Languages

English (native) Afrikaans (native) Arabic (beginner) Sesotho (beginner)

ORCID ID

0000-0003-2246-4810

Professional Memberships

Golden Key International Association,

South African Association of Political Science (SAAPS),

International Political Science Association (IPSA)

2020

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

University of the Free State, South Africa

Thesis title: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Interrelationship between the Media and Terrorist Groups in Africa

2015

Master of Arts (MA) *cum laude

University of the Free State, South Africa

Thesis title: Reassessing Terrorism and Counter Terrorism in Africa: A Critical Terrorism Study

2013

B.A Honours *cum laude

University of the Free State

2012

B.A in Media and Journalism

University of the Free State

2019-Present

Program Director Team of Bachelor of Social Science at UFS,

Bloemfontein Campus

2017-Present

Lecturer, Political Studies and Governance, UFS

Bloemfontein Campus

2014-2017

Junior Lecturer, Political Studies and Governance, UFS

Bloemfontein Campus, South Campus

Module Coordinator, Political Studies and Governance, UFS

South Campus

2013-2014

Facilitator, Department of Political Studies and Governance UFS

Coordinator, Teaching and Learning Academic Facilitation Program

2010

Tutor, Department of Political Studies and Governance, UFS

2020

Recognition as #TeachOn Champion, University of the Free State

2011

Daan Wessels-award for Best Third Year student in Political Studies and Governance, University of the Free State

CHAPTERS IN EDITED BOOKS

Grobbelaar, A. (2021) Updating Africa: Tweeting Terrorism. In Directions in International Terrorism, edited by Hussein Solomon. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.

Grobbelaar, A. (2021) Africa’s Online Terror: The increased reliance of African terrorist organizations on Social Media. In Terrorism in Africa: New Trends and Frontiers. Edited by: Glen Segall, Sergey Kostelyanets, Hussein Solomon. Moscow: Institute for African Studies

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES

Grobbelaar, A. (With Hussein Solomon) (2014). Understanding the Rise of Boko Haram and its Discontents. Journal for Contemporary History. 39 (2). Pp 277-249

OCCASIONAL PAPERS

Grobbelaar, A (With Hussein Solomon) (2015). The origins, ideology and development of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Africa Review.

Grobbelaar, A (2013). Post-Gaddafi Libya – a ‘Not-So-Easy’ Road to Democracy. RIMA Occasional Papers. Vol. 1 No 16

Grobbelaar, A (2013). The Scramble between France, AQIM and Other Regional Terrorist Groups: It’s All about Sibling Rivalry. RIMA Occasional Papers. Vol. 1 No. 3.

Grobbelaar, A (With Hussein Solomon) (2013). Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Ruthless Idiots or Clever Opportunists. RIMA Occasional Papers. Vol. 1 No 10.

March 2021

“Africa’s Online terror: The increased reliance of African terrorist organizations on Social Media.” New Frontiers of Terrorism in Africa. Conference with Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Department of Political Studies and Governance, University of the Free State, South Africa. Ezri Center for Iran & Gulf States Research, University of Haifa, Israel.

July 2021

“Updating Africa: Tweeting Terrorism”. Forthcoming conference. New Nationalisms in an Open World. 26^th IPSA World Congress of Political Science. NOVA University Campolide Campus, Lisbon, Portugal.

July 2018

“Terrorists in Africa communicating with the outside world.” Presentation delivered at International Political Science Association (IPSA) World Conference in Brisbane, Australia.

November 2017

"Blink and you`ll miss it. Does the world miss the destruction of Africa`s heritage sites?" Presentation delivered at Conference on Historical Heritage and Security. Hosted by Osaka School of International Public Policy, in collaboration with the University of the Free State in South Africa and Mzuzu University in Malawi. Conference held at Osaka University, Japan.

July 2021

“Discourse analysis and Critical Discourse analysis in Politics. Nelson Mandela’s “I am prepared to die” speech 1964” Virtual presentation delivered at the annual research seminar hosted by the Governance and Political Transformation Post Graduate programme of the University of the Free State.

May 2021

“Online terrorism in Africa: Is social media the new frontline?”. Prospective Trajectories of Terrorism in Africa. North West University School of Government Studies.

August 2020

“What makes critical research, critical?” Virtual presentation delivered at the annual research seminar hosted by the Governance and Political Transformation Post Graduate programme of the University of the Free State.

February 2018

“The importance of new methods for old problems: Using Critical Discourse Analyses in the study of terrorism in Africa.” Presentation delivered at conference jointly hosted by the Department of Political Studies and Governance and the Centre for African Studies and the University of the Free State and the Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.

September 2017

“Discourse Analysis, News and Reporting on Terrorism in Africa” Presentation delivered at the Regional Colloquium of the South African Association of Political Studies.

February 2017

”How can the power of media be used to fight terrorism in Africa?” Presentation delivered at conference co-hosted by the Centre for African Studies, Jawahrlal Nehru University (India), Centre for the Engagement on African Peace and Security, Department of Political Studies and Governance, University of the Free State, and Southern African Centre for Collaboration on Peace and Security and the Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University (Japan).

September 2016

“Is it time to rethink the fundamentals of Political Research? Starting with the greatest modern threat in Africa – Terrorism.” Presentation delivered at the 13^th National Conference of the South African Association of Political Studies.

October 2015

“Why African lives are deemed less newsworthy: A study of terrorism, its effects and the global perceptions thereof.” Presentation delivered at the Regional Colloquium of the South African Association of Political Studies.

February 2015

“I am Charlie, but I am Baga too. Why are African lived Deemed less Newsworthy?” Presentation delivered at Workshop on Perspectives on African Peace and Security (in collaboration with Osaka School of International Public Policy)

African security

Critical Discourse Analysis in Africa

Terrorism and Media Usage in Africa

Cyber Security in Africa

African security

Critical Discourse Analysis in Africa

Terrorism and Media Usage in Africa

Cyber Security in Africa

Undergraduate courses

Course Code

Full name of Course

POLS1514

Introduction to Political Science

POLS3724

Political Theory and Ideology

Postgraduate courses

Course Code

Full name of Course

POLS 6816

Research Methodology and Proposal