Postgraduate Course: Africa and International Politics (PGSP11151)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course examines contemporary African politics in national, regional, international and global contexts through several disciplinary perspectives, including political economy, sociology, and history. The course will examine the nature of Africa's integration into the world economy and political systems; the cold war and post-cold war periods; the changing relations within and between Africa's states and regions; and changing relations between Africa's States and external organizations. No prior knowledge of African politics or economics is assumed. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- to understand the nature of Africa's integration into the world economy and political systems from independence to the present.
- to analyse and explain the changing relations within and among Africa's states, regions, non-state actors and non-African states.
- to situate African political processes in their international social, political and economic context. |
Assessment Information
| The course will be assessed by one 4000 word written assignment. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Week 1: Africa in the World: Africa's Challenge to Political and Social Sciences
Week 2: From the Cold War to 9/11: Africa and global security
Week 3: France and UK: Postcolonial dynamics
Week 4: Peacekeeping and humanitarian intervention
Week 5: Natural resources: curse, conflict, and causes
Week 6: Development, economic crisis and structural adjustment
Week 7: Governance, state failure, and state reconstruction
Week 8: Healthcare crises and policy responses
Week 9: Trade: shifting goalposts?
Week 10: Varieties of regionalism and regional cooperation |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
If you have not taken any previous courses in African Politics, please consult:
Gavin Williams, "Africa in Retrospect or Prospect," Africa South of the Sahara. (2002) Ref. DT351 Afr.
Chris Allen, "Understanding African Politics" Review of African Political Economy v. 22, no. 66 (1995): 301-320 [RESERVE] http://www.jstor.org/stable/4006214?seq=1
If you have not taken any previous courses in International Relations, please consult:
Patrick J. McGowan & Philip Nel, eds. Power, wealth and global equity: an international relations textbook for Africa (2002, 2006) [RESERVE]
Recommended texts (on reserve and available at WordPower and Blackwells)
Christopher Clapham Africa and the International System (1996)
John Harbeson and Donald Rothchild, Africa in World Politics: the African State System in Flux (2008)
Patrick J. McGowan & Philip Nel, eds. Power, wealth and global equity: an international relations textbook for Africa (2002, 2006)
Ian Taylor and Paul Williams, eds. Africa in International Politics (2004)
Naomi Chazan et al, Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa 3rd ed. (1999) Parts 3&4.
Alex Thomson An Introduction to African Politics (2000, 2004) |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
One weekly two-hour seminar. There will be a half-hour to hour-long lecture on the topic, followed by one or more student presentations and Q&A. Students will prepare short presentations (individually or in groups, depending on topic and/or class size) on case studies related to the topic for each week: specifically, students will choose an issue and a country (or countries) for further discussion. Topics and case studies will be decided in Week 1. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sara Dorman
Tel: (0131 6)50 4239
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Madina Howard
Tel: (0131 6)51 1659
Email: |
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