Political Science Departments Research Articles

Decolonizing Theories of Regional Integration

Interview with Dr. Ernest Toochi Aniche, Federal University Otuoke, Nigeria Ernest Toochi Aniche, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer and the Acting Head of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He holds BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees from the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria with a specialization in International Relations. He is developing a new theory of African Integration (Post-Neofunctionalism), deconstructing the traditional Neo-functionalist approach. Dr. Aniche is a prolific scholar with over a hundred publications, including articles in dozens of the world’s most renowned African studies journals. He has also published co-edited books and authored and co-authored chapters in books published by reputable publishers such as Routledge (Taylor & Francis), Palgrave Macmillan (Springer Nature), Rowman & Littlefield International, Lexington Books, and Oxford University Press. The highlight of his career was co-editing books with the African scholar legend, Professor Toyin Falola. He is on the editorial boards of journals and publishers, particularly Springer Nature (SN) Social Sciences, Ubuntu: Journal of Conflict and Social Transformation, and Cambridge Scholars Publishing. In his interview, he explains what prompted him to develop his own theory of African integration, which would actually contribute to the development of the continent. He explains the reasons for the crisis tendencies of modern African regionalism, a manifestation of which is the creation of the Sahel State Alliance. He pays particular attention to the prospects for decolonizing social knowledge about Africa. He provides inspiring cases of those African intellectuals who were able to transform the study of politics from Political Science in Africa to African Political Science, as well as to decolonize African regionalism and African border and migration studies.

Два года СВО: динамика изменения отношения молодежи

The article presents results of a study of young people’s attitude towards the Special Military Operation (hereinafter – the SMO). Data from monthly measurements carried out from March 2022 to January 2024 by Levada Center (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia), as well as the results of two online surveys (n = 2872) and a series of focus group interviews of young people (n = 74) conducted in November 2022 and November 2023 by employees of the Department of Political Science of Saratov State University are analyzed. It turned out that young people assess what is happening more moderately than society as a whole. At the same time, the majority of young people still support the SMO itself, but the level of this support is significantly lower than that of representatives of older ages. The degree of approval of decisions to carry out partial mobilization and to include four new regions in Russia turned out to be below 50%. Regarding the preferred options for continuing the conflict, there are more young people who are in favor of starting peace negotiations with Ukraine. Possible reasons for more skeptical attitude of young people towards the SMO are formulated, i.e. age features of representatives of this social group; specificity of the conditions in which their political socialization took place (ideological vacuum at a certain stage was filled with Western values, some of which do not correspond to the national culture, traditions and mentality of Russians); features of media consumption by modern youth and imperfections in information support for the SMO by media resources loyal to the state government. One of the ways to improve the current situation is substantiated.

Gavel to Ground: Examining the Effectiveness and Efficacy of Project Karunungan in Enhancing Local Governance and Its Future Direction

In the context of local governance, careful implementation of parliamentary procedures during meetings is of great concern. In 2019, Project Karunungan, a training workshop program, was born from cooperation between the Political Science Department of Mindanao State University and the Local Government Unit of General Santos City, Philippines. The initiative's primary goal is to educate barangay officials about Robert's Rules of Order principles. This paper is qualitative and quantitative research, drawing arguments from interviews and surveys. The correct parliamentary process significantly improves local governance by providing a formal framework for decision-making and guaranteeing fairness, openness, and accountability. This paper advances the significance of Project Karunungan to new heights as a continuous program to produce better leaders.

BENEFITS OF INTERNSHIP ACCORDING TO POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS

A step has been taken in higher education towards the specialization of universities. In line with this step, a trend towards internship applications has started in the political science and public administration departments of universities. There is a gap in the literature on studies related to internships in these departments. The present study aims to fill said gap. The purpose of the study is to explore the benefits of internship through the opinions of political science and public administration students. The study was conducted descriptively employing the qualitative research method with a single case design. The participants of the study were identified using the purposive sampling method and typical case sampling. The participants were students of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Aksaray University. The internship program in the department had been recently initiated at the request of the students. Seven students out of a total of ten students who had completed their internship were the participants of the study. Observations, interviews and document analysis were used as data collection tools. Semi-structured interview questions were used in the interviews. The collected data were transferred to the Maxqda 2022 software for coding. Categories were generated based on these codes and themes were identified based on the categories. At the end of the study, the benefits of internship were grouped under two themes. The first theme is “Benefits of internship for students” and the second one is “Benefits of internship for the faculty”.

