Syllabus. IR 343 (PO 373): African Politics Today Spring 2017 Boston University MWF 2:30 3:20 STH 113

Transcription

1 Syllabus IR 343 (PO 373): African Politics Today Spring 2017 Boston University MWF 2:30 3:20 STH 113 Professor: Aberra Tesfay Office: BSR 156, Rm 204 Office Hours: MW, 3:30-4:30 & by APP Course Description This course is designed to provide an introduction to the study of contemporary African politics and government. It considers the various approaches used to examine the history of political development on the African continent and it explores the processes and institutions of the African states. The course attempts to answer some important questions about African politics, such as: What are the legacies of colonial rule? Why are African states generally weaker than non-african states? Why do some African countries suffer political violence more frequently than other countries within Africa or elsewhere? Why has democracy been consolidated in certain African countries but regressed or collapsed in others? What accounts for the failures and successes of African countries to achieve adequate economic development? To what extent have international forces influenced the directions of African politics and society? We will also examine some of the dimensions of social change and political reform in post-independence Africa, including factors such as nationalism, ideology, identity politics, the features of African states, the issues of political order, democratization, development, international relations, and the roles of non-governmental institutions and civil society. As we explore these topics, we will strive for a critical and comparative perspective while avoiding extreme positions of Afro-pessimism and Afro-optimism. The course is divided into four main parts. In the first part, we will review Africa s pre-colonial political and economic systems, the colonial legacy and the post-independence political developments. We will then examine the socio-cultural and economic environments that characterize political life in contemporary Africa. In the third part, we will explore the foreign policies and relations of a number of selected African countries. Finally, we will discuss some recent initiatives and reforms by African states designed to address old and new challenges facing the continent.

2 Course Requirements Students are expected to carefully and thoughtfully read all reading assignments before each class and participate actively in discussions. The class format will consist of a combination of lecture, discussion, and multimedia. Your final grade for the course will be determined as follows: 1. Class Attendance and Participation (15%): You are required to attend all classes unless there is a personal, medical or other emergency. To be excused for any absences, you need to show medical or other documentations. Your class participation will be an important component of your grade and learning experience. Each student must come to class on time. Cell phones and all other electronic devices should be silenced and put away at the start of class. Laptop computers must be used only for note taking and wireless access should be disabled during class. During the first week of class, each student is expected to choose one particular African country to follow throughout the course and contribute to class discussions by sharing how their country s politics relates to the topic of each week. 2. Map Quiz (10%): Students are expected to know the name and capital city of each African country, as well as some of the major geographic features of the continent. 3. In-Class Mid-Term Exam (25%): The exam will cover all materials from the first section of the course, including all reading assignments, lecture and class discussion. The exam will be closed-books and closed-notes. 4. Final Take-Home Exam (25%): The exam will consist of short essay questions from the second section of the course, including all required readings, lecture and class discussion. 5. Research Paper (25%): Each student will write an analytical paper on one major theme covered in class about the particular African country they chose to follow at the beginning of the course. To ensure a diverse geographic pool, the country choices will be approved on a first come, first served basis. Also, prior to beginning your paper, please make sure to consult with me about the specific topic that you d like to focus on in your paper. The paper should be 10 to 12 pages long (double-spaced, 12 pt.). No late paper is accepted without prior approval from me or without appropriate documentation. Plagiarism and Academic Honesty Students are expected to provide citations in papers for all quotations, paraphrases, and ideas taken from any sources other than their own original thoughts. You are responsible for knowing the policies contained in the Boston University s Academic Conduct Code regarding cheating and plagiarism and the penalties for such behaviors.

3 Course Textbooks You are required to buy the following two books: Englebert, Pierre and Kevin C. Dunn Inside African Politics. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN: Herbst, Jeffrey States and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control. Princeton University Press. New Edition. ISBN: Recommended Books: Gordon, April A. and Donald L. Gordon (eds.) Understanding Contemporary Africa. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN Cheeseman, Nic Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform. Cambridge University Press. ISBN In addition, you are also expected to keep up daily with current issues and research about Africa by reading news papers and online resources such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, The Economist, BBC, The Christian Science Monitor, the New African, Africa Confidential, All Africa, IRIN news, World Bank, Afrobarometer, Think Africa Press, as well as journals, which include, Africa Today, African Studies Review, African Studies Quarterly, Journal of Modern African Studies, Review of African Political Economy, Third World Quarterly, Journal of African Economies, African Affairs, Journal of African and Asian Studies, and others. All the required articles from academic journals will be posted to Blackboard. Class Schedule and Readings Week One: 01/20 Introduction and Overview Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 1, pp Neff, Jeffrey W Africa: A Geographic Preface, in A. A. Gordon and D. L. Gordon (eds.), Understanding Contemporary Africa, Ch. 2, pp Miguel, Edward, et al Is it Africa s Turn: Progress in the World s Poorest Regions. New Democracy Forum (May/June): pp Week Two: 01/23 01/27 Historical Context Pre-Colonial Africa Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 2, pp Herbst, Ch. 2, pp

