(All rights reserved)
DEPARTMENT
OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF
SOCIAL SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF
HUMANITIES
POLI 448
ISSUES IN AFRICA’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COURSE SYLLABUS
SECOND
SEMESTER 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR
Name of
Course Instructor: Nene-Lomotey Kuditchar, PhD
Office
Location:
Room 14 Department of Political Science
Office
Hours:
Monday 12 nnon-2 pm; Thursdays 3pm-4pm/by appointment via email.
E-mail
address: nkuditchar@ug.edu.gh
Course Credits: 3
Lecture schedule and venue:
Main
Campus: Wednesday 11.30am-13.20pm/JQB 19
City
Campus:
Overview
The patterns of Africa’s interaction with
the rest of the world is unique. Its peoples have had to contend with acute internal
and external pressures which have stretched and shaped its systems overtime.
While some of the pressures have undermined the continent’s state institutions
and thus retarded their capacity to underpin human flourishing, others have served
as a source of institutional innovations resilience and creative adjustment.
Ordinarily, if the normal narrative of African fragility were anything to go
by, one would have expected that the continent will have been reduced to state
of anarchy. The fact that this has not happened calls for a deeper and nuanced
interrogation of the sources, nature and dynamics of the balance of forces the
continent has had to contend with. By and large, however, the continent’s people
and its institutions are yet to master the management of the external pressures
and by extension their impact on human security. This course is meant to
stimulate critical reflection and discussion of Africa’s pattern of interaction
with external systems and in the process trigger bold and imaginative ideas
about how disruptive pressures can be reduced and eliminated and beneficial
pressures harnessed and amplified.
Objectives
Against the background of the
overview, participants will be equipped with theoretical frameworks with which
to sort out the complex dynamics of Africa’s international relations into
simple easy to discern patterns. This will facilitate the comprehension and the
impact of a select range of issues that define Africa’s external interactions. The
result of this is to simulate critical thinking and interest beyond the popular
perception of Africa as backward and vulnerable in international affairs.
Learning Outcomes
At
the end of this course participants will
i.
Understand, explain and apply the theories of geo-politics,
geo-economics and meta-geopolitics in the study of Africa’s international relations.
ii.
Critically apply the theories empirical cases;
iii.
Evaluate research material in a critical way and develop
research projects.
Course
Delivery
It is mandatory for students to
attend all lecture and tutorial sessions. Students, in addition to this, are required
to thoroughly read all recommended texts and also to actively participate in
discussions.
Plagiarism
policy
Plagiarism, is is defined under subsection
41(1) (d) of the Statutes of the University of Ghana, 2012 as to present an
idea or work of another without credit of authorship. It can also mean the reuse
of one’s own work without suitable acknowledgement. This is referred to as self
plagiarism, text recycling or salami publishing. Such activities constitute
academic fraud or theft and thus a breach of ethical, pedagogical and legal
norms. Plagiarism in any form is offensive and shall therefore will be treated
as a serious wrongdoing. Appropriate sanctions, as stipulated in the Plagiarism
Policy of the University of Ghana, will be applied when any student is found to
have violated the policy. Please follow the link http://www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policies-guidelines
for further information.
Civility
Decorum during lectures is always
expected of all students. Anyone who disrupts class to the extent that other’s educational
opportunities are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell phones must
always be turned off during lecture sessions.
Students with Special Needs
Students with special needs should
register with the Office of Students with Special Needs, located in the
University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS) building, next to the Student
Financial Aid Office; Tel: +233-24-457-5177; E-mail: ossnug@gmail.com . Please contact me
as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodation can be arranged.
Assessments and Grading
Two
assessment exercises as indicated below will be administered in this course:
•
Two interim assessment exams [15% each]
•
Final exam [70]
Questions
1.
Examine the role
of Pan-Africanism in Africa’s quest for agency in international affairs. [Due in week 5]
·
Chigozie, N. P. (2018). The Influence of Pan Africanism on
Africa’s International Relations, 1945–1965.
·
Chipaike, R., & Knowledge, M. H. (2018). The question of
African agency in international relations. Cogent
Social Sciences, 4(1), 1-16.
·
Ferim, V. B. (2017). Reassessing the Relevance of the
Pan-African Discourse in Contemporary International Relations. Theoria, 64(153), 85-100.
2.
Examine the links
between tax havens-capital flight and show how the dynamic contributes to the
fragility of Africa in the global political economy.
Recommended readings [ Due
in week 9]
·
Fjeldstad, O. H., & Heggstad, K. K. (2014). Capital
flight from Africa-with a little help from the banks. Available at https://www.cmi.no/publications/file/4920-capital-flight-from-africa-with-a-little-help-from.pdf
·
Ndikumana, L. (2014). Capital flight and tax havens: impact
on investment and growth in Africa. Revue d'économie du développement,
22(HS02), 99-124.