Un especialista en realismo político clásico y en la obra de Hans Kelsen: entrevista a Robert Schuett

Robert Schuett, a former career civil servant (2011-2022), is currently a non-resident professor in international relations at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, a visiting fellow at the Department of Political Science at the University of Salzburg, as well as an honorary member of the School of Governance and International Affairs at the University of Durham, England. Robert Schuett was awarded a master’s degree by research in 2005 and a PhD in 2009, both in Political Science from the School of Governance and International Affairs at Durham University; the supervisor of his doctoral thesis was John C. Williams (Durham University), and his external evaluators were Chris J. Brown (London School of Economics) and Richard Little (University of Bristol). In 2007, he completed a doctoral research stay at LUISS University in Rome and, in 2010, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, San Diego, USA. He currently lives and works in Vienna. Robert Schuett’s main areas of interest are political philosophy, international relations, and political methodology. He is particularly interested in the classical approach to political and legal theory, economics and society, ethics, and justice. Professor Robert Schuett has authored and edited numerous works, including Hans Kelsen’s Political Realism (2021), The Edinburgh Companion to Political Realism (2018), The Concept of the State in International Relations: Philosophy, Sovereignty, Cosmopolitanism (2015), and Political Realism, Freud, and Human Nature in International Relations: The Resurrection of the Realism Man (2010).

From “Dar-es-Salaam” to “Brill”: Beyond the North-South Polarity in Publishing Scientific Journals

Abstract The African Review (TARE) was founded in March 1971 by the Department of Political Science of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), focusing primarily on decolonising the interpretation of significant events in African politics, monopolised by foreign experts. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the journal slightly shifted to publish contemporary issues of globalisation, development, and African affairs aiming at addressing the North-South knowledge divide. As a journal in the South, it has for many years suffered from the challenges of ineffective systems of management, processing, production and distribution. Attempting to address these challenges, in June 2019, the UDSM signed an agreement with Brill to publish TARE. In the agreement, Brill provides the journal with infrastructural systems and undertakes the final production and distribution of the journal. The UDSM, on the other hand, retains ownership of the journal copyright and performs all the editorial activities. This agreement has significantly institutionalised and improved the journal’s quality, management, processing, production, distribution and international visibility. This paper holds that the future of journals from the Global South hinges on collaboration with established publishers. The experience of TARE indicates that when a journal retains ownership and decision-making powers in a collaboration, it exhibits high potential for success.

The Nexus between Citizen Participation and Engagement in Elections and Development in Ghana: Empirical Evidence from Voters in Four Electorally-Swing Constituencies in Ghana

The Nexus between Citizen Participation and Engagement in Elections and Development in Ghana: Empirical Evidence from Voters in Four Electorally-Swing Constituencies in Ghana
 *Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari 
 Department of Political Science
 University for Development Studies, Tamale-Ghana
 E-mail: gbukari@uds.edu.gh
 
 Eliasu Mumuni
 Department of Communication, Innovation and Technology
 University for Development Studies, Tamale-Ghana
 Email: meliasu@uds.edu.gh
 
 Adam Osman Oscar
 Department of Logistics and Procurement Management
 Tamale Technical University, Tamale-Ghana
 oadamosman@tatu.edu.gh
 
 Abstract
 This paper establishes the relationship between individual citizens' voting participation in national elections and their felt socio-economic outcomes in Ghana. The paper adopts a micro-level approach and utilises data from a random sample of 600 respondents in four electorally-swing constituencies. The aim is to ascertain their views on a range of socio-economic issues related to elections and felt individual and community outcomes. The analysis of the results was conducted using standard multi-regression. The results of the analysis established that the relationship between individual and household economic welfare related to personal income, employment opportunities, personal and household educational opportunities and personal and household health status and voting participation is varied. The conclusion is that the unique circumstances of voter participation and choice in an election in the electorally-swing constituencies in the country are contingent on superior socio-economic policies of an incumbent government or political parties in electoral competition with the aspiration to win political power and dominance in a future electoral contest in Ghana. Therefore, based on the results, the enhancement of democracy through active participation in the political and electoral processes should place a premium on inclusive access of citizens to income, health, education and employment opportunities.
 Keywords: elections, democracy, participation, engagement, development, voting behaviour, Ghana

An Incomplete Recognition: An Analysis of Political Science Department Statements after the Murder of George Floyd

As a discipline centered on power, political science provides an important window into potential responses to episodes of heightened attention to long-standing racial violence and inequality in the United States. During the summer of 2020, political science departments, like many other entities, issued public statements in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd and the long and ongoing history of deadly violence against Black people at the hands of law enforcement. This paper examines these statements, providing a descriptive analysis of themes raised and types of commitments to action. Rhetorical responses to racism constitute important sites for understanding how discursive power is deployed. Ultimately, we observe that proposed solutions contained in statements are not commensurate with the structural understanding of racism encapsulated in statements. These statements suggest that the status quo prevails even among those who study power. We document limited commitments to addressing racism in political statements.

