The regional biennial colloquium of the SA Association of Political Studies was recently held at the Qwaqwa Campus.

It was an opportunity for political scientists to share their latest research focus areas and to get to know each other better across different university campuses. This year’s colloquium was organised by the University of the Free State and there were various interesting presentations, ranging from service delivery at local government level, South Africa’s foreign policy, development and governance issues on the African continent, China’s politico-economic relations with Africa, to international political theory.

During the colloquium a book was also launched, of which Prof Theo Neethling and Prof Heidi Hudson are the editors. The book was published by UCT Press and is a project undertaken and funded by the Head of the Army, General VR Masondo.

The book is titled "Post-conflict reconstruction and development in Africa: concepts, role-players, policy and practice." The book highlights and analyses the current and future roles of international and South African role players – including the SA National Defence Force - in conflict-torn African countries.

– Prof Theo Neethling.

Profs Heidi Hudson and Theo Neethling with Prof Clive Napier (centre) from Unisa’s Department of Political Sciences, who attended the colloquium in his capacity as President of SAAPS.