01Oct 2025
Office Bearers and Objectives
23:50 - By Zillur R. Khan
The International Political Science Association’s Research Committee 37 (RC37) is dedicated to rethinking political development and exploring the diverse paths societies take in shaping their political futures. Since its recognition as a study group in 1983, and its elevation to full research committee status in 1991, RC37 has built a reputation as a hub for critical and cross-cultural inquiry in the field.
Leadership
-
Chair: Dr. Yan Vaslavskiy (Moscow State University, Russia) – vaslavskiy@gmail.com
-
Vice-Chair: Dr. Mark Farha – markfarha2@gmail.com
-
Secretary: Ms. Tlhokomelo R.B. Monethi (Lesotho)
Board Members
-
Baskan Birol (Turkey)
-
Cabrera-Suarez Luz Marina (Canada)
-
Madhi Sudhan Reddy Andem (India)
-
Nadvi Lubna (South Africa)
-
Sohn Thais (Brazil)
This international composition reflects RC37’s commitment to bringing diverse experiences and perspectives into dialogue.
Our Mission
RC37 challenges the reliance on universal models of political development. Instead, it highlights the importance of:
-
Recognising the plurality of development paths shaped by unique historical legacies, cultures, leadership visions, and internal dynamics.
-
Building a deeper understanding of social and cultural contexts that influence development trajectories.
-
Incrementally developing theoretical tools that reflect real-world complexities rather than abstract universals.
Research Focus
RC37’s work spans three interconnected goals:
-
Refining theory: improving the analytical tools used to study political development.
-
Grounding in reality: engaging with empirical evidence of how development processes actually unfold.
-
Cross-cultural perspectives: examining how different societies’ histories and cultures shape distinct developmental outcomes.
At its core, RC37 advances the plea for greater recognition of developmental pluralism, arguing that no single path or model can capture the full richness of societies’ political experiences.