Stephen Chan is a scholar of African politics at SOAS University of London's Department of Politics and International Studies, Centre for Global Media and Communications, and Centre of African Studies. His research spanning multiple areas and disciplines centres on the political thought and practice in Africa. For years, he has taught African Political Thought, Political Thought on the Just Rebellion, Religion and World Politics, and Politics of Africa.

Amongst his numerous books on Africa are African Political Thought An Intellectual History of the Quest for Freedom (Oxford, 2021), Plural International Relations in a Divided World (Cambridge, 2017), Meditations on Diplomacy: Comparative Cases in Diplomatic Practice and Foreign Policy (Bristol, 2017), The End of Certainty: Towards a New Internationalism (London, 2009), Grasping Africa: A Tale of Achievement and Tragedy (London, 2007), Out of Evil: New International Politics and Old Doctrines of War (London & Ann Arbor, 2005; Italian edition: Fuori dal Male: Nuove politiche internazionali e vecchie doctrine di Guerra, Turino, 2005), Citizen of Africa: Conversations with Morgan Tsvangirai (Avondale, 2005), Robert Mugabe: A Life of Power and Violence (Ann Arbor, 2003), Composing Africa: Civil Society and its Discontents (Tampere Peace Research Institute, Finland, 2002).

Chan was also an international civil servant involved with several key diplomatic initiatives in Africa, helping to pioneer modern electoral observation, and continues to be seconded to diplomatic assignments today. Over his academic career, he has twice been Dean at SOAS and has published 35 books and supervised 40 successful PhD theses. He won the 2010 International Studies Association prize, Eminent Scholar in Global Development and broadcasts and lectures internationally.