Module: The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
Module Code	POL1045 (ITS: LG361)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module aims to introduce students to the key issues in politics and development in sub-Saharan Africa, providing them with the theoretical and conceptual tools to evaluate and analyse these issues. While the diversity of countries, languages, cultures, histories and political structures across the continent make this a challenging course, the commonalities of experiences across African states from colonialism through to the present facilitate an analysis and understanding of many important issues. The peculiarities of the African state and its relationship to both domestic societies, as well as to the international system, will provide a conceptual focus to the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically assess and discuss key features of African politics, such as the colonial legacy, neo-patrimonialism, ethnic identity, structural adjustment policies, democratisation and the politics of aid.
2. Analyze the state-society relationship in Africa in a variety of contexts and from different theoretical perspectives.
3. Engage with these theoretical debates and literature through concrete case studies from different African countries and regions.
4. Communicate independent research and reading orally in groups, and in written form, and engage in class debates on the subject.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	11	No Description
Seminars	11	No Description
Independent Study	103	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11412	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Michael Breen	Module Teacher	Gordon Ogutu, Niamh Gaynor, Walt Kilroy

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	n/a	40%	n/a
Essay	n/a	60%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

n/a
Introduction and review This module aims to introduce students to the key issues in politics and development in sub-Saharan Africa, providing them with the theoretical and conceptual tools to evaluate and analyse these issues. While the diversity of countries, languages, cultures, histories and political structures across the continent make this a challenging course, the commonalities of experiences across African states from colonialism through to the present facilitate an analysis and understanding of many of important issues. The peculiarities of the African state and its relationship to both domestic societies, as well as to the international system, provides a conceptual focus to the module.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

A. Thomson: 2004, An Introduction to African Politics, Routeledge, London,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None