestions for the further improvement of the SAAPS website. One of the current Council briefs is to propose a logo for SAAPS. Once that is achieved, the home page will have a slight change of face.

With best wishes from the SAAPS Executive Committee

Prof Susan Booysen

President, South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS)