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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: Mondays: 12 noon-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
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.
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