SAIPAR Social & Political Change

Researching Governance & Society

The Social & Political Change Division of SAIPAR is dedicated to understanding and analyzing the political and social dynamics shaping Zambia and Southern Africa. The division undertakes high-quality research, facilitates policy dialogue, and fosters academic debate on governance, democracy, and social transformation.

Zambia Election Research Network (ZERN)

The division hosts the **Zambia Election Research Network (ZERN)**, a group of academics researching democracy and electoral processes in Zambia. The network has produced high-impact, evidence-based research recognized by international and diplomatic organizations, contributing significantly to electoral discourse.

Political-Economy Analysis

SAIPAR conducts **political-economy analysis** on various subjects, including governance, corruption, the judiciary, economic institutions, political parties, mining, and public policies. This research is interdisciplinary and often collaborates with other divisions to provide comprehensive insights.

Publications

The division publishes **books, policy briefs, journal articles, occasional papers, research reports, and editorial opinions**. It played a key role in coordinating the publication of *Democracy and Electoral Politics in Zambia (Brill Publishers, Leiden)*, available at Brill Publishers.

Following the **2021 Zambian general elections**, the division coordinated a **special edition of the Journal of East African Studies**, featuring exclusive articles reflecting on the elections.

The division also runs the **Zambia Social Science Journal (ZSSJ)**, a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal focused on social sciences and development. The journal serves as a forum for academic discourse and policy analysis.