Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Africa Social Sciences / Regional Studies Highly Cited Researchers 17 Scientists Citation Rankings - 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) list highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
African Gifting
Philanthropy
Civil Society
Governance
NGOs
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,862
1,722
0.194
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* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
African cities
Urban governance
Healthy cities
Urban food systems
Informal settlements
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,167
3,952
0.765
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
African literature
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,093
1,455
0.470
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
African ornithology
moult
Sturnidae
Ploceidae
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,767
491
0.278
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
african feminist theory
gender based violence
queer
sexualities
pedagogies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,226
350
0.285
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,259
740
0.588
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
African politics
Political Economy of Development
Democratic Theory
Qualitative Methods
African
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,203
726
0.603
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Artificial Intelligence
Algorithm development
African Buffalo Optimization
Digital Humanities
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
926
608
0.657
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
African Literature and Cultural Studies
Black Intellectual Tradition
African Cinema
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
903
338
0.374
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Through advanced, institution-specific analytics and benchmarking, gain data-driven strategic insights into your academic performance, global standing, and competitive strengths. Compare your institution with 20 similarly ranked institutions at city, country, regional, and global levels, as well as with those in similar standings across 13 subjects, to uncover your institution’s strengths. More Info
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Applied ethics
Bioethics
Environmental Ethics
African Philosophy
African ethics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
858
533
0.621
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Afrikaans and modern Dutch literature
Literary theory.
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
794
124
0.156
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
African studies
Islamic studies
Arabic studies
education
bibliographic studies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
780
298
0.382
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Foreign Policy
International Organisation
African IR
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
669
246
0.368
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
African literature
oral literature
postcolonial studies
Afrikaans literature
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
75
35
0.467
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
African Politics
Intergovernmental Relations
South African Politics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
47
46
0.979
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
African Politics
Gender and Representation
Peace and Conflict Studies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48
47
0.979
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
African Political Thought
Prison writing
African women's writings and narratives
Liberation Movements in Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3
3
1.000
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
117,023
439
57
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Alan Fowler
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,862
1,722
0.194
African Gifting
Philanthropy
Civil Society
Governance
NGOs
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
204,762
854
197
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Warren Smit
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,167
3,952
0.765
African cities
Urban governance
Healthy cities
Urban food systems
Informal settlements
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
318,754
1,423
138
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Tydskrif Vir Letterkunde
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,093
1,455
0.470
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
494,923
2,386
66
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
A Craig
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,767
491
0.278
African ornithology
moult
Sturnidae
Ploceidae
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
601,017
3,019
520
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Jane Bennett
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,226
350
0.285
african feminist theory
gender based violence
queer
sexualities
pedagogies
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
603,875
3,040
105
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Vusi Gumede
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,259
740
0.588
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
618,232
438
115
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
George M Bob Milliar
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,203
726
0.603
African politics
Political Economy of Development
Democratic Theory
Qualitative Methods
African
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
720,822
2,699
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Julius Beneoluchi Odili
Anchor University Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
926
608
0.657
Artificial Intelligence
Algorithm development
African Buffalo Optimization
Digital Humanities
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
724,925
3,723
377
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Bhekizizwe Peterson
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
903
338
0.374
African Literature and Cultural Studies
Black Intellectual Tradition
African Cinema
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
743,051
3,835
386
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Kevin Gary Behrens
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
858
533
0.621
Applied ethics
Bioethics
Environmental Ethics
African Philosophy
African ethics
360° Institutional Performance & Benchmarking Click Here for Live Demo
Through advanced, institution-specific analytics and benchmarking, gain data-driven strategic insights into your academic performance, global standing, and competitive strengths. Compare your institution with 20 similarly ranked institutions at city, country, regional, and global levels, as well as with those in similar standings across 13 subjects, to uncover your institution’s strengths. More Info
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
762,347
3,964
207
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Hein Viljoen
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
794
124
0.156
Afrikaans and modern Dutch literature
Literary theory.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
772,237
89
32
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Muhammed Haron
University of Botswana
Gaborone, Botswana
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
780
298
0.382
African studies
Islamic studies
Arabic studies
education
bibliographic studies
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
823,904
4,335
114
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Paul-Henri Bischoff
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
669
246
0.368
Foreign Policy
International Organisation
African IR
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,703,474
11,718
973
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Jacomien Van Niekerk
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
75
35
0.467
African literature
oral literature
postcolonial studies
Afrikaans literature
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,883,650
13,317
1,041
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Mlungisi Phakathi
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
47
46
0.979
African Politics
Intergovernmental Relations
South African Politics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,922,365
13,675
1,091
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Zainab Monisola Olaitan
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48
47
0.979
African Politics
Gender and Representation
Peace and Conflict Studies
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,378,240
18,244
1,680
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Lebohang Motsomotso
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3
3
1.000
African Political Thought
Prison writing
African women's writings and narratives
Liberation Movements in Africa
