Charlie Mballa, Dr

Area of Study / Keywords

Primary Research Keywords: 1) Political Legitimacy 2) Democratization and Authoritarianism 3) Global South Politics 4) Comparative Politics 5) International Negotiation Secondary Research Keywords: 1) Africa–Canada Comparative Studies 2) State Authority and Governance 3) Paradiplomacy and Multilevel Governance 4) Diasporas and Political Participation 5) Development and Institutional Capacity Building

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About

Charlie Mballa is an assistant professor of political science at Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ) where he has been teaching since 2017. He holds a doctorate (PhD) in political science from Panthéon – Assas – Paris II University. He previously worked at the École Nationale d'administration Publique du Québec as a postdoctoral fellow (in foreign policy administration), lecturer and research professional. He also holds a degree in public law, obtained at the University of Yaoundé. Charlie is a member of UQAM’s Centre d'études sur l'intégration et la mondialisation, where he leads the Centre d'analyse et de prospective sur les Afriques (Cap-Afriques). His research focuses on global South/ Francophone Africa. Charlie is a founding member of the African and Latin American Research Group (GRAAL) at CSJ, and a Member of the Scientific Committee of the Observatory on Francophone Immigration in Canada (OIFC). His interests have contributed to the enrichment of knowledge in his disciplinary field: (i) Paradiplomatie; (ii) negotiation techniques in the context of multilateral diplomacy; (iii) Canadian foreign policy and Africa; (iv) innovative mechanisms of political legitimacy; and (v) regional integration processes in Africa.

He is the editor of L’État dans les Afriques. État des lieux and co-author of New Foreign Policy (forthcoming), of Nouvelle politique étrangère (PUQ, 2016), La politique étrangère en bon termes. Guide lexical (PUQ, 2016).

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Research

Charlie Mballa’s research focuses on political change, governance, and legitimacy in Africa, with a particular emphasis on contexts where democratic alternation is limited or absent. His work explores the relationship between democracy, development, and political legitimacy, examining how states generate social acceptance and policy effectiveness beyond conventional electoral frameworks.

Drawing on comparative politics, his research integrates African experiences into broader debates on foreign policy transformation, new forms of diplomacy, and alternative models of governance in the Global South. A central objective of his scholarship is to develop innovative analytical tools capable of assessing the social relevance and performance-based legitimacy of public policies, particularly in African contexts undergoing structural and institutional transformation.

His research agenda is both theoretical and applied, combining conceptual reflection with foresight analysis. As co-director of the Groupe de recherche sur les Afriques et l’Amérique latine (GRAAL) and director of the Centre d’analyse et de prospective sur les Afriques (CAP-Afriques), he leads collaborative, interdisciplinary research networks dedicated to understanding African political, social, and economic transitions and their implications for Canada and global governance. These activities include the publication of the quarterly VigieAfriques foresight bulletin, which documents African adaptations to global trends.

Overall, Charlie Mballa’s research contributes to rethinking political legitimacy, governance innovation, and social change in Africa, while strengthening bridges between academic research, public policy, and international cooperation.

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Teaching

Contemporary Political Thought (Pensée politique contemporaine)

This course examines the major debates, paradigms, and intellectual transformations shaping contemporary political thought. It engages critically with questions of democracy, legitimacy, authority, justice, and power in contexts marked by globalization, crisis, and pluralism. Students are introduced to key thinkers from both the Global North and the Global South, with particular attention to postcolonial, critical, and decolonial perspectives. The course emphasizes conceptual clarity, comparative analysis, and the application of political theory to real-world issues such as democratic erosion, populism, governance of the commons, and the political implications of technological change.

Introduction to Political Science (Introduction à la politique)

This foundational course provides students with the essential tools to understand political life at local, national, and global levels. It covers core concepts such as power, institutions, political regimes, public policy, and political participation, while introducing students to the main approaches in political science. Particular emphasis is placed on helping students develop analytical thinking, civic awareness, and methodological literacy, enabling them to interpret political phenomena beyond media narratives and to appreciate the diversity of political systems across regions and cultures.

Globalization and Development (Mondialisation et développement)

This course explores the evolving relationship between globalization and development through interdisciplinary lenses drawn from political science, economics, and sociology. It examines competing theories of development, global inequalities, and the role of international institutions, states, and non-state actors. Special attention is given to Africa and the Global South, addressing issues such as sustainable development, policy transfer, social innovation, and the tensions between global norms and local realities. Students are encouraged to critically assess development models and to propose context-sensitive policy alternatives.

Win-Win Negotiation Strategies (Stratégies de négociation gagnant-gagnant)

This applied course introduces students to the theory and practice of interest-based and collaborative negotiation. Drawing on real-world cases from international diplomacy, public policy, business, and development cooperation, the course equips students with practical tools to analyze power asymmetries, manage conflict, and design mutually beneficial agreements. Particular emphasis is placed on cross-cultural negotiation, ethical considerations, and the role of trust and legitimacy in negotiation outcomes.