4 Shraeder, Peter J Politics and Economics of the Pre-colonial Independence Era (Before 1884), in African Politics and Society, Ch. 2, pp Davidson, Basil. Documentary Film: The Magnificent African Cake, Africa: A Voyage of Discovery. Week Three: 01/30 02/03 Historical Context The Colonial Legacy Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 2, pp Herbst, Ch. 3, pp. 96. Crowder, Michael Indirect Rule: French and British Style. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 34, No. 3, pp Rodney, Walter How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Chapter 5. Dar es Salaam: Bogle-L Ouverture Publications. Week Four: 02/06 02/10 Nationalism and Independence Herbst, Ch. 4, pp Coleman, James Nationalism in Tropical Africa. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp Davidson, Basil. Documentary Film: The Rise of Nationalism, Africa: A Voyage of Discovery. 02/06 Map Quiz Week Five: 02/13 02/17 The African State System Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 4, pp Herbst, Ch. 5, pp Jackson, Robert and Carl G. Rosberg Why Africa's Weak States Persist: The Empirical and the Juridical in Statehood. World Politics, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp Week Six: 02/21 02/24 Identity Politics: Ethnicity, Class and Religion Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 3, pp

5 Chazan, N., P. Lewis, R. A. Mortimer, D. Rothchild, and S. J. Stedman (eds.) Ethnicity, Class, and the State, in Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa, Ch. 4, pp Moyo, Ambrose Religion in Africa, in A. A. Gordon and D. L. Gordon (eds.), Understanding Contemporary Africa, Ch. 11, pp Week Seven: 02/27 03/01 Conflict, Warfare and Conflict Resolution Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 7, pp Gettleman, Jeffrey and Joshua Keating E Africa s Forever Wars. Foreign Policy, 178 (March and April): Strauss, Scott Wars Do End! Changing Patterns of Political Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Affairs, 111/443 (April): /03 Mid-Term Exam 03/06 03/10 Spring Vacation Week Eight: 03/13 03/17 Political Reform and Democratization Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 5, pp Brown, Stephen and Paul Kaiser Democratizations in Africa: Attempts, Hindrances and Prospects. Third World Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp Merz, Jarreth. Documentary Film. An African Election, Ghana s 2008 Presidential Elections. Week Nine: 03/20 03/24 The Political Economy of African States Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 6, pp Collier, Paul and Jan Willem Gunning Why Has Africa Grown Slowly? Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp Africa s Hopeful Economies The Economist, Dec 3 rd.

6 Carbone, Giovanni Marco, Vincenzo Memoli, and Lia Quartapelle Are Lions Democrats? The Impact of Democratization on Economic Growth in Africa, , Democratization, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp Week Ten: 03/27 03/31 Pan Africanism and Regional Integration Omorogbe, Eki Yemisi Can the African Union Deliver Peace and Security? Journal of Conflict and Security Law, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp Adogamhe, Paul G PAN-AFRICANISM Revisited: Vision and Reality of African Unity and Development, African Review of Integration, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp De Melo, Jaime and Yvonne Tsikata Regional Integration in Africa: Challenges and Prospects. Fondation pour les Études et Recherches sur le Développement International. Arthur, Peter New Regionalisms in Africa: Approaches, Challenges, Opportunities and Implications, in Kobena T. Hanson (ed.), Contemporary Regional Development in Africa, Ch. 3, pp Week Eleven: 04/03 04/07 The Politics of Foreign Aid (04/07 Class will be at the African Studies Library) Dunning, Thad Conditioning the Effects of Aid: Cold War Politics, Donor Credibility, and Democracy in Africa. International Organization, Vol. 58, No. 2, pp Ayodele, Thompson, et al African Perspectives on Aid: Foreign Assistance will not pull Africa out of Poverty, Economic Development Bulletin, Cato Institute, No. 2, pp Sachs, Jeffery Can Extreme Poverty Be Eliminated? Scientific American, Vol. 293, pp Week Twelve: 04/10 04/14 African International Relations Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 8, pp Khadiagala, Gilbert M Euro-African Relations in the Age of Maturity, in Harbeson and Rothchild, Ch 12, pp De Walle, Nicolas US Policy Towards Africa: The Bush Legacy and the Obama Administration. African Affairs, Vol. 109, No. 434, pp

7 Week Thirteen: 04/19 04/21 BRICS and Africa Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 8, pp Sautman, Barry and Yan Hairong Friends and Interests: China s Distinctive Links with Africa. African Studies Review, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp Taylor, Ian The BRICS and Africa Rising, in Africa Rising: BRICS Diversifying Dependency, pp Week Fourteen: 04/24 04/28 Women in African Politics Englebert & Dunn, Ch. 3, pp Tripp, Aili Mari, et al., (eds.) African Women s Movements: Transforming Political Landscapes. Ch. 1 and Ch.6, pp. 1-24; Arriola, Leonardo and Martha Johnson What influence do women wield in African governments? Washington Post, 14 May. Week Fifteen: 05/01 05/03 Sustainable Development and the Environment Nyang oro, Julius, E Africa s Environmental Problems, in Gordon & Gordon (eds.)., Understanding Contemporary Africa, Ch. 8, pp Munang, Richard and Jesica Andrew The Next Steps: Africa s Sustainable Development Goals and Their Implication, Environment, Vol. 56, No. 5, pp /03 Term Paper Due 05/04 05/07 Study Days 05/12 Take-Home Final Exam Due