Was the result determined by disgruntled voters who did not go to the polls?

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations (English) and Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER) Director Asst. Prof. Fehmi Ağca evaluated the results of the 31 March 2024 Local Administrations General Election.

What will change with female leaders?

Üsküdar University, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Asst. Prof. Selin Karana evaluated the election of women mayors in 11 provinces in the March 31 local elections.

A language that does not polarize society should be used!

Üsküdar Political Science and International Relations (English) Department Head Prof. Havva Kök Arslan pointed out what needs to be done to prevent possible chaotic situations before the local elections.

Iran is practicing 'strategic patience' in the face of Israel's provocations!

Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Political Science and International Relations (English) Department Head Prof. Havva Kök Arslan evaluated Iran's retaliation against Israel and discussed Türkiye's stance.

КАФЕДРЕ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ НАУК Поволжского института управления имени П.А. Столыпина – филиала РАНХиГС – ДВАДЦАТЬ ЛЕТ

The article is devoted to the twenteeth anniversary of the department of Political Science of the Povolzhsky Institute of Management named after P.A. Stolypin, Branch of RUNEPA

Научная конференция как способ формирования у студентов педагогического вуза опыта научно-исследовательской деятельности

This article presents an analysis of the experience of the Department of General History, Sociology and Political Science of Omsk State Pedagogical University in holding a regional scientific conference “Problems of modern human knowledge”. The aim of the study is to identify the possibilities of this type of work in the context of the formation of future teachers’ competencies for the organization of research work in educational practice. The experience of the department in the preparation and holding of conferences in the period from 2016 to 2023 was studied. The authors conclude that the scientific conference is one of the most effective forms of pedagogical interaction between teachers and students, as well as one of the most effective ways for students of a pedagogical university to acquire research experience, which will be in demand by them when organizing educational and research work with schoolchildren.

Institutionalizing Internships: Enhanced Civic Culture via State Capital Internship Programs

Decades of scholarship on teaching and learning affirm the benefits of public service internships on student learning outcomes. Studies emphasize how hands-on fieldwork can increase students’ substantive knowledge, political efficacy, trust in government, and civic participation, among other factors. However, most articles treat internships equally without accounting for the variation in the institutionalization of experiential-learning programs within and across universities. We theorize that more structured internship programs (e.g., more student credits, intentionally designed curricula, additional faculty guidance) yield larger impacts on learning objectives centered on civic culture and education. We test this theory by analyzing three years of student data from two public universities’ fieldwork programs. We compare pretest and posttest survey results from undergraduates (1) participating in structured public service internship programs run in a state capital, (2) participating in internships pursued independently, and (3) majoring in a social science degree but having yet to complete an internship. We find that students pursuing a solo internship or via a structured program begin and end with higher political knowledge, efficacy, civic engagement, and related attitudes than the control group. We also find the more systematized an internship experience, the bigger the effect on key student learning outcomes. These results underscore how political science departments can fortify civic culture through more structured public service internship programs.

Keeping it regional: pseudo-internationalisation of Slovak political science

AbstractThis article examines the contribution of Slovak political science to international academic discussions by analysing publications by faculty members of Slovak political science departments. Based on an analysis of 2660 publications, our results indicate that while Slovak political scientists publish only small numbers of articles in journals indexed in international databases and few monographs with prestigious publishing houses, they are very productive when it comes to other types of publications, especially articles in non-indexed journals and conference proceedings. However, in both cases, most of their publications outside the national context are limited to regional journals and publishing houses. Although there are significant differences between individual Slovak political science departments in this regard, the predominant focus on regional (and domestic) publication outlets limits the contribution of Slovak political science to main discussions within the discipline. We call this publication strategy, seen as the flip side of internationalisation, which contributes to discussions at the global level, ‘pseudo-internationalisation’. We argue that this is a pragmatic approach adopted by employees of public universities who are expected to publish internationally, but, due to a lack of academic contacts outside their (immediate) neighbourhood, focus on this geographic area.

