Tuesday/Thursday, 9:00 a.m.                                                       Office Tel. 1501/1280/Home: 243-2552
Office Hours: Tues., 10:15-12, 2:45-4; Thurs., 10:15-12             Denny 207/ruhl@dickinson.edu
 

       Since Independence (circa 1960), most of Sub-Saharan Africa has been mired in economic decay, dictatorship, and political disorder.  Only a handful of the 48 countries in the region have achieved significant economic growth and political stability.  This course analyzes why Africa’s post-colonial experience has been such a disappointment thus far and investigates whether the current regional trend toward democratization promises a better future.  In the process of studying these questions, students will become acquainted with Sub-Saharan Africa’s history, social structure, economy, and politics.

Required Books:

E. Gyimah-Boadi (editor).  Democratic Reform in Africa:  The Quality of Progress (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2004).

V.S. Naipaul.  A Bend in the River (New York: Vintage, 1979).

Alex Thomson.  An Introduction to African Politics  (London:  Routledge, 2004 edition).

Students are also required to purchase the May 2004 Africa issue of Current History and the Survey of Sub-Saharan Africa in The Economist (January 17, 2004).

Course Requirements:

 1.      Quiz on September 27  (10% of the final grade)

 Brief test on material covered to date.  Short-answer questions (fill-ins and multiple choice) and brief identifications.

 2.      Midterm Examination on October 20 (30%)

 Exams are composed of long essays (40% to 60%), brief identifications/short essays, and short-answer questions.  Detailed knowledge of the assigned readings and lecture/discussion material is necessary for success.  Documented illness or a confirmed personal emergency at home are the only acceptable reasons for rescheduling an exam.  Please do not request a rescheduled exam because of other exams on the same day or vacation plans.

 3.      Country Study Research Paper due on November 15 at 5:00 p.m. (30%)

 Each student will select a single African nation and write a situation report of no less than 3,500 words on that country for the U.S. Secretary of State.  This report will analyze social, economic, and political developments in the selected nation and speculate on its potential for political stability and democratization. Research papers will be evaluated in terms of research depth, conceptual understanding, and writing quality. No extensions will be granted except for documented illness or a confirmed personal emergency at home.  Points will be deducted for late papers as follows: late by one calender day or less (1 pt.), more than one full day late but less than two full days (3 pts.), more than two full days late but less than three days (6 pts.), additional days late (10 pts. for each day). Some useful Web sites for current news and research information on Africa include:

 Africa News:

 worldaudit.org
 humanrightswatch.org
 africanconflict.org

 4.      Final Examination on December 12 at 2:00 p.m. (30%)

  A non-cumulative exam focusing on material covered since the midterm.

 5.      Class Participation

 The final course grade is based on the four grades above, but strong class participation is also taken into account by adding one or more extra points into the final grade calculation for consistently active, well-informed participation in class.  Regular attendance is expected and frequent unexcused absences from class (five or more) will result in a reduced grade (one letter grade for every additional class missed).  Students are also required to attend the evening film showing listed below unless the scheduled time conflicts with prior College commitments.
 

Course Outline and Assigned Readings:

I.         Introduction to Contemporary Africa          August 30, September 1

 Film segment: The Congo River
 Thomson, 1-6
 How to Make Africa Smile: Survey of Sub-Saharan Africa in The Ecomomist (2004), 3-16
 Ndegwa on Kenya in Journal of Democracy (July 2003)
 Visit The East African Standard (Nairobi) Webpage

 II.         Colonial Rule and Independence         September 6, 8

 Thomson, 7-30
 Film segments on African History (also visit pbs.org/wonders)
 Required Evening Film (Sept. 6): Mr. Johnson, 6:30 p.m.

 Palmberg versus Bauer, handout
 Thomson, 31-57 

III.         African Society: Ethnicity, Religion, Social Class, and Gender         September 13, 15, 20

 Thomson, 59-81
 Graybill in Current History (May 2004), 202-205
 Posner in American Political Science Review (November 2004), 1-12
 Rwanda film segment 

 Thomson, 82-106
 Tripp in Journal of Democracy (July 2001)
 Cameroon Slides 

 IV.         Post-Independence Politics               September 22, 27 

        A.    Personal Rule

 Thomson, 107-128
 deSardan in Journal of Modern African Studies  (March 1999), 25-50  
 Begin reading V.S. Naipaul novel (see pages assigned under VII. below)

        B.    Role of the Military

 Thomson, 129-148

                <<Quiz: September 27 (½ period)>>
 

V.         Role of External Powers         September 29

 Thomson, 149-174
 Booker and Colgan in Current History (May 2004), 232-236
 Klare and Volman in Current History (May 2004), 226-231

VI.        Economic Conditions                October 4, 6

 Thomson, 175-205
 van de Walle in Gyimah-Boadi, 29-63

VII.        Crisis of Governance              October 11, 13

 Thomson, 205-227
 Boas in Current History (May 2004), 211-214
 Naipaul novel, 3-10, 24-102, 115-140, 156-167, 183-214, 223-228, 247-278
 Congo film and readings, TBA  

              <<Midterm Examination: October 20>>

 VIII.       Democratization in Africa?

        A.     Post-1989 Political Change and Democratization Concepts
                                                                               October 25, 27
 Benin film
 Diamond et al. and Huntington definitions
 Thomson, 228-246, 253-262

 Gyimah-Boadi, 1-27, 99-119
 Bratton and Mattes in Gyimah-Boadi, 65-78, 93-95
 Freedom House Democracy Ratings (2005) 

        B.     Authoritarian Regimes: Cameroon and Zimbabwe              November 1, 3, 8

Takougang in Journal of Modern African Studies (2003)  
Zimbabwe film
Makumbe in Journal of Democracy (October 2002) 

        C.     Semi-Democratic Regimes : Nigeria                     November 10, 15

  Lloyd in Current History (May 2004), 215-220
  Agbaje in Gyimah-Boadi, 201-233

                    <<Research Paper Due: November 15>> 

        D.     Democratic Regimes: Senegal and South Africa            November 17, 22, 29, Dec. 1

 Galvan in Journal of Democracy (July 2001)
 Hendley in Current History (May 2004), 195-201 
 Alence in Journal of Democracy (July 2004)
 Visit The Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg)

        E.     Comparative Analysis of Democratization in Africa         December 6

 Bratton and van de Walle (1997), 19-27
 van de Walle in Journal of Democracy (April 2002)

        F.     Regime Classification and Theory Testing: Uganda         December 8
 
 Review Thomson, 142-147
 Kannyo in Journal of Democracy (April 2004)
 Mugisha in Journal of Democracy (April 2004)
 Dunn in Current History (May 2004), 206-210

                                   <<Final Examination: December 12>>
                                                            2:00 p.m.

 Note:  The photo at the top of the page is by Kwaku Sakyi Addo from the All Africa Website at allafrica.com/photo essay/ghelection/

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