Postgraduate Course: Africa and International Politics (PGSP11151)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will examine the nature of Africa's integration into the world economy and political systems and its own regional integration; 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. |
| Course description |
Academic description: Africa in International Politics is an optional course for MSc students. The course examines the politics of Africa's political and economic integration into the world, with a particular focus on how power has shifted between states, regional and international organizations, and the implications of this for our understanding of current developments.
Outline of content: The course will explore Africa's historic international ties and how those have evolved in the post-cold war and post-9/11 period. It will consider these from both political and political economy perspectives.
Student learning experience: The course will be taught seminar style, with students expected to engage in the learning process. Visual resources will also be used, including film.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 30 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Guidelines and marking criteria will be available to students in the course handbook; discussed in class and available online in a pre-recorded lecture capture.
Literature review (40%) - A literature review is a critical engagement with a body of literature. For this assignment students are asked to identify a topic or body of literature and review it critically in 2000 words. This will assist them in focussing on topics, refining research questions, and identifying appropriate sources.
Literature Review Assessment Criteria:
The following are the criteria through which the assignment will be marked. However, it is important to note that the overall mark is a result of a holistic assessment of the assignment as a whole.
¿ Does the review identify an appropriate focus and range of sources?
¿ Does the review go beyond listing or summarizing sources? Does it tell us how they relate to each other? Explain how authors advance their argument? Tell us where the debate is going? Engage critically with the authors?
¿ Does the assignment tell us how methodologies and theoretical approaches differ in the different studies?
¿ Does the review show a grasp of the relevant concepts and knowledge?
¿ Does the review move beyond telling us about the topic and tell us how academic authors have explored and debated the topic?
¿ Does the review use a logical and effective pattern of argument to explore the literature?
¿ Is the review adequately presented in terms of: correct referencing and quoting, spelling, grammar, and style?
Essay (60%) - This will be a research essay, maximum length 3000 words, in which students will be expected to identify their own topic, formulate an appropriate research question and identify a good range of sources, going beyond the provided readings.
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| Feedback |
Written advice and feedback will be provided to students on their literature review, supplemented by additional feedback provided during course organiser¿s guidance and feedback hours. Students will receive summative written feedback on their research paper, submitted at the end of the course. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature of Africa's integration into the world economy and political systems during the Cold War and post-cold War periods.
- Analyse various forms of evidence and data to asses the changing relations within and between Africa's states, regions and non-African states
- Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in planning and executing a significant research project on a theme related to Africa's international politics
- Communicate, using appropriate methods, with peers and experts through oral and written participation and assessments the principal debates in the study of Africa's international politics.
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Reading List
A. Niang (2018) The Postcolonial African State in Transition Stateness and Modes of Sovereignty
S R Dorman, Ed. (2018) Beyond the Gatekeeper state? Studying Africa¿s states and state systems in the twenty-first century. Third World Quarterly Thematics
C. Clapham, (1996). Africa and the International System. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
In alignment with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 11, graduates will have the following attributes.
1. Critical thinking, analytical and reading skills will be developed by critically analysing academic debates, supplemented by historical and contemporary primary sources.
2. Advanced research skills will be developed by identifying and consulting a wide range of primary and secondary data sources in preparing the research paper.
3. Effective written and oral communication skills will be developed by completing the assessments and contributing to the seminars.
4. Student will become better global citizens by developing an advanced understanding of the international politics of Africa.
5. Students will become more critically aware of gaps and limitations in the mainstream academic disciplines of international relations and politics.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sara Dorman
Tel: (0131 6)50 4239
Email: sara.dorman@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Gillian MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 3244
Email: gillian.macdonald@ed.ac.uk |
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