1.0 COURSE DECSRIPTION

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1 UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IRL 3060: AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Korwa Gombe Adar LECTURES: MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS: 3: 30-5:10: RM LT1 OFFICE: OFFICE HOURS: 1.MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS: 13:00-15:00 2.TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS: 14:00-17:00 3.BY APPOINTMENT TELEPHONE: or 1.0 COURSE DECSRIPTION The decolonization of Africa has, in many respects, provided opportunities for the continent to place itself in the global arena. Notwithstanding the ubiquitous national, regional and global challenges which the continent has and continues to face, Africa remains a visible player in global affairs. African International Relations course, therefore, exposes students to these complexities. 2.0 PURPOSE OF THE COURSE The main purpose of the course is to provide the participants with a clear understanding of African International Relations. The post-cold War era is witnessing a movement towards participatory approach to national, regional and global issues by the African states. At the national level state and non-state actors in Africa are becoming increasingly involved in decision-making process, putting into question conceptions that associate African International Relations and African foreign policy in particular with big man syndrome. Within the regional context the African states are broadening their involvement in a number of socio-cultural, econo-political and security issue areas through bilateral and multilateral diplomatic initiatives. At the global level the African states and non-state actors are, for example, engaged in the debate geared towards the transformation and democratization of the United Nations system. 3.0 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of the course each participant should be able to: Critically explain the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of African International Relations Demonstrate a clear understanding of African International Relations Identify Africa- related issue areas and analyze them from conceptual and theoretical perspectives Employ IR-oriented methodological skills/tools to analyze African International Relations Exchange views on an equal footing with peers from other universities on issue areas associated with African International Relations Review empirical literature applicable to the course 1

2 4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES In order to fulfil the purpose of the course, the participants are: To be exposed to the theoretical potency of African International Relations To be exposed to the limitations and complexities inherent in the nature of African International Relations and International Relations in general To be familiar with the methodological applications employed by scholars in the field 5.0 COURSE REQUIREMENTS The participants are expected to: Read all weekly assignments prior to coming to class Read beyond the assigned materials Participate in class discussions Be familiar with the names and contributions of scholars in the field, particularly classical works 6.0 COURSE CONTENT Reading Materials 1. Adar, Korwa G and Ajulu, Rok (eds.), Globalization and Emerging Trends in African States Foreign Policy-Making: A Comparative Perspective of Southern Africa (Aldershort: Ashgate, 2002). 2. Adar, Korwa G and Schraeder, Peter J (eds.), Globalization and Emerging Trends in African Foreign Policy: A Comparative Perspective of Eastern Africa, Vol. II (New York: University Press of America, 2007). 3. Brown, Chris, Understanding International Relations, rev. ed (New York: Palgrave, 2001). 4. Brown, Seyom, International Relations in a Changing Global System: Toward a Theory of the World Polity (Boulder: Westview press, 1992). 5. Clapham, Christopher, Africa and the International system: The Politics of State Survival (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996). 6. Furley, Oliver (ed.), African Interventionist States (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2001). 7. Dunn, Kevin C and Shaw, Timothy M (eds.), Africa s Challenge to International Relations Theory (New York: Palgrave, 2001). 8. Gordon, April A and Gordon, Donald, L (eds.), Understanding Contemporary Africa (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 1996). 9. Khadiagala, Gilbert M and Lyons, Terrence (eds.), African Foreign Policies: Power and Process (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2001). 10. McGowan, Patrick J, Cornelissen, Scarlett and Nel, Philip, Power, Wealth and Global Equity: An International Relations Textbook for Africa (Cape Town: Institute for Global Dialogue and the University of Cape Town Press, 2006). 11. Munene, G. M, Olewe Nyunya, J. D and Adar, K. G (eds.), The United States and Africa: From Independence to the End of the Cold War (Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers, 1995). 2

