COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 456: NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON

POLI 456: NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST: SECOND SEMESTER, 2015/2016

LECTURER: KWAME ASAH-ASANTE

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

COURSE TITLE	NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
COURSE CODE	POLI 456
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES	Since the 1980s, the continent of Africa has experienced the influx of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). From the protection of human rights to conflict resolution, through to the provision of aid, including that of emergency relief, NGOs have contributed immensely towards the development of the African continent. Even such critical responsibilities of the state including the provision of basic necessities of life - potable water, security, health, etc are currently in the hands of NGOs. This obviously paints a very gloomy picture about state capacity in Africa, and the vacuum that has been so created that is being filled by NGOs. . Though the contributions of NGOs on the continent of Africa are beyond doubt, the question that arises is: whether NGOs alone have the magic wand to turn the continent’s development around? Some have argued that it is only African states themselves who can bring about their own development and not NGOs. At best, what NGOs can offer is to play a complementary role with African states in control of their own development agenda. It is in the light of this that this course is designed to shed light on the contributions of NGOs towards the continent’s development. While discussing the contributions by NGOs, this course will provide the various conditions prevailing in Africa that have led to the upsurge of NGOs on the continent. In addition, some of the theories underpinning NGO studies, Government-NGO relationship, among others, will be examined and discussed with the view to giving students broader perspectives on the issues under the course.
WEEK NO.	DATE	LECTURE TOPIC	TUTORIALS	VENUE	ASSESSMENT
1	01/02/16	Development Conditions in Africa		JQB R14
2	08/02/16	Development Conditions in Africa		JQB R14
3	15/02/16	The State and NGOs in Africa		JQB R14
4	22/02/16	The State and NGOs in Africa		JQB R14
5	29/02/16	Government-NGO Relationship		JQB R14
6	07/03/16	Government-NGO Relationship		JQB R14
7	14/03/16	Theoretical Issues		JQB R14
8	21/03/16	Theoretical Issues		JQB R1409&12
9	28/03/16	Group Presentation		JQB R14	Continuous Assessment
10	04/04/16	NGOs and Development in Africa		JQB R14
11	11/04/16	NGOs, International Politics and Globalization		JQB R14
12	18/04/16	NGOs, International Politics and Globalization		JQB R14
13	25/04/16	NGOs, International Politics and Globalization		JQB R14
14	REVISION
15-17	EXAMINATION
READINGS

Mazrui, A. The African Condition (London: Helnemann)

Lockwood, M. The State They’re In, 2^nd Ed.  (Warwickshire: Practical Action Publishing) pp. 1-45

Edem, K.  Africa Today (Accra: University Press)

Leonard, D.K. and Straus, S.  (2003) Africa’s Stalled Development: International Causes and Cures Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner pp. 1-19.

Lubeck, P. “The Crisis of African Development: Conflicting Interpretations and Resolutions” Annual Review of Sociology 18: 519-540

Brautigam, D. (1996) “State Capacity and Effective Governance” in Ndulu, B. (eds.) Agenda for Africa’s Economic Renewal (Oxford: Transaction Publishers) pp. 81-105

Adrian, L. “Bringing Politics Back In: Towards Model of the Developmental State”, The Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 31, Issue 3 (Feb 1995) pp. 400-425.

Katsriku, B. and Oquaye, M. (1996) Government and NGO Relations in Ghana Accra: Friedrich Ebert Foundation

Mkandawire, T. (2008) From Maladjusted States to Developmental States in Africa (Accra: Institute for Democratic Governance)

Clark, J.D. (2008) “NGOs and the State” in Desai, V. and Potter, R.B. (eds.) The Companion to Development Studies, 2^nd Ed, (London: Hodder Education) pp. 530-533.

Stephenson, C.M. (2000) “NGOs and the Principal Organs of the United Nations” in Taylor, P. and Groom, A.J.R. (eds.) The United Nations at the Millennium: The Principal Organs (London and New York: Continuum) pp. 271-292

Lata, M. (2007) Changing Role of NGO’s in the 21^st Century (New Delhi: Mahaveer and Sons), pp.1-2, 65-134.

Asante, B. (2004) World Vision International and ECOSOC Rights in Kwahu South District (1992-2002). Unpublished M. Phil Thesis (Legon: University of Ghana)

Ofori-Badu, E. (2009) Assessing Non-Governmental Organizations Contribution to Poverty Reduction in Ghana: The Case of Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP)1997-2007. Unpublished M. Phil Thesis (Legon: University of Ghana).

Salamon, L.M. (2006) “Government-Nonprofit Relations from an International Perspective” in Boris, E.T. and Steuerle,  C.E. (eds.) Nonprofit and Government: Collaboration and Conflict, 2^nd Ed, (Washington D.C.: The Urban Institute Press) pp.398-430.

Puplampu, K.P. and Tettey, W.J. “State-NGO Relations in an Era of Globalisation: The Implication for Agricultural Development in Africa” Review of African Political Economy Vol. 27, No. 84 (June 2000) pp.251-272.

Lindenberg, M. and Bryant, C. (2001) Going Global Transforming Relief and Development NGOs (Bloomfield: Kumarian Press)

Edwards, M. et al. (2000) “Increasing Leverage for Development: Challenges for NGOs in a Global Future” in Lewis, D. and Wallace, T. (eds.) New Roles and Relevance: Development NGOs and the Challenge of Change (Bloomfield, Connecticut: Kumarian Press, Inc.) pp. 1-14.

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 an Continuous Assessment (CA) test and end of semester examination. The test will take place at the end of the 9^th week. Students will be required to undertake group presentation. 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.