·
Christensen, J. (2009). Africa’s Bane: Tax Havens, Capital
Flight and the Corruption Interface. Elcano Newsletter, (52), 24.
All
assignments must be submitted on line via email address poli448issuesinafrica@gmail.com
Grading Scale
Please
refer to the relevant section of the University’s undergraduate handbook
Disclaimer
I
reserve the right to change any reading, dates and requirements listed in this
syllabus. If this occurs, every effort will be made to announce the changes
well in advance. You are however responsible for the adjustments that any such
announcement will require.
Lecture schedule and recommended
reading list
Week 1: The Prelude:
The Dawn of the Westphalia State in Africa and the Current Situation.
Recommended Texts
·
Shih-tsung , W. (2018, Febuary 5). The Conference of Berlin.
Retrieved from http://140.112.142.79/publish/pdfs/22/22_08.pdf
Week 2: Theoretical Considerations of Africa’s International
Experiences
Geo-politics,
Geo-economics and Meta-geopolitics
Recommended
Texts
·
Ágnes, B. (2008, Febuary 5). Geopolitics and/or Geoeconomics:
Geopolitics in the 21st Century. Retrieved https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279536768_Geopolitics_and
·
Sloan , G., & Gray, C. S. (2008). Why Geopolitics? The
Journal of Strategic Studies, 1-11.
·
Baru, S. (2012). Geo-economics and Strategy. Survival: Global
Politics and Strategy, 47-58
·
Al-Rodhan, N. (2009, May 5). Multi-Sum Security: Five
Distinct Dimensions. Retrieved from ETH-Zurich:
·
AL-Rodhan, N. (2011). Sustainable Global Security. In F.
Gere, & M. Sharpe, Global Security: A Vision for the Future (pp. 3-7).
Geneva: IOS Press.
Recommended texts
·
Ayferam, G. (2016). The Advent of Competing Foreign Powers in
the Geo-strategic Horn of Africa
·
Analysis of Opportunity and Security Risk for Ethiopia.
International Relations and Diplomacy,787-800.
·
Deen, E. S. (2013). AFRICOM: Protecting US Interests
Disguised as Military Partnerships in Africa. Doha: AlJazeera Center for
Studies.
·
Enuka, C. (2011). China’s Military Presence in Africa:
Implications for Africa’s Woobling Peace . Journal of Asia pacific Studies ,
97-117.
·
Horgby , S. (2016). EURAFRICAN Geo-politics? A Qualitative
Textual Analysis of the French Geoplitical Construction of Africa in the Post
Cold War Period. Berlin: STATSVETENSKAPLIGA .
·
Korybko, A. (2016, November 3). Hybrid Wars: Strategies
Against Africa . Retrieved from Oriental Review:
https://orientalreview.org/2016/11/11/hybrid-wars-8-strategies-against-africa-1a/
·
Ploch, L. (2011). Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests
and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa .Washington: Congressional Research
Service.
·
Sun, D., & Zoubir , Y. H. (2011). The Eagle’s Nest in the
Horn of Africa: US Military Strategic Deployment in Djibouti. 111-124.
·
Volman, D. (2009). China, India, Russia, and the United
States: The Scramble for African Oil and the Militarization of the Continent.
Uppsala: Nordiska Africa Institute.
·
Carmody, P. (2007). Competing Hegemons? Chinese verus
American Geo-Economic Strategies in Africa. Political Geography, 504-524.
·
Hansen, P., & Jonsson, S. (2014). Another Colonialism:
Africa in the History of European Integration. Journal of Historical Sociology,
442-461.
·
Kimenyi, M. S., & Lewis, Z. (2011). The BRICS and the new
scramble for Africa. Retrieved from Brookings Institution http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/files/BRICS%20v%20africa_economy_agi_kimenyi_lewis.pdf
·
Salami, M. (2014, September 3). The EU's 'Eurafrica' roots.
Retrieved from Al Jazeera:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/09/eus-eurafrica-roots-colonialism--20149611334511463.html
·
Volman, D. (2009). China, India, Russia, and the United
States: The Scramble for African Oil and the Militarization of the Continent.
Uppsala: Nordiska Africa Institute .
·
Carmody, P. (2007). Competing Hegemons? Chinese verus
American Geo-Economic Strategies in Africa. Political Geography, 504-524.
·
Hansen, P., & Jonsson, S. (2011). Bringing Africa as a
'Dowry to Europe': European Integration and the Eurafrican Project, 1920-1960.
Interventions: International Journal, 443-463.
·
Thrall, L. (2015). China's Expanding Relations: Implications
for US National Security. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation.
·
Y. Lin , C. (2015, January 4). The Rise of Africa in the
International: A U.S. Energy Perspective. Retrieved from ETH-Zurich: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/45570/Rise_of_Africa.pdf
Week 5 to 11:
The Meta-geopolitics of the Post-Cold Global System and Africa.