3 12. Nicholson, Michael, International Relations: A Concise Introduction (New York: Palgrave, 1998). 13. Schraeder, Peter J, African Politics and Society: A Mosaic in Transformation (New York: St. Martin s, 2000). 14. Shivji, Issa, Let the People Speak: Tanzania Down the Road to Neoliberalism 15. Dougherty, James E and Pfaltzgraff, Robert L, Contending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1981). 16. Murithi, Timothy, The African Union: Pan-Africanism, peacebuilding and Development (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005). 6.1 Week One (January 11 and 13) Introduction: contextualising Africa as a sub-system in International Relations African states, sovereignty and elements thereof Statehood/nationhood and limitations Westphalian system and African International Relations Reading Assignments Adar in McGowan, Cornelissen and Nel, op. cit. Chapter5 Dunn, in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 4 Malaquias, Assis, in Dunn and Shaw, op.cit, chapter 2 Grovogui, Siba, N, in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 3 Brown, Chris, relevant pages Brown, Seyum, chapters 1 and 2 Clapham, pp Schoeman, Maxi in McGowan, Cornelissen and Nel 2006, chapter 12 Nicholson, Chapter 1 and relevant pages Dougherty and Pfaltzgraff, relevant pages Learning Outcomes Define and explain the conceptual meanings of sovereignty, quasi-sovereignty and nationhood To what extent is the Westphalian system relevant to Africa today? 6.2 Week 2 (January 18 and 20) Theoretical perspectives and African International Relations Realism/neo-realism Reading Assignments Clark, John F, in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 6 MacLean, Sandra J, in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 10 3

4 Clapham, relevant pages Dougherty and Pfaltzgraff, relevant pages Schraeder, chapter 1 Brown, Chris, chapters 1 and Learning Outcomes Explain the conceptual and theoretical meanings of realism and neo-realism Critically assess the extent to which realism and neo-realism are useful tools in understanding African International Relations. 6.3 Week 3 (January 25 and 27) Liberalism and neo-liberalism Relevance to African International Relations Reading Assignments Nkiwane, Tandeka C in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 7 Clapham, relevant pages Schraeder, chapter 2 and relevant pages Brown, Chris, chapters 1 and Learning Outcomes Explain the meaning of liberalism and neo-liberalism 6.4 Week 4 (February 1 and 3) Dependency school Relevance to African International Relations Reading Assignments Clark, John F, in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 6 MacLean, Sandra J, in Dunn and Shaw, op. cit, chapter 10 Clapham, relevant pages Schraeder, chapters 1 and 2 Brown, chapters 1 and 2 Nicholson, chapter Learning Outcomes Critically assess the relevance and theoretical potency of dependency in relation to African International Relations 6.5 Week 5 (February 8 and 10) Towards continental unity 4

5 Pan-Africanism Organization of African Unity/Charter African Union/Constitutive Act Reading Assignments Murithi, relevant pages Clapham, chapter 5 Schraeder in Gordon and Gordon, op. cit, chapter Learning Outcomes What is Pan-Africanism and discuss its evolution To what extent was the OAU Charter a hindrance to African unity? In what way is the AU s Constitutive Act different from the OAU Charter/ 6.6 Week 6 (February 15 and 17) African foreign policy foreign policy-making process Continental contexts Impact of ideology Reading Assignments Adar and Schraeder 2007, chapter 1 and conclusion Adar and Ajulu 2002, chapter 1 Schraeder 2000, chapters 8 and 13 Khadiagala and Lyons, chapters 1 and 10 Clapham, chapter 4 Du Plessis, Anton in McGowan, Cornelissen and Nel 2006, op. cit, chapter Learning Outcomes What is ideology? What are the underlying elements inherent in African States foreign policy 6.7 Week 7 (February 22-27): MID-TERM EXAMINATIONS MID-TERM EXAMINATION FOR THIS COURSE: 22 FEBRUARY Week 8 (March 1 and 3) Kenya s foreign policy Regional and global contexts Reading Assignments 5

