Office Hours: TBA, and by appointment (no appointments on Wednesdays)
Office: Glatfelter 315
Phone: 337-6039
E-mail:
African Politics
Prof. Kurt Mills
POL 265
Gettysburg College
Spring 2004
Office Hours: TBA, and by appointment (no appointments on Wednesdays)
Office: Glatfelter 315
Phone: 337-6039
E-mail:
“Africa
is a nation that suffers from incredible disease.”
-President George Bush, June 2001
As the above quote demonstrates, Africa is too often perceived by both policy
makers and the general population in the West as a continent of conflict and
contagion, as the “dark continent,” chaotic and mysterious. Hopefully
through this course you will find a different, more complex reality, a reality
where people and countries, like the rest of the world, are struggling with
war and peace, authoritarianism and democracy, colonial legacies and current
dilemmas, and a reality which calls into question some of the most fundamental
beliefs and theories about international relations.
This course will provide an overview of the politics of sub-Saharan Africa and
will place Africa within the wider realm of world politics. Doing this, however,
means understanding the particular aspects of the African postcolonial state.
Understanding this, in turn, entails looking at where these states came from
in the first place. Thus, we will start the class with a brief overview of colonialism
in Africa, beginning with the so-called “Scramble for Africa” in the
late 19th Century, and continuing on through the struggle for independence.
Then, we will look at the particular characteristics of postcolonial African
states. Finally, we will look at how African states interact with each other
and the rest of the world. To the extent we will be focusing on any particular
parts of Africa, this will serve to illustrate some of the many political currents
found in Africa today and in the recent past. However, the course is not, for
the most part, focused on particular countries. Rather, it will provide you
with a framework, or a set of frameworks, to help you understand contemporary
African politics.
I start with the assumption that you will learn more the greater your involvement
with the material covered in class. Thus, there will be elements of class discussion
as well as lectures, writing, exams, and interactive activities.
The formal requirements for the course are as follows:
1) Do the Reading. To gain an adequate understanding of the basic concepts
and to be able to participate in class discussion, you must do all of the assigned
reading. Unless otherwise noted, all readings are due the first class day of
the week they are assigned. Many of the readings on the syllabus can be found
on Blackboard. I may also distribute short readings via e-mail or handouts.
Two books are also required:
•Christopher Clapham, African and the International System: The
Politics of State Survival
•Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost
3) Participate in Class. One way for me to assess whether or not and
how you are engaging with and understanding the material is through your class
participation. Thus, in addition to having done the reading, I expect you to
have questions and comments ready and to participate in class discussions on
a regular basis. 15% of the final course grade.
2) Map Quiz. Part of studying a region like Africa entails having a sense
of how the different parts of the region fit together—i.e. geography—what
the countries are and where they are in relation to each other. On February
3 you will be given a map and a list of the 53 African countries and asked to
fill in the map. 5% of the final course grade.
3) Paper on Lumumba. On February 8 and 9, the movie Lumumba
will be shown. Attend one of the showings and write a short (2-3) paper reaction
paper. More details will be supplied. Due Feb. 12. 5% of the final course grade.
4) Web Country Journal. You will choose a country from a list I will provide
and do initial background research on your country, answering a series of questions
about your country (to be provided). Then, over the course of the semester you
will follow your country in the news, making note in at least one or two journal
entries a week of news items relevant to the topics raised in class. You should
consider how your country is dealing with various issues and theories we talk
about in class, such as the environment, refugees, and conflict. All of of this
will be uploaded on a regular basis to a web page which will be available to
the entire class. It is expected that you will also bring the information and
insights about your country into regular class discussion. The last journal
entry will be a short essay (approximately 750-1000 words) in which you reflect
on how your country fits in with the issues and theories we have discussed in
class during the course of the semester. This final essay will be due on your
web page on the last day of class. While you are constructing your Web page,
feel free to add other resources, such as maps and links to other sources of
information about your country. You may consult with the Student Technology
Assistants available in the Library for help with constructing your web page,
and they will hold training sessions for the class. 20% of the final course
grade.
