COURSE
OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 452: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM AND
DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA
University of Ghana
Department of
Political Science
Second Semester,
2018/2019 Academic Year
Lecture:
Thursdays, 11.30-13.20, JQB 23
Lecturers: Dr.
Maame A. A. Gyekye-Jandoh, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, and Dr. Bossman Asare
Offices: HOD’s office and Room 14, Political Science
Dept.
Office
hours (Dr. Gyekye-Jandoh): Mon. and Tues. 11:00 am to 1: 30 pm
(Dr. Asah-Asante):
Thurs. 8-10 am
E-mail: mgyekyej@yahoo.com/mgyekye-jandoh@ug.edu.gh;
rasahte@yahoo.com;
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Course Title
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Political
and Economic Reform and Democracy in Africa
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Course Code
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POLI
452
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Purpose and Objectives
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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 about 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 with 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).
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Week
No.
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Date
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Lecture
Course
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Tutorials
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Venue
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Assessment
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1
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Thursday,
7th February, 2019
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a) Introductions
b) Course overview
c) The state of Africa during and after colonial rule
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Lecture: JQB 23
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2
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14th
February, 2019
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Policies
and Programmes of the new African States
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Lecture: JQB 23
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3
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21st
February, 2019
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Governance
Crises and Reforms in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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4
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28th
February, 2019
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Three
Broad Approaches to Economic Transformation
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Lecture: JQB 23
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5
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7th
March, 2019
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Trajectory
and Waves of Democracy in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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6
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14th
March, 2019
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Transitions
to Democracy in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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7
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21st
March, 2019
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Political
Reforms in the three branches of government (in Africa)
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Lecture: JQB 23
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Interim
Assessment (30%)
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8
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28th
March, 2019
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Elections,
electoral systems and reforms in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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9
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4th
April, 2019
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Political
Institutions and Democratization in Africa
- The Role of Political Parties
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Lecture: JQB 23
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10
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11th
April, 2019
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Political
Institutions and Democratization in Africa – The Role of the Media
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Lecture: JQB 23
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11
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18th
April, 2019
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Civil
Society/NGOs in Democracy and Development in Africa
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Lecture: JQB 23
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12
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25th
April, 2019
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Improving
Governance, Managing Conflicts and Rebuilding States
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Lecture: JQB 23
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13
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2nd
May, 2019
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a)
Assessing Political and Economic Reforms in
Africa
b)
Revision
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Revision
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Lecture: JQB 23
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15 - 16
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Final Exam (70%)
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Interim Assessment
- Each
student will present an annotated bibliography of 10 books/articles on a
combination of the following topics: democratic governance, corruption,
anti-corruption, leadership, development, democracy, political reforms,
economic reforms, women empowerment, civil society organizations (interest
groups), public management, political parties, the media, donor support,
foreign direct investment, the judiciary, the legislature, and elections.
- Each
student will write a 1500 word analytical research essay, which shall be
given to you during the IA period. You should rely on at least 10
reference materials.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READINGS
The World Bank (2000). Can Africa
claim the 21st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C.
Asare,
B & Frempong, A. (Eds). (2017). Selected issues in Ghana’s democracy, volume
1. Tema-
Ghana: Digibooks
Aggrey-Darkoh, E., & Asare, B. E. (2016).
Understanding the nexus between traditional and modern political orders in
Ghana. Archives of Current Research
International, 3 (1), 1-11.
Gyampo, R. E., & Asare, B. (2015). The Church
and Ghana's Drive toward Democratic Consolidation and Maturity. Journal of
Church and State, 59 (1), 1-22.
Gyampo,
R. E., Graham, E. & Asare, B. E. (2018). Political Vigilantism and
Democratic Governance in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. The African Review, 44(2),
112-135.
Shardow, M. S., & Asare, B. E. (2016). Media
ownership and independence: implications for democratic governance in the
Fourth Republic of Ghana. Journal of Pan African Studies, 9 (9),
179-199.
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, 3rd 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, 2nd 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,
M.A.A. (2017). Elections and Democracy in Africa since 2000: An Update on the
Pertinent Issues. In Asare, B., Frempong, A.K.D. eds. Selected Issues in Ghana’s Democracy, vol. 1. Accra: Digi Books,
11-28.
Gyekye-Jandoh, M.
A. A. (2018). The Role of Civil Society in Ghana’s Democratization: A Case
Study of the 2008 General Elections. in Quartey, P., Agyei-Mensah, S., Codjoe,
S.N.A., and B. Bamba. eds. Multidisciplinary
Perspectives on Transformation in Africa. Accra: Sub-Saharan African
Publishers.
Alidu, S. and Gyekye-Jandoh, M.A.A. (2016). Civil Society and Democratic
Governance in Ghana: Emerging Roles and Challenges. Contemporary Journal of African Studies, 4(1), 1-24.
Gyekye-Jandoh, M A. A. and Asare, B. (2015). The Dynamics of Civil
Society-Government Interface in Ghana: 1980-2010. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, 2 (3 and 4), 53-75.
Gyekye-Jandoh, Maame A. A. 2013. ‘Electoral
Reform and Gradual Democratization in Africa: The Case of Ghana’. African
Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 3, Number 2, 74-92.
Chazan, N., Mortimer, R. Ravenhill, J.
& Rothchild, D. (1992). Politics and
Society in Contemporary in Africa. Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers
Gyimah-Boadi, E. (1997). Civil Society in
Africa. In Diamond, L., Plattner, F., Yun-han Chu & Tien, H. (Eds). Consolidating the Third Wave Democracies: Themes and Perspectives. Baltimore:
Johns Hopkins Press Ltd.
Lipset, S.,M., Diamond, L. Finifter, A. W.,
Lapidus, G.W., Lijphart, A. Linz, J.J., Pye, L.W., Quester, G.H.&
Schmitter, P.C. (1995). The Encyclopaedia
of Democracy. Congressional. Vol. II. Washington, D.C: Quarterly Inc.
Gyimah-Boadi, E. (2007). Political
Parties, Elections and Patronage Random Thoughts on Neo-Patrimonialism and
African Democratization. In Basedau, M., Drdmann, G.& Mehler, A. (Eds.). Votes, Money & Violence.Uppsala:
University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
Ake, C. (1996). Democracy and Development in Africa. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings
Institution.
Afigbo, A.E., Ayandele, E.A, Gavin,
R.J.& Omer-Cooper, J.D. (1986). The
Making of Modern Africa: Harlow, Addison Wesley Longman.
Brako, I.& Asah-Asante, K. (2018). The ABC of Political Science. (2nd Ed.).
Accra: Black Mask
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