This course was first delivered to PhD students at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (Senegal) within the framework of the WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) program, contributing to advanced capacity building for future scholars and practitioners in West Africa.

The course is also offered as part of an international summer institute, bringing together participants from diverse academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds. In this intensive and immersive format, students engage in advanced simulations, policy labs, and role-playing exercises that mirror real-world negotiation settings in international and intercultural contexts. These experiential learning components form a central pillar of the course and reinforce its strong practice-oriented and globally comparative approach.

Assessing Sociopolitical Transformations in Africa

This advanced course focuses on the analysis of contemporary sociopolitical transformations in Africa, including state restructuring, governance innovation, democratization and autocratization, and the role of performance-based legitimacy. Using comparative and empirical approaches, students examine African political trajectories beyond conventional Western-centered indicators of democracy and governance.

The course was offered for the first time to students from Sciences Po Bordeaux (France), in an international and comparative teaching context. It integrates case studies, policy analysis, and data interpretation to help students assess how African societies navigate political and social change in environments shaped by historical legacies, global pressures, and local agency. Particular attention is given to fostering critical reflection, methodological rigor, and the ability to translate academic analysis into policy-relevant insights.

Teaching Philosophy (cross-cutting approach)

Across all courses, Charlie Mballa adopts a comparative, critical, and student-centered pedagogy that bridges theory and practice. His teaching emphasizes:

• the integration of Global South perspectives, particularly African experiences;

• the development of analytical and transferable skills (critical thinking, negotiation, policy analysis);

• the use of interactive methods (debates, simulations, case studies, applied projects);

• the cultivation of civic responsibility and intellectual autonomy.

Call for Collaborators – Community Civic Engagement Program (PEC) I am currently seeking research and community partners to collaborate on a Community Civic Engagement Program (PEC) focused on citizen participation and leadership development in minority-language contexts. Researchers, practitioners, and community organizations are welcome to connect.

Call for Emerging Leaders – Research Groups & Academic Chairs I am looking for motivated young leaders (MA, PhD, postdoctoral fellows, and practitioners) interested in assuming leadership and coordination roles within research groups and chair-related initiatives focusing on Africa, governance, and negotiation.

Call for Peer Reviewers – Academic PublicationsExperienced scholars are invited to serve as evaluators and peer reviewers for upcoming academic publication projects (edited volumes, special issues, and research reports) related to African politics, governance, and development.

Guest Lecturers Wanted – Francophone Field Expertise I am seeking Francophone guest lecturers with strong field-based expertise to contribute to my courses through guest talks, case studies, and practitioner insights, particularly in the areas of Africa, development, governance, and negotiation.

Opportunities for Africa-Focused Research Collaboration Open invitation to scholars and institutions interested in comparative and applied research on sociopolitical transformations in Africa, including legitimacy, governance innovation, and policy effectiveness.

Student Opportunities – Research, Training & Mentorship Graduate students interested in African studies, political legitimacy, and international negotiation are encouraged to reach out regarding research assistantships, mentorship, and participation in international training programs.

International Partnerships – Training & Capacity Building I welcome discussions with universities, research centers, and international organizations interested in co-developing training programs and summer institutes in negotiation, governance, and leadership, particularly involving Africa–Canada partnerships.

Call for Contributions – Knowledge Transfer & Policy Dialogue Researchers and practitioners are invited to contribute to policy-oriented outputs (policy briefs, foresight notes, and applied research) aimed at strengthening knowledge transfer between academia, public institutions, and civil society.

Francophone Academic Network – Join the Conversation I am actively expanding a Francophone academic and professional network dedicated to research, training, and dialogue on Africa, governance, negotiation, and civic engagement. Colleagues interested in joining this dynamic network are encouraged to get in touch.

SC PO 102 - Introduction à la politique

Une introduction aux concepts et enjeux des phénomènes politiques. Sujets étudiés: pouvoir ou influence, démocratie, droits et libertés, idéologie politique, opinion publique, élections, partis politiques, groupes de pression et autres sujets choisis. Note: Ce cours n'est pas accessible aux étudiants ayant ou postulant des crédits pour POL S 100 ou 103.

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SC PO 305 - Pensée politique contemporaine

Survol de l'évolution des idées politiques depuis la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Examen des concepts et des débats contemporains: pouvoir, liberté, égalité, démocratie, participation, citoyenneté, modernisation, féminisme, et justice sociale. Le contenu du cours peut varier d'année en année, mais nous nous engagerons avec des théoriciens comme Beauvoir, Fanon, Foucault, Rawls, Touraine, Laclau, Habermas, Tully, Castells, Fraser, et Crenshaw, entre autres.

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Browse more courses taught by Charlie Mballa

Charlie Mballa

France. 2024 July; 2

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France. 2022 March; 1

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Charlie Mballa et Nelson Michaud

Quebec. 2017 May;

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Charlie Mballa et Nelson Michaud

Quebec. 2016 May;