5) International Relations of Africa Online Simulation In order to get
you engaged with issues Africa is facing, you will participate in an online
negotiation simulation. This simulation, sponsored by Project ICONS (International
Communication and Negotiation Simulations) at the University of Maryland, includes
colleges and universities from across the United States and Africa. In this
simulation you will be part of a team representing either the Democratic Republic
of Congo or South Africa. As part of your team, you will do background research
on your country and then try to figure out what you country’s concerns
and positions are in three broad areas--conflict, economics, and public health
(each team will be broken down into smaller teams focusing on one of these three
issues). You will create a position paper for your country and from March 29
through April 16 you will negotiate online with teams representing other countries
at other colleges and universities. Some class time will be devoted to the simulation.
However, you will also have to spend some time outside of class exchanging messages
online. In addition, each subgroup will participate in one or two real time
negotiation sessions where all the various countries are online at the same
time (to take into account time differences between the US and Africa, these
sessions will probably be scheduled by ICONS for mornings—if you have a
class conflict let me know as soon as the simulation schedule is published and
we will try to work it out). During the entire process (from beginning research
through the actual simulation) you will keep a journal detailing and reflecting
on your individual and group efforts on the project. The final entry will be
a 3-4 page reflection on the simulation and how the issues raised fit in with
the course). Note: This is a very time intensive exercise, and requires a
lot of preparation. Start working with your group early on to prepare for the
simulation. Assessment will be based on your journal (60%), peer assessment
(30%), and my own observations of your participation (10%). 25% of the final
course grade.
6) Midterm and Final Exams. The midterm will be given on March 23, and
the final will either be given during finals week, or it may be a take home
exam. Each will be worth 15%. 30% of the final course grade.
Other Policies:
The policies in this syllabus will be strictly adhered to. If you are unable
to follow these policies at any time during the semester, please consult with
me in person as you become aware of any difficulty. Do not wait until the end
of the semester to raise your concerns.
You are encouraged to come talk with me about questions you may have regarding
the material in the class. I will also be happy to discuss your performance
in the class with you at any time.
E-mail: All class members must check their Gettysburg e-mail address
regularly. I will distribute announcements and other materials via e-mail.
Honor Code: Any instances of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according
to the honor code. If you have questions of what might constitute an infraction
of the honor code, including plagiarism, please feel free to talk with me.
Class Conduct: This class will be conducted in an open and supportive
manner. Please be respectful others in the classroom, and expect the same respect
from your classmates.
Papers: All papers are to be typed, double-spaced, in a 12 point font.
You are responsible for all errors in your papers, including grammatical and
spelling mistakes.
Late Assignments: Late assignments will be significantly penalized.
Failure to complete an assignment is grounds for failure in the course.
I reserve the right to modify this syllabus during the course of the semester.
Participation in this course implies acceptance of all of the policies and
requirements stated in this syllabus.
