Skip to main content

Politics of Africa (359-0-20)

Instructors

Zekeria Ahmed Salem Denna
620 Library Place, Room 204

Meeting Info

Parkes Hall 224: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This course is an introduction to politics in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa. The core questions
framing the course are: What is African about African politics? How do colonial legacy and international political economy shape African states? How is politics practiced on the continent? What explains Africa's uneven economic trajectories and diverse patterns of conflicts? How to explain the large variation within Africa in the strength of the state, the levels of economic growth and respect for democratic institutions? What role identities (ethnic, religious and class) play out in politics? What are the current dilemmas and questions in African politics? The course is organized around the following themes: the formation of the state in Africa; the practice of power, regime types and forms of government, the role of religion, identity and politics; the challenges of development and the economic dimensions of African politics; authoritarianism and democratic experiments; violence, terror, and security; Africa in world politics. While the course is not designed as a study of individual countries, in exploring the themes and trends that dominate politics across Africa, we draw on case studies from a variety of countries on the continent.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:

  • Acquire foundational knowledge about politics in Sub-Saharan Africa from colonial rule to the present.

  • Assess the respective role of history, political economy, and social change play in African politics.

  • Assess and critique the adequation between concepts of comparative politics and the political realities of the region in order to identify alternative explanations for key developments in the region using accurate evidence.

  • Discuss and contrast countries both within the region and with countries and political developments elsewhere.

  • Create reports and write political briefs on politics within individual African countries and regions.

  • Write on and explain politics in Africa through case studies and comparison.

Teaching Method

Lecture

Evaluation Method

  1. Participation: 30%.

  2. Country expertise exercises: 30 %.

  3. African Novel Book Review: 10 %.

  4. Open book/take home/Country report/Final Paper: 30%.

Class Materials (Required)

Kevin C. Dunn and Pierre Englebert. 2019. Inside African Politics. 2nd edition. Paperback. Boulder, Co. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1626378070.

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area