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 invites students to critically engage with major issues around Africa in world politics. We will discuss key ideas that have shaped the perception of Africa in international politics, and critically evaluate the various theoretical lenses through which Africa¿s entanglement with the world has been studied. Starting from the assumption that world politics go well beyond relations between states, and also beyond formal institutions, we will examine a variety of issues ranging from African states¿ bilateral relations with the UK or China and transnational networks of struggle to governance by non-state actors. Beyond examining how Africa is affected by international politics, we will look at African agency and creativity in shaping world politics. The course combines lectures and seminars. The lectures are shared with honors students. The seminar is the core element of this MSc course and will be built around students¿ engagement with theories and case studies. |
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
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
-Understand Africa¿s integration into the world economy and political systems after 1945.
-Situate African political processes in their international social, political and economic context and account for how the global and the local is interconnected in contemporary African politics.
-Critically examine the utility, strengths and weaknesses of major concepts and theories to understand Africa in international politics.
-Be able to use different methodological and theoretical lenses in order to examine empirical case, and to evaluate or generate theory through engagement with cases. |
Assessment Information
Participation - 10%
Presentation - 10%
Research Essay - 80% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Week 1: Introduction to Africa in world politics
Week 2: How to approach Africa in world politics?
Week 3: Sovereignty, the African state and world politics
Week 4: Africa and global (in)security I: Cold War
Week 5: Africa, the global economy and WP
Week 6: Inter-state and transnational conflict in Africa
Week 7: Africa and global (in)security II: post-1989 and post-9/11
Week 8: Transnational networks of struggle in Africa
Week 9: ¿Real¿ governance ¿beyond¿ the state?
Week 10: New directions ¿ same questions? |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
If you have not taken any previous courses in African Politics, please consult:
*Englebert, P. and Dunn, K.C. (2013) Inside African Politics, Lynne Rienner [HUB]
Williams, G. (2002) Africa in Retrospect or Prospect, Africa South of the Sahara, London: Routledge [e-reserve]
Allen, C. (1995) ¿Understanding African Politics¿ Review of African Political Economy [e-reserve]
Thomson, A. (2000, 2004, 3rd ed. 2010) Introduction to African Politics, London: Routledge
If you have not taken any previous courses in International Relations, please consult:
*McGowan, P.J., S. Cornelisson & P. Nel eds. (3rd ed. 2006) Power, wealth and global equity: an international relations textbook for Africa, Captetown: Cape Town University Press [HUB RESERVE]
Edkins, J. and Zehfuss, M. (2009) Global Politics: A New Introduction, London: Routledge.
Dunne, T.,Kurki, M. and Smith, S. (2007) International Relations Theories : Discipline and Diversity, Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press [HUB RESERVE].
Recommended texts and introductory books on Africa in global politics:
**Clapham, C. (1996) Africa and the International System, Cambride: Cambridge University Press.
**Callaghy, T.M.,Kassimir, R. and Latham, R. (2001) Intervention and Transnationalism in Africa. Global-Local Networks of Power, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [E-BOOK].
**Dunn, K.C. and Shaw, T.M. eds. (2001, 2nd edition 2013) Africa¿s Challenge to International Relations Theory, Basingstoke, Hampshire [a.o.]: Palgrave [HUB].
*Cornelissen, S.,Cheru, F. and Shaw, T.M. (2012) Africa and International Relations in the 21st Century, Houndsmill, Basingstoke, Hampshire [UK] ; New York: Palgrave Macmillan [E-BOOK).
*Harbeson, J. and Rothchild, J. eds. (2003 or 2013 editions) Africa in World Politics, Boulder: Westview Press [HUB RESERVE].
Ellis, S. (2011) Season of Rains. Africa in the World, London: Hurst.
On inter-national relations of African states with the North and BRICS countries, see:
Engel, U. and Olsen, R. (2005) Africa and the North. Between Gobalization and Marginalization, London: Routledge [RESERVE].
Taylor, I. and Williams, P. eds. (2004) Africa in International Politics, London: Routledge [RESERVE.
Taylor, I. (2010) The International Relations of Sub-Saharan Africa, London: Continuum [RESERVE]
Twitter account:
@afr_pol If you are on twitter, please follow this account. If not, please remember to check the twitter feed via the link on Learn.
Further reading material is provided in the course handbook uploaded on Learn. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
One weekly hour and a half 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 Jana Hoenke
Tel: (0131 6)50 9925
Email: J.Hoenke@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Fraser Maxwell
Tel: (0131 6)51 5066
Email: Fraser.Maxwell@ed.ac.uk |
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