Department of Social Sciences

Politics of Africa- POLS 4453

Semester: SPRING 2009

Instructor: Dr. Augustine E. Ayuk

Office: G 110-P Arts and Sciences

Email: AugustineAyuk@clayton.edu  

Office Phone: (678) 466-4848

Office Hours: 10:45am-11:45am.

Class Hours: 3:00pm-4:15pm Monday and Wednesday or by appointment

COURSE OUTLINE

Introduction

This course provides an introductory overview of the contemporary governments, politics, political economy of Africa. It begins with a review of contending theoretical and analytical perspectives regarding Africa. It seeks to address (a) the origins and contemporary features of Africa’s (Sub-Saharan), political and economic situation, (b) the socio-economic bases of contemporary politics, and (c) policies and proposals aimed at confronting and transforming the continent’s current realities

Learning Outcomes

Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of current Sub-Saharan African political systems; their historic origins and current positions both regionally and internationally. Furthermore, students must be able to critically evaluate the roles of history, culture, gender, ethnicity, war, environmental degradation, migration patterns, religion and poverty in the state formation of African nations. Students are required to demonstrate knowledge of the historic and current relationship between Africa (Sub-Saharan) and the United States. Lastly, students are expected to develop and demonstrate expertise on one country in Africa.

Design

The course has a lecture-discussion format. Introductory lectures will outline the central issues to be addressed in the various sections, and the lectures will be followed by informed discussions and debates. The instructor will lead the discussion on clashing perspectives designed to focus on controversial topics. Student will take a stand/position on each topic, arguing for or against, based on facts. Students are expected to read all required materials, and be in a position to engage intellectually in these discussions. ( if time permits, we will watch videos on course-related topics, to parallel and complement our textbook and other readings).

Course Requirements

Students are expected to attend classes regularly and on time, hand in assignments as scheduled. In addition to the prescribed text, the instructor will hand supplemental materials to the students periodically, including video documentaries. Student will be responsible for all class materials in the event of an absence. Any absence in excess of three (3), without approval of the instructor, will result in loss of participation points. Make-up test will be given only in the case of a documented medical or personal emergency. Questions in the make-up test may be different from the origin questions. Make-up test shall be given to a student within two days of the originally scheduled test day/date.

Adjustment in Course Schedule :

Every effort will be made to follow the course schedule outline, however, the instructor reserve the right to make some adjustments as circumstances dictate. Students will be notified of change in schedule if unforeseen or uncontrollable events occur (illness, weather, travel).

Students will be evaluated on the following:

Two test @ 15% each = 30%

Final exam @ 25% = 25%

Written research report and oral presentation = 20%

Written summaries and critique of articles = 15%

Attendance and participation = 10%

Research paper and oral presentation: Student will submit a research paper on a topic selected by the student with approval from the instructor. The deadline for topic is February 19^th 2009. Paper should not be less than fifteen (10) pages and should not exceed twenty (15) pages, typed and double-spaced. Paper must conform to the APSA style or guidelines.( You can consult The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors and Publishers 15^th edition. ) Student must give credit to sources of information. No more than three Internet sources will be accepted. Papers will be due April 16^th .

Students will also be assigned articles in the course of the semester, will be asked to summarize and critique the articles. Guidelines will be provided to the students before commencement of assignment.

April A. Gordon and Donald L. Gordon. Understanding Contemporary Africa, 4 ed., Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2007.

COURSE OUTLINE/READINGS

January 13-15

* Introduction to the course, geography of Africa

January 19 MLK Jr. Holiday, no class

January 20-22 (article # 1 due on the 22^nd )

Historical Context

January 27-29 African Politics

* Article # 2: Africa United: Not hopeless, not helpless (page 222- 225).

* Clashing Perspectives: Is Africa a lost cause?

* Article # 3: A new generation of African leaders (261-265)

February 3 -5 (article # 2 due on Feb. 5) Review for test # 1

* Article # 4: Sudan’s Ragtag Rebels (276-278)

February 10 TEST # 1 (article # 3 due)

February 12-17 (article # 3 due)

The Economies of Africa

* Clashing Perspectives (a): Have Structural Adjustment Policies been effective at promoting development in Africa?

* Clashing Perspectives (b): Should developed countries provide debt relief to the poorest, indebted African nations?

February 19-26 ( articles 4 and 5 due)

Population, Urbanization and AIDS (7)

* Article # 7: Death Stalks a Continent (245-253)

March 3-5 Africa’s Environmental Problems (8)

* Clashing Perspectives: (a) Is Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing a deforestation crisis?

* Are abundant mineral resources a catalyst for African underdevelopment?