From the Great Nationalism to Narrower Ethnonationalism in Post-1991 Ethiopian Federalism: Counter Narrative Advent of the Amhara Ethnic Nationalist Movements Sibuh Gebeyaw Tareke Department of Political Science and International Studies Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Email: sibuh2003@gmail.com

Ethiopia is a multiethnic and multi-linguistic state. The country's political history has shown that it has been an empire state since ancient times. However, its diverse ethnic groups existed together as Ethiopian nationalists. Following the introduction of the socialist-oriented federal state in 1991, ethnonational movements took place in Ethiopian politics. The 1995 FDRE constitution gives the sovereign power to "nations, nationalities, and peoples" to maintain unity along with diversity. It also created ethnic federalism-based territorial units to liberate other ethnic groups from the past Amhara 'Neftegna' domination system. However, the recognition of these rights has promoted ethnonationalism rather than Ethiopianism. And also creates a tendency in other regions as Amharans have historically oppressed the different ethnic groups. Thus, the Amhara people who live in other areas have been discriminated against. This phenomenon has intensified the advent of Amhara nationalist movements. This study explores the theoretical frameworks of ethnonationalism and federalism. It also examined the causes and impacts of the deterioration of Ethiopianism and the advent of the Amhara nationalist movements in the case study areas. In the end, it provides mechanisms to maintain unity along with diversity in future Ethiopia.

Researching the Gap: Women in Latin American Political Science

This paper maps the gender balance in the discipline of political science in Latin America by examining data from 16 countries where we could find the number of female professors in political science departments (over 100 departments) as well as from 69 journals publishing political science research in Latin America and from 16 Latin Americanist journals in Canada, the United States, and Europe. We compare the proportion of female political science faculty members to the proportion of women serving as editors and as members of editorial and advisory committees for relevant academic journals. We find that a significant gender gap remains, both in political science departments and in journals, and that the gender gap is worse in journals based in Latin America than in those based outside the region.

Islam and Good Governance A Political Philosophy of Ihsan (by M. A. Muqtedar Khan)

Muhammad Abdul Muqtedar Khan is a professor of Indian origin in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware. He is known as a well-established author who has published several notable works, such as American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom and Islamic Democratic Discourse: Theory, Debates, and Philosophical Perspectives. In 2019, he wrote his latest book of an interdisciplinary nature: Islam and Good Governance: A Political Philosophy of Ihsan, where social sciences, humanities and theology intersect.

The Effect of Education on the Level of Political Interest and Participation: A Study on the Students of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Süleyman Demirel University

İktidarın halka dayandırılması düşüncesinin yaygınlaşmasıyla bir siyasal sistemin ideolojik ve kurumsal yapısı ne olursa olsun, vatandaş/halk/yurttaş unsuru bu kurumsal yapının en temel dayanağını oluşturmuştur. Bu nedenle vatandaşların siyasal sisteme dâhil edilmesi, sistem içerisinde söz sahibi olması ve bunu mümkün kılacak araçlar, her zaman güncel tartışma konusu olmuştur. Özellikle değişen ve dönüşen dünyada son yıllarda gençlerin siyasete karşı ilgileri ya da siyasal katılma biçimlerinin nasıl değiştiği son dönemde tartışılan konular arasındadır. Bu çalışma, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi (SBKY) bölümüne gelen öğrencilerinin eğitime başlamadan önceki siyasete ilgi ve katılım düzeyleri ile SBKY bölümü eğitimi ve üniversitede geçirilen sürenin, söz konusu öğrencilerin siyasal ilgi ve katılım düzeylerine ne yönde etkisi olduğunu araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Araştırmada, 2018-2019 eğitim öğretim yılının güz döneminde 1. sınıf öğrencilerine anket yapılmıştır. 2021-2022 yılının bahar döneminde 4. sınıfa gelen aynı öğrencilere aynı anket tekrar uygulanmıştır. Böylece üniversite geçirilen süre, arkadaş ortamı, siyaset bilimi ve kamu yönetimi eğitimi gibi siyasal ilgi ve katılım düzeylerini etkilediği düşünülen faktörler karşılaştırmalı olarak SPSS programı aracılığıyla analiz edilmiştir. Dört yıl boyunca araştırma kapsamında anket yapılan öğrencilerin ailelerinin siyasal ilgi ve katılma düzeyleri azalırken; öğrencilerin siyasal ilgi ve katılma düzeylerinde artış olduğu görülmüştür. SBKY eğitiminin ve üniversitede geçirilen dört yıllık sürenin öğrencilerin siyasal ilgi ve katılım düzeylerinde olumlu katkı yaptığı görülmüştür