KITA Discourse Series 2/2020, 3 February 2020

On Monday February 3rd, 2020, KITA Discourse Series No. 2/2020 was held with the following particulars:

Title: Malaysian Politics: Political Theories and Realities
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani (UUM)
Date: 3 February 2020 (Monday)
Time: 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm
Venue: KITA Meeting Room, 4th Flr, Administration Building, Kolej Keris Mas, UKM Bangi

Summary: This talk will evaluate the dilemma of political science studies in Malaysia especially in analysing the Malaysian political theoretically and practically. First is the dilemma of a political scientist who bogged down with partisan politics. Second, we will revisit some theories of politics such as ethnic and class theories. I will explain that the possibility of new theories or new dimension to the existing theories emerged currently in Malaysia. Third, I will look the way forward in Malaysian politics for the better or worst. Let us debate on these three points.

About the Speaker: Professor Dr. Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani specialises in the fields of politics and international relations. He is known as an expert in political theory and philosophy, human rights, civil liberties, media politics, democratisation and Malaysian politics. He was graduated with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Politics and International Relations from Keele University, United Kingdom in 2007. He got his MA in Political Science and BA (Hons) in Political Science and History from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Regarding his career as academic in UUM, Prof. Azizuddin was promoted to Professorship attached with School of International Studies (SOIS), College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS) in 2016 at his aged of 41 years old.

In UUM, he was the Director of Research and Innovation Management Centre (RIMC) from 2017 till 2018. He was the Dean of School of International Studies (SOIS) from 2011 till 2013. He was Senate Member for year 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2017. Besides those positions, he was the Chairman for the Programme of International Affairs in College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS), UUM and Chairman of National Resilience Studies at the Institute of Tun Dr, Mahathir’s Thoughts (IPDM), UUM. In international level, Prof. Azizuddin was awarded with Fellowship Grants (two research grants) and appointed as Visiting Fellow in the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore in 2014. Also in 2014, he was appointed as Visiting Professor at the National Institute of Development and Administration (NIDA), Bangkok, Thailand.

Prof. Azizuddin has published his articles in many journals locally and internationally where 34 of his articles were indexed by ISI, SCOPUS and ERA such as in Japanese Journal of Political Science, Journal of Contemporary Asia, Asian Journal of Political Science, Asian Politics and Policy and Asia Pacific Media Educator. He used to be invited as Advisory Editorial Board for journal Manusia dan Masyarakat (Man and Society) from University of Malaya and Journal of International Studies from UUM. Prof. Azizuddin has produced 13 academic/research books and two of them were published by the ISEAS Singapore.