COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST: POLI 366 (POLITICS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN GHANA)

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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON

POLI 366: POLITICS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN GHANA

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST: SECOND SEMESTER, 2012/2013

LECTURER: KWAME ASAH-ASANTE

TEL: O241987479

EMAIL: rasahte@yahoo.com

rasah-asante@ug.edu.gh

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

COURSE TITLE	POLITICS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN GHANA
COURSE CODE	POLI 366
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES	The nexus between politics and civil society has long been established in Ghana. Beginning from pre-independence era up to-date, especially during the latter years of the first Republic through the long years of state decay and political repression, the involvement of civil society in the politics of the country has been significant. However, this feat has not been achieved without problems. In the pre-independence period for instance, due to the ethno-religious and partisan interests of some civil society organisations, their activities were generally, somehow, viewed in the negative light. However, the proliferation of civil society groups, organised around political interests in recent times, has served as a bulwark against unbridled state power. Indeed, the active participation of such organisations in the current democratic system has resulted in a transformation in civil society-state relations.
WEEK NO.	DATE	LECTURE TOPIC	TUTORIALS	VENUE	ASSESSMENT
1	12/02/14	The Concept of Civil Society		Central Cafeteria
2	19/02/14	The Concept of Civil Society		Central Cafeteria
3	26/02/14	The Concept of Civil Society		Central Cafeteria
4	05/03/14	Theories of Civil Society		Central Cafeteria
5	12/03/14	Theories of Civil Society		Central Cafeteria
6	19/03/14	Civil Society, Democracy and Good Governance		Central Cafeteria
7	26/03/14	Civil Society, Democracy and Good Governance		Central Cafeteria	Continuous Assessment
8	02/04/14	Civil Society in Ghana		Central Cafeteria
9	09/04/14	Civil Society in Ghana		Central Cafeteria
10	16/04/14	Civil Society and State Policy in Ghana		Central Cafeteria
11	23/04/14	Civil Society and State Policy in Ghana		Central Cafeteria
12	30/04/14	Civil Society and Globalization		Central Cafeteria
13	07/05/14	Civil Society and Globalization		Central Cafeteria
14	REVISION
15-17	EXAMINATION (70%)

Core Readings

1. Gyimah-Boadi, E. et al (2000) Civil Society Organisations and Ghanaian Democratization CDD-Ghana Research Paper No. 6
2. Gyimah-Boadi, E and Oquaye, M. (2000) Civil Society and Domestic Policy Environment in Ghana CDD-Ghana Research Paper No. 7
3. Drah, F.K. and Oquaye, M. (1996) Civil Society in Ghana Accra: Gold-Type Ltd.
4. Chazan, N. et al (1992) Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers. pp 1-31. 
5. Chazan, N. (1988) “Ghana: Problems of Governance and the Emergence of Civil Society” In Larry Diamond et al (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers. pp. 93-132.
6. Ninsin, K.A. (1998) “Civic Associations and the Transition to Democracy in Ghana” In K.A. Ninsin (ed.), Ghana: Transition to  Democracy: Accra: Freedom Publication pp. 20-69.
7. Drah, F.K. (1993) “Civil Society and the Transition to Pluralist Democracy”, in Ninsin, K.A, and Drah, F.K. (eds.) Political Parties and Democracy in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, Accra: Department of Political Science.
8. Bratton and Bayart, quoted in Gyimah-Boadi, E., et al., “Civil Society and Ghanaian Democratization”, CDD-Ghana Research Paper No.6, Accra, September 2000

Other Readings

1. Afolayan, F. “Civil Society, Popular Culture and the Crisis of Democratic Transitions in Nigeria” (1999) In Jonathan Hyslop (ed.) African Democracy in the Era of Globalization Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.ppp. 72-92.
2. “Civil Society, Democratization, and State Building in Kenya and Tanzania” In Kidane Mengisteab and Cyril Daddieh (eds.) State Building and Democratization in Africa Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers. pp. 183-197.
3. Elmakki, E. M. (2003) “Role of Civil Society and Other Stakeholders in Democratic Governance in Africa” Paper presented at the 7^th Annual Conference of the Development Policy Management Forum, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp.199-206.
4. Camay, P. And Gordon, J.A. (2004) Evolving Democratic Governance in South Africa Johannesburg: The Co-operative for Research and Education. pp. 209-226, 375-410.
5. Schraeder, P.J. (2000) African Politics and Society Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s. pp. 217-238.
6. Chandhoke, N. “Civil Society” Development in Practice, Vol. 17. No. 4/5 (Aug., 2007). pp. 607-614.
7. Attafuah, K., “Making Democracy Flourish Through Civic Education”, USIS, October, 7, 1998
8. Gyimah-Boadi, E. (2004) “Civil Society and Democratic Development”, in Gyimah-Boadi, E, (ed.) Democratic Reform in Africa: The Quality of Progress, Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
9. Geremek, B, (1996) “Civil Society Then and Now”, in Diamond, L, and Plattner, M.F. (eds.) The Global Resurgence of Democracy, Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
10. Lucas, J., “The State, Civil Society and Regional Elites, A Study of three Associations in Kano, Nigeria”, African Affairs, Vol. 93, Jan, 1994
11. Clausen, T. (1996) “Minding the Gap?: State-Civil Society Relations in Ghana’s Fourth Republic”, in Ayee, J.R.A., (ed). The 1996 General Elections and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana, Accra: Gold Type Ltd.
12. Gyimah-Boadi, E. (2000) “Stakeholders Participation and Civic Inclusiveness and Sustained National Development”, Paper Presented at ECOWAS Ministerial and Anti-Corruption Meeting, Accra.
13. Schmitter, R.C. (1997) “Civil Society East and West”, in Diamond, L. (ed) Consolidating the Third Wave Democracies: Themes and Perspectives, Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
14. Ayee, J.R.A., “Introduction”, in Ayee, J.R.A (ed) The 1996 General Elections and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana, Accra, Gold Type Ltd, 1996
15. Linz, J.J. and Stepan, A. (1997) “Toward Consolidating Democracies”, In Diamond, L., (ed) Consolidating The Third Wave Democracies: Themes and Perspectives, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
16. 40. Drah, F.K. (2003) “Civil Society and Grassroots Participation in Ghana”, In Amponsah, N, and Boafo-Arthur, K. (eds.) Local Government in Ghana: Grassroots Participation in the 2002 Local Government Elections, Accra: Uniflow Publications Ltd.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. The course will last for thirteen weeks. 
2. Each class will have a two-hour lecture in addition to a one-hour tutorial per week.
3. To ensure effective teaching and learning, lectures will be organized in an interactive manner. Students will be allowed to ask and answer questions in class.
4. There will be a Continuous Assessment (CA) test and end of semester examination. The test will take place at the end of the Seventh week. The CA test will carry 30 per cent of the final examination mark. The end of semester examination will carry 70 per cent. During this examination, students will be required to answer three essay questions.