6 Adar in Adar and Schraeder 2007, chapter 4 Adar in Munene, Olewe Nyunya and Adar 1995, chapter Learning Outcomes Identify and discuss the enduring principles of Kenya s foreign policy What role do the domestic actors play in Kenya s foreign policy-making process? Group Presentation (See Handout) 6.9 Week 9 (March 8 and 10) Uganda s foreign policy Liberalisation and foreign policy Regional and global contexts Reading Assignments Okoth, P. G in Adar and Schraeder 2007, chapter 7 Othman, Haroub and Nassali, Maria Toward Political Liberalisation in Uganda (Kampala: Fountain Publishers, 2002). Oden, 1993, relevant chapters Okoth, P. G in Munene, Olewe Nyunya and Adar 1995, chapter Learning Outcomes What are the key factors that influence Uganda s foreign policy? Discuss the regional and global contexts of Uganda s foreign policy Group Presentation (See Handout) 6.10 Week 10 (March 15 and 17) Tanzania s foreign policy Tanzania-Uganda relations under the Nyerere Presidency Regional and global contexts Reading Assignments Miti, Katabari in Adar and Schraeder 2007, chapter 6 Oden, 1993 relevant chapters Shivji, entire Furley, Oliver and May, Roy in Furley 2001, chapter 4 6

7 Learning Outcomes What is the significance of personality traits in understanding the postindependence foreign policy of Tanzania Group Presentation (See Handout) 6.11 Week 11 (March 22 and 24 South Africa s foreign policy Southall in Furley 2001 Regional and global contexts Reading Assignments Nel, Philip in Adar and Ajulu 2002, chapter 9 Le Pere, Garth and Van Nieuwkerk, Anthoni, in McGowan, Cornelissen and Nel, 2006, op. cit, 14 Le Pere, Garth and Van Nieuwkerk, Anthoni in Adar and Ajulu 2002, chapter Learning Outcomes Identify and discuss the key elements associated with South Africa s foreign policy Discuss South Africa s foreign policy interests in the region Group Presentation (See Handout) 6.12 Week 12 (March 29 and 31) Foreign policy of Zimbabwe Regional and global context Reading Assignments Adar, Korwa G, Ajulu, Rok and Onyango, Moses O in Adar and Ajulu 2002, chapter 13 Oden 1993, relevant chapters Learning Outcomes 7

8 Using specific examples, explain the extent to which executive dominance is an important factor in understanding Zimbabwe s foreign policy What are Zimbabwe s regional foreign policy interests? Group Presentation (See Handout) 6.13 Week 13 (April 5 and 7) Malawi s foreign policy Regional and global context Reading Assignments Kaunda, Jonathan M in Adar and Ajulu 2002, chapter Learning Outcomes What are the internal and external factors that influence Malawi s foreign policy? What are the key regional and global foreign policy interests of Malawi? 6.14 Week 14 (April 12-17) FINAL EXAMINATIONS 7.0 TEACHING METHODOLOGY The teaching methodology will comprise of and not limited to class lectures, active participation by the students and group presentations. Group topics/assignments will be provided during the second week of the Semester. Students are advised to adhere strictly to the issues of punctuality and class attendance. Any student who misses 5 classes during the Semester shall receive an F as the final grade. Unless otherwise advised and/or permitted by the lecturer, assignments shall be due on the stipulated dates. There shall be no exceptions to the rule. 8.0 COURSE EVALUATION Attendance and Participation 10% Group Presentation 15% Term Paper 20% Mid-Term Examination 25% Final Examination 30% TOTAL 100% 8.1 TERM PAPER (Due date: On or before April 8 at 14:00 hrs) You are expected to submit a-typed term paper which should not be more than 4000 words on a topic approved by the lecturer. A one page outline of the topic is due on or before 10 February Provide a clear structure of the paper in the outline, eg: title/topic; introduction; sub-headings, and conclusion. Do not plagiarise. The ideas 8

9 which are not your own must be cited/acknowledged, with direct quotations indicated by quotation marks. Direct quotations which are four lines or more must be indented and single-spaced. Adhere strictly to the due date for the submission of the term papers. Extensions will be granted for compelling reasons and only if prior arrangement is made with the lecturer. Late submission of term papers will be penalised as follows: 10 points for the first day 5 points for each subsequent day 9.0 GRADING SYSTEM (see USIU Catalogue, p. 46) A A B B B C C C D D D F