Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Social Sciences Highly Cited Researchers 140 Scientists Citation in South Africa 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
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movements
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,005
4,349
0.256
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Sustainability
Wellbeing
Governance
Political Economy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,255
5,244
0.635
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,988
2,938
0.491
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
International relations
African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
African Leadership
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,863
861
0.223
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
South African politics
Gender politics
Public Opinion Analysis
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,448
1,146
0.332
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Participatory democracy and governance to address complex challenges
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,588
1,197
0.463
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
International relations
social theory
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,529
492
0.195
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Religion
Politics
Postcolonial Literature
African Spirituality
African Culture
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,470
821
0.332
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Politics of Technology
Global Media
Hate speech
China-Africa Relations
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,434
1,476
0.606
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Cultural Studies
International Financial Systems
South African Politics and Eco
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,354
551
0.234
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
International Relations
Deviant conduct by states
Ethno-Politics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,235
438
0.196
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Political Sociology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,235
434
0.194
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Comparative librarianship
International librarianship
Political economy of information
Information policy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,213
595
0.269
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
qualitative research
democratic theory
politics of the body
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,055
965
0.470
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Student Experience
Student Politics
Higher Education Policy
International and Comparative Higher
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,860
1,062
0.571
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Politics
voting
youth
urban
poverty
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,841
563
0.306
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
International Relations
Diplomacy
Foreign Policy
Nuclear Humanities
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,683
753
0.447
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
political economy
financialization
the state and development
combined and uneven development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,449
516
0.356
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Comparative political economy
foreign policy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,396
341
0.244
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Globalization
African Political Economy
Development Studies
Peace & Conflict Studies
Migration
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,390
1,099
0.791
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,354
567
0.419
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Feminist International Relations
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,326
593
0.447
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Global Environmental Politics
International Relations
Food Politics
Inter. Political Economy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,322
916
0.693
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Post-Conflict Transformation
Feminist theory and Politics
African Politics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,313
188
0.143
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
political economy of media
broadcasting
media history
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,301
307
0.236
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
51,668
167
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Patrick Bond
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,005
4,349
0.256
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movements
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
124,841
467
38
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Lorenzo Fioramonti
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,255
5,244
0.635
Sustainability
Wellbeing
Governance
Political Economy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
175,040
708
62
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
V Naidoo
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,988
2,938
0.491
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
265,143
1,134
77
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Chris Landsberg
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,863
861
0.223
International relations
African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
African Leadership
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
292,543
1,277
170
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Amanda Gouws
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,448
1,146
0.332
South African politics
Gender politics
Public Opinion Analysis
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
369,831
1,693
44
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Janet Mcintyre-Mills
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,588
1,197
0.463
Participatory democracy and governance to address complex challenges
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
376,581
1,730
120
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Peter Vale
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,529
492
0.195
International relations
social theory
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
383,451
1,774
173
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Tinyiko Samuel Maluleke
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,470
821
0.332
Religion
Politics
Postcolonial Literature
African Spirituality
African Culture
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
387,792
1,796
198
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Iginio Gagliardone
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,434
1,476
0.606
Politics of Technology
Global Media
Hate speech
China-Africa Relations
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
397,772
1,850
356
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Thomas Koelble
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,354
551
0.234
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Cultural Studies
International Financial Systems
South African Politics and Eco
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
413,297
1,942
134
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Deon Geldenhuys
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,235
438
0.196
International Relations
Deviant conduct by states
Ethno-Politics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
413,298
1,943
208
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Rupert Taylor
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,235
434
0.194
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
416,211
1,963
193
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Peter J Lor
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,213
595
0.269
Comparative librarianship
International librarianship
Political economy of information
Information policy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
439,348
2,088
59
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Louise Vincent
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,055
965
0.470
qualitative research
democratic theory
politics of the body
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
471,179
2,246
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Thierry M Luescher
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,860
1,062
0.571
Student Experience
Student Politics
Higher Education Policy
International and Comparative Higher
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
474,598
2,264
246
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
David Everatt
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,841
563
0.306
Politics
voting
youth
urban
poverty
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
504,535
2,439
79
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Jo-Ansie Van Wyk
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,683
753
0.447
International Relations
Diplomacy
Foreign Policy
Nuclear Humanities
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
555,316
2,730
183
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Sam Ashman
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,449
516
0.356
political economy
financialization
the state and development
combined and uneven development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
568,205
2,812
347
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Janis Van Der Westhuizen
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,396
341
0.244
Comparative political economy
foreign policy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
569,551
2,821
189
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Adeoye O. Akinola
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,390
1,099
0.791
Globalization
African Political Economy
Development Studies
Peace & Conflict Studies
Migration
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
578,853
2,877
81
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Eduard Jordaan
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,354
567
0.419
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
586,142
2,923
68
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Heidi Hudson
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,326
593
0.447
Feminist International Relations
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
587,157
2,931
144
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Lere Amusan
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,322
916
0.693
Global Environmental Politics
International Relations
Food Politics
Inter. Political Economy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
589,654
2,945
306
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Sheila Meintjes
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,313
188
0.143
Post-Conflict Transformation
Feminist theory and Politics
African Politics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
592,794
2,963
250
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Ruth Teer-Tomaselli
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,301
307
0.236
political economy of media
broadcasting
media history