AFRI 265: Africa in Global Systems
Course OverviewAFRI 265 is designed to provide historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives of key political and economic issues (or political economy) of contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa (hereafter referred to as SSA, or simply Africa). This course will develop such perspectives against the contextual backdrop of past colonialist and imperialist "experiences" of Africa as well as the rapidly expanding and powerful forces of globalization. It is within this context that the course will take a critical look at the past and present character and role of the state, international/domestic capital, civil society and the ordinary people of Africa. In turn, this will serve as the basis upon which the course will address larger issues of political and economic democracy and ask critical questions about the future of Africa. It is assumed that each student already has had some exposure to the study of the Africa and its peoples. The course is organized around thirteen lesson topics (see the Lesson Schedule below) that provide a comprehensive overview of the contemporary political economy of Africa. Particular attention will be paid to the character and effect of neo-liberal ideology on the postcolonial African state, the associated development trajectory of SSA, and various responses from Africans themselves. [top of page]Required TextsThree main texts are required for this course. There will also be numerous Web-based articles that will be required reading in several lessons. The texts can be obtained from Friday Center Books & Gifts at the Friday Center either by ordering online or by printing and mailing the book order form. Do not be put off by the number of texts—none of these texts are voluminous and, with the exception of the novel, only sections of each text are required reading.
Selections from this text will be available through the UNC library e-reserves:
Selections from this text will be provided by your instructor:
Overview of Texts The Mkandawire and Soludo text provides a well-thought-out and critical assessment of the more contemporary development of the African continent with particular focus on the track record of the externally imposed and highly controversial economic structural adjustment programs (SAPS). Thomas Sankara was a young, radical leader of a small West African country (Burkina Faso) in the 1980s, who actively tried to forge an independent development path and was eventually assassinated. His speeches provide good insights into an alternative understanding and approach to political and economic development. The novel, Petals of Blood, is a classic text of African literature that provides a clear window into the widespread African experience (through its setting in Kenya) of cynical post-colonial politics and power and its effects on the lives of ordinary people. Nyang'oro's edited text addresses the how's and why's of the key relationship between various components of African civil society and issues of democracy. Lastly, Zeilig's edited text allows us to look at the often forgotten role and impact of class struggles and popular resistance on the continent—we will use this text to address the situations in Zimbabwe and South Africa specifically. Supplemental Material For those of you who desire to go beyond what is officially required and to increase your breadth and depth of knowledge, supplementary texts are also provided. Both print and Web-based readings are included. Additionally, Web site addresses of interest are provided—you are especially encouraged to access newspaper and current affairs/news sites and to use those sites that would assist in research for your paper. See the Supplemental Material Guide. All supplemental material is optional. [top of page]Course RequirementsReadings/Discussion Forum (25 percent of final grade) Each lesson topic has a start date and a finish date (the time frame for each lesson varies). It is imperative that you complete the required readings for each lesson prior to the start date for that lesson. The discussion forum opens for each lesson topic on the start date, and I will open the discussion by posting an initial message on the lesson topic. Each lesson includes:
Once you are ready to enter the discussion forum, click on the "Discussion Forum" link at the top of the each lesson page. Choose the relevant forum. To contribute, click on "Post Message" or, if you want to respond to a message already posted, click on "Post Follow-up" (note—if you post a follow-up message, the subject line will be quoted from the message you are responding to). I do not expect that your contributions to the discussion forum will be formally written documents (typos will not count against you). However, try to make your contributions as clear and to-the-point as possible (related to the readings where appropriate) and feel free to offer your opinions and engage in robust debate. The discussion forum is meant to simulate class participation in a "traditional" classroom—while the quantity of participation is not as important as quality, every student is required to make at least one "stand alone" posting for each lesson that addresses the lesson’s assigned discussion question. You are encouraged to respond to other students (as you would in a classroom). Your initial contribution to each lesson must be posted by the end of the third day of that lesson week at the latest. I will monitor both the content and frequency of your participation in the discussion forum. Don't hesitate to e-mail me if you have any questions or offline comments on the discussion forum. Map Quiz (10 percent of final grade) During Lesson 3, you are required to take a map quiz. This quiz is designed to ensure that you are familiar with the basic geopolitics and topography of the African continent (this quiz will cover the entire continent, not just Sub-Saharan Africa). The quiz will be administered online and will be governed by the Honor