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

University of Ghana

Department of Political Science

Second Semester, 2015/2016 Academic Year

Lecturers: Dr. Gyekye-Jandoh and Dr. Seidu Alidu

Office:  Room 12 and 6, Political Science Dept.

E-mail: smalidu@ug.edu.gh; 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 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 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	Friday 5th   February 2016	a)      Introductions b)      Course overview		Lecture:  NNB1
2	12th February, 2016	Democracy in Global and African Perspectives		Lecture:  NNB 1
3	19th February 2016	Transitions to Democracy in Africa I		Lecture:  NNB 1
4	26thFebruary 2016	Transitions to Democracy in Africa II		Lecture:  NNB 1
5	4th  March  2016	Elections, electoral systems and reforms in Africa I		Lecture:  NNB 1
6	11th  March, 2016	Elections, electoral systems and reforms in Africa II		Lecture:  NNB 1
7	18th March 2016	Political Institutions and Democratization in Africa I		Lecture:  NNB 1	Interim Assessment (30%)
8	1st April, 2016	Political Institutions and Democratization in Africa II		Lecture:  NNB 1
9	8th  April 2016	Improving Governance, Managing Conflicts and Rebuilding States I		Lecture:  NNB 1
10	15th  April, 2016	Economic Reforms: addressing poverty,  inequality and regionalism in Africa I		Lecture:  NNB 1
11	22nd April, 2016	Economic Reforms: addressing poverty,  inequality and regionalism in Africa II		Lecture:  NNB 1
12	29th April, 2016	Economic Reforms: addressing poverty,  inequality and regionalism in Africa III		Lecture:  NNB 1
13	27th and 28th April 2016	a)      Revision b)     Discussion on the effects of reforms in Africa	Revision	Lecture:  NNB 1
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.
Gyekye-Jandoh, A. (2013).Electoral Reforms and Gradual Democratization in Africa: The Case of Ghana. Africa Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 2, pp. 74-92.
 Gyekye-Jandoh, A. (2014). Elections and Democracy in Africa since 2000: An Update on the Pertinent Issues. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol.4 (10). pp185-193.