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POL 031 - African Politics

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Political Science and International Relations (English) · Undergraduate

ECTS: 5 T+P+L: 3+0+0 Departmental Elective
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Zeyneb ÇAĞLIYAN İÇENER

Course Objective

How were the national states of Africa formed? What are the various pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial contexts of the politics of the African state? The course introduces students to the theories of imperialism, resistance, military coups, the third world state and genocide in the attempt to understand the diverse experiences of African politics.

Course Content

The students will look at the modern history of Africa through the prisms of indigenous state formation, imperialism, resistance, the third world state, military in politics and genocide.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will become familiar with the historical development of African politics in the last two centuries. They will develop their knowledge of conceptual tools such as imperialism, resistance, the third world state, military politics and genocide.

Teaching Methods

ExpressionQuestion-AnswerDiscussionGroup StudyBrain StormingCase StudyProblem Solving

Assessment & Evaluation

Performance Assignment ( Lab / Workshop / Field Work / Seminar / Presentation / Completion Study / ThesisTesting (Essay / Tests: True-Falls, multiple-choice, short answer, matching)

ECTS / Workload

ActivityQuantityDuration (h)Total Workload
Course Duration (Including Exam Week)16348
Out of Class Study Period16580
Midterm111
Quiz212
Assignment000
Practice000
Final111

Course Schedule

WeekSubjectPreparation
1Introducing African Politics
2Pre-Colonial Political Formations
3Impact of Colonialism
4The Struggle for Independence
5The One Party State and the Post-Colonial Challenge
6State-Socialism and Development
7Pan-Africanism and Third World Ideology
8Mid-Term Exam
9Military Politics
10Ethnic Cleavages and Civil War
11Civil Society and NGOs
12Democracy and Democratisation
13Political Parties and Voting Behaviour
14Religion, Fundamentalism and the State
15Neo-Colonialism in 21st Century
16The African Renaissance