Themes to be covered include
1.
Tax Havens.
2.
Crypto currency and Cybercrime.
3.
The Anthropocene.
4.
Extremist Violent Organizations/Religious militant movements.
5.
Small Arms and Light Weapons trafficking.
6.
Mercenaries.
7.
Landgrab phenomenon.
Recommended
texts
·
Bodulovic, G. (2005). Is the European attitude to GM products
suffocating African development? Functional Plant Biology, 32(12), 1069-1075.
·
Kachika, T. (2017). Landgrabbing in Africa: a review of the
impacts and the possible policy responses. Oxfam international.
·
Petric, B. (2011). The land rush. Transnational strategies
for land grabing. Transcontinentales. Sociétés, idéologies, système mondial,
(10/11).
·
Christensen, J. (2009, Febuary 4). Africa’s Bane: Tax Havens,
Capital Flight and Corruption Interface. Retrieved from ETH-Zurich: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/95401/WP%201,%202009.pdf
·
Curtis, M. (2015). Honest Accounts 2017:How the world profits
from Africa’s wealth. Retrieved from Global Justice Network: http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/resources/honest_accounts_2017_web_final.pdf
·
Hoste, J. C., & Vlassenroot, K. (2009). Climate Change
and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa:the Mother ofall Problems? In U. Nations,
Developing Countries facing Global Warming:a Post-Kyoto Assessment (pp.
139-149). Brussells: Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences.
·
Moran, A. M., Mulugetta, Y., & Raleigh, C. (n.d.).
Climate Change & Security in Africa: Clear Risks, Nuanced Impacts. The
Hague: Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change.
·
Jean-Christophe Hoste, & Koen Vlassenroot. (2009).
Climate Change and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Mother of all Problems?
In R. A. Sciences, Developing Countries facing Global Warming: (pp.139-149).
The Hague: United Nations.
·
Africa Center for Strategic Studies. (2016). Africa's Active
Militant Groups. Washington DC: Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
·
Antwi-Boateng, O. (2017). The Rise of Pan-Islamic Terrorism
in Africa: A Global Security Challenge. Politics and Policy, 253-284.
·
Cilliers, J. (2015). Violent Islamist extremism and terror in
Africa. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies.
·
Østebø, T. (2012). Islamic Militancy in Africa. Washington,
D.C: Africa center for Strategic Studies.
·
Chelule, E. (2014). Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons:
Challenge to Development, Peace and Security in Africa. OSR Journal of
Humanities and Social Science, 80-87.
·
Baro, J., O’Mahony, A., Manheim, D., & Dion-Schwarz, C.
(2015). National Security Impications for Virtual
·
Currency: Examining the Potential for Non-State Actor
Deployment. Santa Monica.: RAND
·
Corporation.
·
Flores, R., Matsukawa, B., Alfred , L., & Sancho, D.
(2016). Cybercrime in West Africa: Poised for an Underground Market. London:
Trend Micro and INTERPOL
·
Manheim, D., Johnston, P. B., Baron, J., & Dion-Schwarz,
C. (2017, April 5). Are Terrorists Using
·
Cryptocurrencies? Retrieved from The RAND Blog: https://www.rand.org/blog/2017/04/areterrorists-using-cryptocurrencies.html
·
Ward, A. (2018, January 3). Bitcoin and the Dark Web: The New
Terrorist Threat? Retrieved from The Rand Blog: https://www.rand.org/blog/2018/01/bitcoin-and-the-dark-web-the-new-terroristthreat.html
·
Bubna, S. M. (2010). The Case for Mercenaries in Africa.
Pretoria: IDSA.
·
Mataire, L. R. (2016, March 3). Private military companies:
Threat to continental security. Retrieved from The Southern Times: https://southernafrican.news/2016/03/14/private-military-companiesthreat-to-continental-security/
·
Nielsen, L. B. (2016). Private Military Companies in Africa
the case of STTEP in Nigeria. Journal of World Development Studies, 1-15.
·
Selber, J., & Jobarteh, K. (2002). From Enemy to Peace
Maker: The Roel of Prive Military Companies in Africa. Medicine & Global Survival,
90-95.
·
Vines, A. (2000). Gurkhas and the private security business
in Africa. Pretoria: ISS.
·
Cilliers, J., & Cornwell, R. (1999). Mercenaries and the privatization
of security in Africa. African Security Review, 31-42.
·
Douglas, I. (2000). Fighting for diamonds –Private Military
Companies in Sierra Leone. Pretoria: ISS.
·
United Nations. (2005). Transnational Organized Crime in the
West African Region. Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Week 13:
Fast-forward 2050: Mega Trend Issues in Africa’s International Relations/ Recap
Recommended
text
·
Cilliers, J., Hughes, B., & Moyer, J. (2011). African
Futures 2050: The Next Forty Years. Washington, DC: Africa center for Strategic
Studies.
No comments:
Post a Comment