Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers CitationSocial Sciences / Political Science and International Relations in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) 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
16,799
5,196
0.309
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Sustainability
Wellbeing
Governance
Political Economy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,998
5,728
0.716
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,879
3,262
0.555
* 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
3,824
1,087
0.284
* 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
3,375
1,280
0.379
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
International relations
social theory
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,498
596
0.239
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Religion
Politics
Postcolonial Literature
African Spirituality
African Culture
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,436
922
0.378
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Participatory democracy and governance to address complex challenges
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,355
1,213
0.515
* 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
2,344
1,654
0.706
* 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
2,332
620
0.266
* 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
2,216
568
0.256
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Political Sociology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,202
496
0.225
* 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
2,167
679
0.313
* 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
2,025
1,118
0.552
* 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
1,804
1,160
0.643
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Politics
voting
youth
urban
poverty
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,797
632
0.352
* 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
1,656
878
0.530
* 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
1,433
621
0.433
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Comparative political economy
foreign policy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,379
410
0.297
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,318
661
0.502
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
Globalization
African Political Economy
Development Studies
Peace & Conflict Studies
Migration
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,307
1,135
0.868
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Post-Conflict Transformation
Feminist theory and Politics
African Politics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,302
237
0.182
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Feminist International Relations
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,296
663
0.512
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
political economy of media
broadcasting
media history
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,288
360
0.280
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
International Relations
Food Politics and Policies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,285
1,027
0.799
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
51,353
165
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Patrick Bond
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,799
5,196
0.309
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movements
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
126,696
473
40
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Lorenzo Fioramonti
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,998
5,728
0.716
Sustainability
Wellbeing
Governance
Political Economy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
174,857
703
62
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
V Naidoo
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,879
3,262
0.555
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
262,635
1,125
74
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Chris Landsberg
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,824
1,087
0.284
International relations
African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
African Leadership
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
292,504
1,284
172
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Amanda Gouws
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,375
1,280
0.379
South African politics
Gender politics
Public Opinion Analysis
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
373,672
1,718
116
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Peter Vale
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,498
596
0.239
International relations
social theory
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
380,911
1,759
171
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Tinyiko Samuel Maluleke
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,436
922
0.378
Religion
Politics
Postcolonial Literature
African Spirituality
African Culture
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
390,790
1,815
49
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Janet Mcintyre-Mills
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,355
1,213
0.515
Participatory democracy and governance to address complex challenges
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
392,139
1,821
202
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Iginio Gagliardone
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,344
1,654
0.706
Politics of Technology
Global Media
Hate speech
China-Africa Relations
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
393,763
1,833
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
2,332
620
0.266
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Cultural Studies
International Financial Systems
South African Politics and Eco
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
408,843
1,916
132
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Deon Geldenhuys
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,216
568
0.256
International Relations
Deviant conduct by states
Ethno-Politics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
410,785
1,925
207
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Rupert Taylor
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,202
496
0.225
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
415,626
1,954
192
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Peter J Lor
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,167
679
0.313
Comparative librarianship
International librarianship
Political economy of information
Information policy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
436,791
2,077
61
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Louise Vincent
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,025
1,118
0.552
qualitative research
democratic theory
politics of the body
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
473,572
2,256
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Thierry M Luescher
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,804
1,160
0.643
Student Experience
Student Politics
Higher Education Policy
International and Comparative Higher
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
474,919
2,263
247
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
David Everatt
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,797
632
0.352
Politics
voting
youth
urban
poverty
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
502,138
2,428
77
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
1,656
878
0.530
International Relations
Diplomacy
Foreign Policy
Nuclear Humanities
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
551,076
2,694
179
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Sam Ashman
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,433
621
0.433
political economy
financialization
the state and development
combined and uneven development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
564,413
2,795
344
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Janis Van Der Westhuizen
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,379
410
0.297
Comparative political economy
foreign policy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
580,068
2,886
82
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Eduard Jordaan
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,318
661
0.502
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
582,898
2,899
192
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Adeoye O. Akinola
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,307
1,135
0.868
Globalization
African Political Economy
Development Studies
Peace & Conflict Studies
Migration
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
584,492
2,911
304
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Sheila Meintjes
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,302
237
0.182
Post-Conflict Transformation
Feminist theory and Politics
African Politics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
586,048
2,920
69
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Heidi Hudson
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,296
663
0.512
Feminist International Relations
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
588,301
2,936
244
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Ruth Teer-Tomaselli
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,288
360
0.280
political economy of media
broadcasting
media history
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
588,914
2,942
144
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Lere Amusan
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,285
1,027
0.799
International Relations
Food Politics and Policies