Political studies: An entry into ‘social science thought’ in the South African academy

Abstract

This paper briefly examines the epistemic orientation of the Politics discipline in South Africa, and specifically in ‘formerly white universities’. The focus is to expose the disparity between this epistemic orientation and the South African locale that it finds itself in; that is, a locale whose history is different from its ‘imperial center’, yet is diagnosed and measured in accordance with instruments defined by this very same center. To break with the hegemony of this episteme, I suggest, not only is it essential to have Black thinkers take their place in the South African academic community, but to develop a more African-based curriculum that responds, adequately, to South African and Continental problems.