COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 452: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

University of Ghana

Department of Political Science

Second Semester, 2016/2017 Academic Year

Lecture: Thursdays, 11.30-13.20, JQB 19

Lecturers: Dr. Bossman Asare and Dr. Maame A. A. Gyekye-Jandoh

Office:  HOD’s office and Room 6, Political Science Dept.

E-mail: bossasare@gmsil.com; mgyekyej@yahoo.com

Course Title	Political and Economic Reform and Democracy in Africa
Course Code	POLI 452
Purpose and Objectives	Course Description and Objectives: The course is designed to help upper level undergraduate students understand and appreciate the various political and economic reforms that have characterized politics and public management in Africa south of the Sahara (sub-Saharan Africa). It also explores and examines democratization against the backdrop of the differences in the democratization experiences of the various countries across time and space. This course requires quality participation by all registered students since most class discussions will expect students to give examples of some of the reforms they have heard, read about or seen in sub-Saharan Africa. In essence, students are required to be widely read in order to make meaningful contributions in class. Course Expectations:  Students are expected to complete all assigned readings before class and also participate in class discussions. It is expected that at the end of the semester, students of this course should be able to: discuss the characteristics of democratization in sub-Saharan Africa; understand and analyze elections and electoral systems in the continent; appreciate the role of political institutions in Africa’s democratic process, and be able to critique the various political and economic reforms that the continent has experimented with over time.                 Grading System:             Interim Assessment (IA) — 30%             Final Exam — 70%             Total Mark/Grade — 100% Students should note that academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class (See University Handbook for penalties).
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment
1	Thursday, 2nd   February, 2017	a)      Introductions b)      Course overview		Lecture:  JQB 19
2	9th February, 2017	Democracy in Global and African Perspectives		Lecture:  JQB 19
3	16th February, 2017	Development and Underdevelopment		Lecture:  JQB 19
4	23rd February, 2017	Transitions to Democracy in Africa		Lecture:  JQB 19
5	2nd March, 2017	Political Reforms in the three branches of government (in Africa)		Lecture:  JQB 19
6	9th March, 2017	Elections, electoral systems and reforms in Africa		Lecture:  JQB 19
7	16th  March, 2017	Political Institutions and Democratization in Africa  - The Role of Political Parties		Lecture:  JQB 19	Interim Assessment (30%)
8	23rd March, 2017	Political Institutions and Democratization in Africa – The Role of the Media		Lecture:  JQB 19
9	30th March, 2017	Three Broad Approaches to Economic Transformation		Lecture:  JQB 19
10	6th April, 2017	Spurring Agricultural and Rural Development		Lecture:  JQB 19
11	13th April, 2017	Civil Society/NGOs in Democracy and Development		Lecture:  JQB 19
12	20th April, 2017	Improving Governance, Managing Conflicts and Rebuilding States		Lecture:  JQB 19
13	27th April, 2017	a)      Revision b)     Discussion on the effects of reforms in Africa	Revision	Lecture:  JQB 19
15 - 16	Final Exam (70%)

                                                      

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READINGS

The World Bank (2000). Can Africa claim the 21^st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C.

Gyimah-Boadi, E. (Editor) (2004). Democratic reform in Africa: the quality of progress. Lynne Reinner. 

Lindberg, S. (2006). Democracy and elections in Africa. The Johns Hopkins University Press   

Seitz, J.L. (2008). Global Issues: an introduction, 3^rd edition. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing.

Rose, R. (2005). Learning from comparative public policy: a practical guide. New York: Routledge.       

Payne, R.J. (2007). Global Issues: politics, economics, and culture. New York: Pearson Longman.  

Handelman, H. (2000). The challenge of third world development, 2^nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 

Matthew Lockwood (2006) The state they’re in: an agenda for international action on poverty in Africa, second edition.UK: Practical Action Publishing.  

Asare Bossman (2009) The African Union, Multi-level Governance and Accountability in Africa, Legon Journal of International Affairs, 6 (2), 121-137

Asare, Bossman (2012) Unitarism and Presidentialism: Political Institutions and Corruption in Public Management in Ghana, Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 4(2) pp.32-41.

Alidu, S. and Gyekye-Jandoh, M.A.A. (2016). Civil Society and Democratic Governance in Ghana: Emerging Roles and Challenges. Contemporary Journal of African Studies, 4(1), 1-24.

Gyekye-Jandoh, M A. A. and Asare, B. (2015). The Dynamics of Civil Society-Government Interface in Ghana: 1980-2010. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, 2 (3 and 4), 53-75.

Gyekye-Jandoh, Maame Adwoa A. 2014. "Elections and Democracy in Africa since 2000: An Update on the Pertinent Issues." International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 4. No. 10, 185-193.

Gyekye-Jandoh, Maame A. A. 2013." Electoral Reform and Gradual Democratization in Africa: The Case of Ghana".  African Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 3, Number 2, 74-92.

Gyekye-Jandoh, Maame A. A. (2016). Civic Election Observation and General Elections in Ghana under the Fourth Republic: Enhancing Government Legitimacy and the Democratization Process, in Issues in Ghana’s Electoral Politics (Edited by Kwame A. Ninsin) 35-62

Interim Assessments

Critically examine how sub-Saharan African countries can address their economic developmental challenges with the adoption of best practices in the agricultural sector and technical/vocational education. 

This research paper should be between 1500 and 1700 words long, double space and 12-point font. This is due on the 6^th week of class. The references should not be less than 10 articles/books

Prepare an annotated bibliography of 10 articles/books and present on the 9^th week during class time. The articles/books should be on themes relevant to the class such as Democracy, Development/ Underdevelopment, Corruption, Presidency, Parliament, Elections/Electoral Reforms, Governance, Agric/Rural Development, Institutions, and etc.