Week 1: Introduction
(Jan. 22)
•Read the syllabus
Week 2: The Colonial State
(Jan. 27, 29)
•Blackboard: Crawford Young, The African Colonial State in Comparative
Perspective, Chapter 4, “Constructing Bula Matari,” pp. 77-140
•Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost
Week 3: The Colonial State II
(Feb. 3, 5)
•Map Quiz
•Research presentation in the Library (Feb. 5)
•Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost
Week 4: The Struggle for Independence
(Feb. 10, 12)
•Lumumba Paper Due
•Young, Chapter 6, “Toward Independence,” pp. 182-217
•Blackboard: Edem Kodjo and David Chanaiwa, “Pan-Africanism
and Liberation,” in Ali A. Mazrui, ed., General History of Africa, Volume
VIII: Africa Since 1935, pp. 744-66
•Blackboard: David Chanaiwa, “Southern Africa since 1945, “
in Mazrui, ed., pp. 249-81
Week 5: South Africa
(Feb. 17, 19)
•Blackboard: Leonard Thompson, A History of South Africa,
“The Segregation Era, 1910-1948” and “The Apartheid Era, 1948-1978,”
pp. 154-220
•Blackboard: Beth Goldblatt and Sheila Meintjes, “South African
Women Demand the Truth,” in Meredith Turshen and Clotilde Twagiramariya,
What Women Do in Wartime (London: Zed Books, 1998): 27-61
•Blackboard: Alex Boraine, “Truth and Reconciliation in South
Africa: The Third Way,” in Robert I. Rotberg and Dennis Thompson, eds.,
Truth vs. Justice: The Morality of Truth Commissions, pp 141-57
•Video: Facing the Truth
Week 6: The Post-Colonial African State
(Feb. 24, 26)
•Blackboard: Young, “Distinctive Characteristics of the African
Colonial State,” pp. 278-81
•Blackboard: Robert Jackson and Carl Rosberg, “Sovereignty
and Underdevelopment: Juridical Statehood in the African Crisis,” the
Journal of Modern African Studies 24 (1 1986): 1-31
•Clapham, Chapter 1, “Fragile States and the International System”
Week 7: An African International Order
(Mar. 2, 4)
•Clapham, Chapter 2, “The Creation of an African International Order”
•Clapham, Chapter 3, “Domestic Statehood and Foreign Policy”
•Blackboard: William Reno, Warlord Politics and African States,
Chapter 1, “The Distinctive Logic of Weak States”
Week 8: Post-Colonial Africa in the World
(Mar. 9, 11)
•Clapham, Chapter 4, “The Foreign Policies of Post-Colonialism”
•Clapham, Chapter 6, The Resort to the Superpowers”
•Blackboard: William Reno, Warlord Politics and African States,
Chapter 5, “Sovereignty and the Fragmentation of the Democratic Republic
of Congo,” pp. 147-81
Week 9: Midterm Exam/ICONS Preparation
(Mar. 23, 25)
•Midterm Exam
Week 10: ICONS Simulation/Conflict
(Mar. 30, Apr. 1)
•Upload Initial Negotiation Statement
•Clapham, Chapter 9, “The International Politics of Insurgency”
Week 11: ICONS Simulation/Africa in the Global Economic System
(Apr. 6)
•Clapham: Chapter 7, “The International Politics of Economic Failure”
•Blackboard: Julius E. Nyang’oro and Timothy Shaw, “The
African State in the Global Economic Context,” in Leonardo A. Villalón
and Phillip Huxtable, eds., The African State at a Critical Juncture: Between
Disintegration & Reconfiguration, pp. 27-42
Week 12: ICONS Simulation/Health
(Apr. 13, 15)
• TBA
Week 13: Rwanda
(Apr. 20, 22)
•ICONS Journal Due — April 22
•Blackboard: “Explaining Rwandan Genocide, War, and Relief,”
in Tony Waters, in Bureaucratizing the Good Samaritan: The Limitations of
Humanitarian Relief Operations, pp. 79-102
•Samantha Power, “Bystanders
to Genocide: Why the United States Let the Rwandan Tragedy Happen,”
The Atlantic Monthly 288 (September 2001): 84-108 (Online)
•Blackboard: Peter Uvin and Charles Mironko, “Western and Local
Approaches to Justice in Rwanda,” Global Governance 9 (Apr.-June
2003): 219-231
•Coverage of the Gacaca process in Rwanda by the Fondation Hirondelle (Online)
•Clapham, Chapter 8, “The Externalisation of Political Accountability”
Week 14: Africa in the World After the Cold War
(Apr. 27, 29)
• Clapham, Chapter 5, “The Politics of Solidarity”
• Clapham, Chapter 10, “The Privatisation of Diplomacy”
Week 15: Class Wrap-Up: Afro-Optimism vs. Afro-Pessimism
(May 4, 6)
•Final Web Journal Entry Due Online
•Clapham, Chapter 11, “Conclusion”
•TBA