ABSTRACT Political science as a field of study has been taught and researched in South Africa for nearly a hundred years and for a lesser period in other African countries. A diversity of approaches and theoretical focus areas and ideological orientations have been followed over the decades largely in response to the political evolution of the African state. The argument of the article citing historical and contemporary literature, is that political science in South Africa and beyond needs to engage anew with the state and its institutions. The discipline needs to refocus on teaching and research and, in particular, more firmly address the needs of diverse practitioners in state and governmental institutions in South Africa and beyond. Teaching and research interests of particular relevance and utility to government and opposition leaders and representatives – such as institutional design, democratic models, electoral systems and political party structures, candidate selection, decision making processes, election processes and oversight and accountability mechanisms – should be given increasing attention by political scientists at all spheres of government, that is, national, provincial or regional and local. It is argued that a new relevance should be sought to provide answers to the pressing contemporary political and developmental issues and problems facing the continent.

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南非及其他地区的政治学研究：寻找相关性

摘要政治学作为一个研究领域在南非已有近一百年的历史，而在其他非洲国家则较少。几十年来，在非洲国家的政治演变过程中，采取了多种方法，理论重点领域和意识形态取向。该文章引用历史和当代文学的论点是，南非及其他地区的政治学需要与国家及其机构重新接触。该学科需要重新集中于教学和研究，尤其是要更加坚定地满足南非及其他地区的州和政府机构中不同从业者的需求。应给予与政府和反对派领导人和代表特别相关和有用的教学和研究兴趣，例如机构设计，民主模式，选举制度和政党结构，候选人的选择，决策过程，选举过程以及监督和问责机制政治科学家在政府，国家，省或地区和地方的所有领域都越来越重视。有人认为，应寻求新的关联性，以解决当前非洲大陆面临的紧迫的政治和发展问题。选举过程以及监督和问责机制–政治学家应在政府所有领域（即国家，省或地区和地方政府）越来越重视。有人认为，应寻求新的关联性，以解决当前非洲大陆面临的紧迫的政治和发展问题。选举过程以及监督和问责机制–政治学家应在政府所有领域（即国家，省或地区和地方政府）越来越重视。有人认为，应寻求新的关联性，以解决当前非洲大陆面临的紧迫的政治和发展问题。