Code. This is a CLOSED BOOK quiz and you should have no problem completing the quiz within 30 minutes. You will be informed of the time that the quiz will come online and it will be important for you to schedule uninterrupted time before you begin. A link to the quiz will be available via an announcement at the Blackboard site. There are links to several Web-based maps of Africa in Lesson 2 that you should consult (you are also encouraged to access paper copy versions of Africa maps that show country names and borders, country capitals, main rivers, deserts, and mountain ranges). There is also a Map Quiz Study Guide that will assist you in preparing for the quiz. Research Paper (40 percent of final grade) You are required to complete a research paper on a topic of your choice—in consultation with myself—that is no less than 3,000 words and no more than 4,000 words (excluding foot/endnotes and bibliography). The paper must be submitted directly to me, via e-mail, as an Word attachment. Do not post your paper on the discussion forum and do not use Blackboard to send your paper to me. Please review the Research Paper Guidelines; they will assist you in preparing and writing your paper. Final Cumulative Exam (25 percent of final grade) The final exam will cover all material dealt with in this course. It will be in the form of essay questions (you will have to answer two of the essay questions out of a total of four questions provided). The questions asked will broadly follow the four key areas as set out in the Course Overview. In other words, you should concentrate your attention on: the experiences of colonialism/imperialism, the role and effect of forces of globalization/neo-liberal ideology, the character and role of the state, and the activities of "civil society." You will be expected to provide specific contextual examples from the required readings and the discussion forum contributions. You should also look closely at the objectives listed as part of each lesson. The questions will be designed to elicit both specific information from readings/discussion and your own perspectives on the relevant issues. A Sample Essay Question is provided to assist you in your preparations. This is a CLOSED BOOK exam and the Honor Code applies. As with your research paper, do not submit your Final Exam to me via Blackboard (I will not receive it). Send it directly to me as a word attachment and also paste it into the contents of the email. Make sure that you keep a copy of your exam in case of technical problems. Honor Code You are expected to adhere, fully, to the University of North Carolina's Honor Code in all of your work throughout this course. At the head of every assignment that you submit (excluding discussion forum contributions), you must sign the Honor Code pledge. [top of page]Course MechanicsSome of your class components (discussion forums, exams, and announcements) are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to login to Blackboard using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password. There is a link to the Blackboard site in the gray navigation bar at the top of every page in this course. Click on that link, and then use your Onyen to login to Blackboard. Click on the "AFRI 265" link, and you will see navigation buttons on the left side of the screen labeled Announcements, Discussion Forum, and so on. If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, this is what you should do:
Library Services and E-reservesStudents enrolled in Carolina Courses Online can access online library resources from the UNC Library System by linking to Library Services for Distance Education Students. This site includes information on using general online reference works as well as accessing e-reserves. If you are using an off-campus computer, you will need to consult this page for instructions on how to access the resources. The UNC library staff is available to assist any students who have difficulties accessing online library resources. All communication from your instructor will go to your UNC Onyen
e-mail address (the one that appears when you post to the discussion
forum). Off-campus users can access their UNC e-mail using Webmail.
You can have your e-mail forwarded to a different e-mail address
by clicking “Forward e-mail” at the Onyen
Web site. Submitting AssignmentsIt is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to me via e-mail. If I don't receive your work, you must have a duplicate copy, indicating the date sent, to prove that you submitted the assignment on time. It is your responsibility to maintain copies of your sent e-mails, as there is no way to guarantee that any e-mail message will be delivered. Please check your e-mail software to see how it manages sent and saved messages. Some software automatically deletes messages one month after they have been sent; others only save messages if they are filed in folders; others save messages received but not those sent. You may need to send yourself a copy of your e-mailed assignment at the same time you send it to me, or you may need to print a copy of the e-mail message and any attachments to keep in your paper files. No matter how your system works, make sure you know how to save a copy of all work that you submit to me and that you save the copy for several months beyond the end of the course. Contact your instructor with questions regarding the content of the course and your progress. There is an e-mail link to your instructor at the top of every lesson page. Please include "AFRI 265" in the subject line of your e-mail. Contact the Instructional Designer at the Friday Center about problems with this Web site, including bad links. If you have any logistical questions as you work through the course (enrollment, Onyen, credits, withdrawal, and so on), contact the Student Services staff at the Friday Center for Continuing Education (phone 919-962-1134 or 800-862-5669). Lesson Schedule
Lesson 1 |
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