Presenter: Seulki Lim (Dept. of Politics, Bates College)

Since 2022, the Asia-Africa Center at SNUAC has been regularly hosting the “SNU Africa Seminar” series on a monthly basis. The SNU Africa Seminar series aims to promote a deeper understanding of Africa and foster academic exchange by inviting Africa specialists from diverse academic fields and professional backgrounds.

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the 25th SNU Africa Seminar will host Professor Seulki Lim from the Department of Politics at Bates College (USA) for a lecture and discussion on the theme “Power, Gender, and Political Participation in Senegal.” In this seminar, Professor Lim will examine how efforts toward gender-equal political participation are being implemented in West Africa, focusing specifically on the case of Senegal. Her talk will shed light on the social, cultural, and religious challenges that accompany these efforts, as well as the shifting dynamics of power structures in the region. Senegal presents a particularly insightful case, having passed a landmark law in 2010 that mandates gender parity in parliamentary representation—requiring that 50% of seats be held by women. This seminar will explore how such gender equality policies are not merely legal instruments, but how they become embedded within broader societal contexts. Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of the interaction between expanding women’s political participation and traditional gender roles in Senegal. The seminar aims to offer fresh insights into the practical significance of gender equality initiatives in political life.

Professor Seulki Lim is currently a faculty member in the Department of Politics at Bates College, specializing in comparative politics and international relations. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston University in 2020, along with a certificate in African Studies. Her research focuses on women’s political movements and participation in West Africa—especially in Senegal—African feminisms, and the interplay between politics and Islam. Since 2021, she has also served as President of the Emerging Scholars Network within the African Studies Association (ASA).