About the APSA Africa Workshops

About the APSA Africa Workshops

The Africa Workshops program at the American Political Science Association (APSA) is an ongoing effort to expand the capacity of political science research and teaching in east and west Sub-Saharan Africa. With the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, APSA is undertaking a multi-year program to organize political science workshops in various locations throughout Africa and promote the development of political science as a learned profession across the region.

The inaugural workshop was convened in Dakar, Senegal in 2008, on the theme of "Political Participation." This workshop was hosted in partnership with the West African Research Center. Subsequent workshops have taken place in:

Accra, Ghana (2009) in partnership with the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, on the theme of "Elections and Democracy"
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2010) in partnership with the Gender Centre at the University of Dar es Salaam, on the theme of "Global Perspectives on Politics and Gender"
Nairobi, Kenya (2011) in partnership with the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, on the theme of "Representation Reconsidered: Ethnic Politics and Africa's Governance Institutions in Comparative Perspective"

Each 2-3-week residential workshop brings together approximately 30 scholars from across Africa and the United States to discuss substantive issues in political science, analyze methodological approaches, and receive feedback on their research. Workshops are led by a joint U.S. and African organizing team and are aimed at mid-and junior-level scholars residing in Africa. Each workshop is themed and consists of a unique program that includes topical presentations and debates, guest speakers, peer review sessions, professional development seminars, and local field trips. Through these workshops, participants become an active part of the growing international political science community with increased access to supportive scholarly networks.

To date, 76 Africa-based political scientists from 26 countries have participated in APSA's Africa Workshops, as well as 17 US-based scholars. To view a map of these countries, click here.

The ultimate goal of APSA's Africa Workshops is to enhance the capacities of political scientists and their resources in East and West Africa while also providing a forum for supporting their ongoing research. A call for participant applications for the 2012 Africa Workshop will be released in February 2012. Details regarding workshop location, dates, and theme will be posted shortly.

The Africa Workshops program is managed by APSA's department of International Programs, with support and guidence from the Africa Project Steering Committee. For more information regarding the APSA Africa Workshops, please contact Andrew Stinson, APSA's Africa Workshops Coordinator, at africaworkshops@apsanet.org.