Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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; 5. Reflect on the nature of 'Africa' and 'African politics' as a discrete unit of study. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Introduction and review This section provides an overview of the course, introducing some of the key issues within contemporary African politics and development. Colonialism and its contemporary legacies This section traces the political and developmental consequences of the different models of colonialism pursued on the continent. It includes analyses of post-independence politics, neopatrimonialism, clientelism, ethnicity and conflict. The politics of development finance This section traces the political and developmental consequences of international financing strategies in Africa from independence onwards. It includes an analysis of the causes and consequences of the debt crisis, the effectiveness of debt relief initiatives such as HIPC, and the effectiveness and political implications of current aid strategies. Donors, States and African Civil Society This section focuses explicitly on the key political actors and traces the implications of recent shifts in governance and influence within the continent - such as the ongoing PRSP process and China's growing role in Africa - on political relations and development more broadly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles: None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||