March 9-15 SPRING BREAK, NO CLASSES

March 17-19 (Article # 5 & 6 due on the 19^th ) (review of chapters 5, 7 and 8 for test # 2

March 26-31 (Article # 7 due )

April 21-24 Oral presentation of papers to classmates

Final examination schedule will not be altered for the sake of convenience to a student. A student can request change of time and date for a final exam only for serious personal or family reason(s), backed by appropriate documentation. Student must receive approval from the instructor, the appropriate department head/dean.

Student may also request a change of date and time for final exam if there is a conflict with another class that cannot be resolved.

Student who shows up late in a test or final exam will not be granted extra time to finish his/her work

Sites for Africa

The following sources will assist you in getting up- to-date materials on Africa.

African Studies (University of Penn.) http://www.sas.upenn.edu/Africa

Harvard Africa Studies      http://www.fas.Harvard.edu/cafrica/

Berkeley-Stanford Joint Center for African Studies   http://www-porfolio.stanford.edu/103667

African Studies Internet Resources-Columbia http://www.columbia.edu/cu/liraries/indiv/area/Africa/

Northwestern University http://www.nwu.edu/african-studies

CONTEMPORARY NEWS UPDATES

African News Online    http://www.africannews.org/index.html

Electronic News on Africa (Columbia University)   

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/liraries/indiv/area/Africa/ejournals.html

Washington Post- Africa Regional Page http://www.washintonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/africa.htm

New York Times http://www.nyt.com

OTHER RELEVANT SITES

Boston University http://www.bu.edu/afr/

Central Connecticut State University http://www.ccsu.ctstateu.edu/afstudy

Center for International Policy http://www.herald.com/content/today/news/americas/content.htm

Miami Herald http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/info/newsroom

 Lanic organizes news reports by "hot topic" http://info.lanic.utexas.edu/la/region/news

 Lanic identifies news sources by country

Gov’t agencies, and regional and international organizations -SELA

http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/project/sela/links.htm

Latin American Embassies in Washington, D.C. http://clac.state.mn.us/english/bdemb.htm

Research Centers in Latin America http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~g-munck/research_centers.htm

Data, and Documents on Latin America

Handbook of Latin American Studies-Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/hlas/

Latin America and Caribbean Gov’t Documents Project http://lib1.library.cornell.edu/colldev/ladocshome.html

Political Data of the Americas-Georgetown University/OAS  http://www.georgetown.edu/pdba

Country Background Notes-U.S. Department of State

http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/whabgnhp,html

Official U.S. Documents, Speeches, and Resources.

http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/ar/arhtm

SOME GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION ARTICLES AND BOOKS

The following is a set of questions one might use to guide one’s thinking about scholarly materials such as articles and books. The questions are the kind one often encounters in "political theory," but they have very general application.

1. What is the purpose of the writing?

Is it a report of some event or some research?

Is it a polemic?

Just what is the author trying to do?

2. What are the basic assumptions/assertions that underlie this piece?

a. Are these assumptions made clear? Are they explicit? Implicit?

b. Do these assumptions constitute a system? Are they consistent with each other?

c. To what extent are these assumptions well founded? Are they acceptable?

3. What is the basis theme/argument/thesis of this piece of work?

a. What is the author trying to sell?

What are the basic components of/stages in the presentation of the theme/argument/thesis

Are the subcomponents of the presentation internally consistent?

4. What is the character and quality of the evidence presented in support of the theme/argument/thesis?

Is the evidence presented in a manner, which makes it easy to understand?

Is the evidence appropriate and adequate for the task required of it?

Is the evidence convincing?

Is the author honest in the presentation and use of the evidence?

Does the author note counter-evidence? Alternative explanations?

5. What are the major findings of the work?

Are these findings consistent:

With each other?

With the underlying assumptions?

With the theoretical and conceptual reference points?

With the evidence presented?

6. Are these findings important?

a. Which of the findings are appropriate for uses (of this class, of the inquiry you are making, of the theory you are exploring, of the paper you are writing etc.)?

b. Which findings if any, are worth remembering and making part of your personal intellectual development?

7. Overall, what is important about this piece of work?

Contributions to an overall understanding of the field/literature?

Contributions to the theories/concepts of the field?

Contributions to the testing of theories and concepts of the field?

Contributions to problem solving/ policy making?

Other contributions?

8. Overall, what is the quality of this piece of work?

Stylistically?

Methodologically?

Conceptually?

Theoretically?

Substantively?

9 Are you convinced of the major points:

Why or why not?

In spite of imperfections, is this article/book worth reading and thinking about?

NB: This last point is vital. Sometimes the worst kind of articles, discussions,

TOPICS FOR RESEARCH PAPER

1. PAN-AFRICANISM, SADC

2. ECOMOG, ECOWAS, OAU, NEPAD

3. STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM (SAP)

4. IMPORT SUBSTITUTION INDUSTRIALIZATION ( ISI)

5. ethnicity in the politics of African states

6. The debt crisis in Africa: its causes and implications for development.

7. Role of the military in African politics