COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR
POLI 452: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA
University
of Ghana
Department
of Political Science
Second
Semester, 2017/2018 Academic Year
Lecture: Thursdays, 11.30-13.20, JQB
23
Lecturers:
Dr. Bossman Asare and Dr. Maame A. A. Gyekye-Jandoh
Office: HOD’s office and Room 6, Political Science
Dept.
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Course Title
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Political and Economic Reform and
Democracy in Africa
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Course Code
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POLI 452
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Purpose and Objectives
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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:
S 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).
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Week No.
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Date
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Lecture Course
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Tutorials
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Venue
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Assessment
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1
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Thursday, 8th February, 2018
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a)
Introductions
b)
Course overview
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Lecture: JQB 23
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2
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15th February, 2018
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Democracy in Global and African
Perspectives
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Lecture: JQB 23
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3
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22nd February, 2018
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Development and Underdevelopment
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Lecture: JQB 23
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4
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1st March, 2018
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Transitions to Democracy in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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5
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8th March, 2018
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Political Reforms in the three
branches of government (in Africa)
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Lecture: JQB 23
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6
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15th March, 2018
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Elections, electoral systems and reforms
in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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7
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22nd March, 2018
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Political Institutions and
Democratization in Africa - The Role
of Political Parties
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Lecture: JQB 23
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Interim Assessment (30%)
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8
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29th March, 2018
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Political Institutions and
Democratization in Africa – The Role of the Media
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Lecture: JQB 23
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9
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5th April, 2018
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Three Broad Approaches to Economic
Transformation
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Lecture: JQB 23
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10
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12th April, 2018
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Spurring
Agricultural and Rural Development
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Lecture: JQB 23
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11
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19th April, 2018
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Civil
Society/NGOs in Democracy and Development
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Lecture: JQB 23
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12
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26th April, 2018
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Improving Governance, Managing Conflicts
and Rebuilding States
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Lecture: JQB 23
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13
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3rd May, 2018
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a)
Revision
b)
Discussion
on the effects of reforms in Africa
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Revision
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Lecture: JQB 23
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15 - 16
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Final
Exam (70%)
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Interim Assessment
1. Students will write two reports on
seminars they will attend in the course of the semester. These reports should
be about 500 words long.
2.
Each
student will present an annotated bibliography of 15 books/articles on a
combination of the following topics: democratic governance, corruption,
anti-corruption, leadership, development, democracy, political reforms,
economic reforms, women empowerment, civil society organizations (interest
groups), public management, political parties, the media, donor support,
foreign direct investment, the judiciary, the legislature, and elections.
3.
Each
student will write 1500 to 2000 words response to the following research
question:
Examine how learning from other
parts of the world can be the catalyst for the economic transformation of
sub-Saharan Africa. You
should rely on at least 10 reference materials.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READINGS
The
World Bank (2000). Can Africa claim the
21st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C.
Asare, B & Frempong, A. (Eds). (2017). Selected
issues in Ghana’s democracy, volume 1. Tema- Ghana: Digibooks
Aggrey-Darkoh,
E., & Asare, B. E. (2016). Understanding the nexus between traditional and
modern political orders in Ghana. Archives
of Current Research International, 3 (1), 1-11.
Gyampo,
R. E., & Asare, B. (2015). The Church and Ghana's Drive toward Democratic
Consolidation and Maturity. Journal of Church and State, 59 (1),
1-22.
Gyampo,
R. E., Graham, E. & Asare, B. E. (2018). Political Vigilantism and
Democratic Governance in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. The African Review, 44(2),
112-135.
Shardow,
M. S., & Asare, B. E. (2016). Media ownership and independence:
implications for democratic governance in the Fourth Republic of Ghana. Journal
of Pan African Studies, 9 (9), 179-199.
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,
3rd 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, 2nd 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.
Gyekye-Jandoh, M.A.A. (2017). Elections
and Democracy in Africa since 2000: An Update on the Pertinent Issues. In
Asare, B., Frempong, A.K.D. eds. Selected
Issues in Ghana’s Democracy, vol. 1. Accra: Digi Books, 11-28.
Gyekye-Jandoh, M. A. A. (2017). The Role
of Civil Society in Ghana’s Democratization: A Case Study of the 2008 General
Elections. in Quartey, P., Agyei-Mensah, S., Codjoe, S.N.A., and B. Bamba. eds.
Multidisciplinary Perspectives on
Transformation in Africa. Accra: Sub-Saharan African Publishers.
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 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.
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