COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 633: CONFLICTS IN AFRICAN STATES, FIRST SEMESTER 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

FIRST SEMESTER 2019/2020

Instructor: Kumi Ansah-Koi, Ph.D

Contact: kktak55@gmail.com

  Kansah-koi@ug.edu.gh

Class Hours: Wednesdays, 2:30pm-4:30pm

POLI 633: CONFLICTS IN AFRICAN STATES

Introduction:

Student Research and Seminar Presentations would be integral features of this course. The idea would be to offer solid foundations in the discipline of Conflict Studies, and also to offer the students the necessary theoretical, intellectual, and practical foundations and experience for writing an acceptable master’s thesis.

In that regard, the course is designed as a pro-Seminar; and would be largely interactive. Each topic would be introduced and guidelines offered in class; and students would the offer a Seminar Presentation of the topic. Peer review and critical appraisal would then ensue; before the Instructor offers concluding remarks and comments on the topic in question. The Course would thus involve minimum formal instructions/lectures; but would nonetheless be intensive and very involving; and regular attendance would be insisted on.

Student seminar presentations on the topics should be by PowerPoint. Alternately, the presentation should take the form of a typed five-paged (or less) presentation on the topic in questions, in the sequence indicated in class. Literature Review and due citations and source indications would be critical components in assessing and rating student seminar presentations.

An online platform (Easyclass) would be created to facilitate discussions outside class hours and also to enable document sharing. An on-going list of reading material and audio-visual presentations would be uploaded on this platform. Presentations should be uploaded on the platform latest by 7pm of the Monday proceeding the class, to enable fellow students to view presentations and prepare for class.  A Whatsapp group would also be created to facilitate communication and distribution of reading material. You are to prepare for each class by posing pertinent questions, criticisms, recommendations, and so on, related to uploaded presentations. You are also welcome to share relevant material on the various groups. Feel free to upload other related material and interact with each other on the various platforms. A schedule for presentations would be subsequently made available.

Topics

1.       Conflict Studies: Basics

2.       Africa: An outline. The State in Africa. State and Conflict in Africa

3.       Conflicts in Africa: Causes and Causation

4.       Conflicts in Africa: Nature, consequences and impact

5.       Conflicts in Africa: Typology

6.       Conflicts in Africa: Gender and Children’s Dimensions

7.       The UN and Conflicts in Africa. UN Peacekeeping in Africa. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)/ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Conflict-Africa

8.       The OAU/AU and conflicts in Africa

9.       Sub-regional groups and conflicts in Africa

10.   Conflicts in Africa: Management/Resolution/Post-Conflict Peacebuilding.

Basic Readings

Adesina, O. A., Adeyeye, M., Adjei, J. K., Achoka, J. S., Agbehonou, E., Alao, A., & Ewoh, A. I. (2012). Managing Conflicts in Africa's Democratic Transitions. Lexington Books.

Bozeman, A. B. (2015). Conflict in Africa: Concepts and realities. Princeton University Press.

Gumedze, S. (2011). Merchants of African conflict: more than just a pound of flesh. Institute for Security Studies Monographs, 2011(176), 95.

Nhema, A. G., Zeleza, P. T., & Zeleza, T. (Eds.). (2008). The roots of African conflicts: The causes & costs. Ohio University Press.

Porter, E. J., Robinson, G., Smyth, M., Osaghae, E., & Schnabel, A. (Eds.). (2005). Researching conflict in Africa: Insights and experiences. United Nations University Press.

Rothchild, D. S. (1997). Managing ethnic conflict in Africa: Pressures and incentives for cooperation. Brookings Institution Press.