Dr. Joshua B. Rubongoya                                                                                       Fall 2004/Block 6

Office Hours:  Monday & Wednesday, 4:00-5:30pm                                          Office:  West 119; Ext. 2444
or by appointment                                                                                                 Classroom: West 210

rugongoy@roanoke.edu                                                                                                                    

 

Comparative Political Systems: Africa (POLI. 224A)

 

Context

 

Africa is a huge continent comprised of over fifty different states with varied cultural, religious, racial and political backgrounds.  We cannot gain thorough knowledge of all these different states in one course.  We shall specifically focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, i.e. Africa south of the Sahara Desert. 

 

Objectives

 

The course objectives will be to a) survey the major historical, political, economic and cultural forces that determine politics south of the Sahara; b) focus on specific countries in order to get a better understanding of how specific political systems fit into the general dynamic of African politics; and c) discuss Africa's place in the international system, with special emphasis on relations with the United States.  To meet these objectives the course adopts a political economy approach and methodologies.

 

We shall also view excerpts (as they relate to each topic) from Ali A. Mazrui's acclaimed PBS series, "The Africans: A Triple Heritage" on video and Henry Louis Gates’ six part television series, “Wonders of the African World”.

 

Required Reading

 

Khapoya, Vincent B. The African Experience: An Introduction, 2nd edition (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1998).

 

Achebe, Chinua.  Things Fall Apart.  (Oxford:  Heinemann Educational Publishers, 2000).

 

Cuba, Lee.  A Short Guide to Writing About Social Science, 4th edition (New York: Longman, 2002).

 

Both are available for purchase in the bookstore.

 

Additional reading will be assigned as indicated below and in the outline.

 

The following journals are recommended for additional reading:  Africa Today*, Journal of Modern African Studies; Africa Report; The Review of African Political Economy; Africa Contemporary Record; and Africa South of the Sahara; African Affairs; the Canadian Journal of African Studies; Africa Research Bulletin; and The African Studies Review.  Foreign Affairs occasionally carries articles about Africa, particularly southern Africa.  The Christian Science Monitor is perhaps the most important source of Third World, in particular, African news and analyses.   The Monitor will be used in classroom discussions and tests.  A discounted subscription sign‑up sheet will be passed around on the first day of class.

Course Requirements

 

Your course grade will be based on the following:

1.      A final exam (20%)

2.      A research paper (8-10) pages (20%)

3.      Class participation (10%)

4.      2 Tests (20%)

5.      5 Pop Reading Quizzes (30%)

 

Class attendance (for the whole class period) is required.  One absence will be permitted for emergencies, athletics and illness.  A second and any subsequent absence will result in the lowering of your final grade by one percent.  Chronic absences may result  in dismissal from the course with a failing grade.  A formal warning will precede such dismissal.  Any absences from tests must be excused by the instructor (possibly in advance) and will be made up by a 10‑page research paper.  Such absences will be recognized only for crises.

 

Academic integrity will be enforced strictly.  All work, in and out of class, must be individually prepared.  Enrollment constitutes acknowledgment by the student of his/her awareness of all definitions, rules, and procedures relating to academic integrity.  Please review the contents of the college academic Integrity Handbook. 

 

Students are advised to consult with the instructor if they are encountering difficulty in the course.

 

Course Outline

Section I

The following is a list of topics we will discuss, the assignment for each, the time frame involved and the test dates.

Week 1

Sept. 1 - 3

Africa:  The Continent and its People

Readings:

Khapoya,Chapter 1

a) Geography

 

 

 

b) Demography

 

 

 

c) Language and Culture

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 2

Sept. 6 – 10

African Traditional Institutions

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 2

a) Kinship

 

Achebe, Part 1

 

b) Forms of Marriage

 

 

 

c) Non-Kinship Groups

 

 

 

d) The Individual in African Societies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 3

Sept. 13 – 17

Political Development in Historic Africa

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 3

a) Prehistoric Africa

 

Achebe, Part 1

 

b) Ancient Africa

 

 

 

c) Medieval Africa

 

 

 

d) Early Modern Africa

 

 

 

e) 19th Century Africa

 

 

Sept. 17

Exam I      Khapoya, Chapters 1, 2, 3 and Achebe, Part 1

 

 

 

 

Week 4

Sept. 20 – 24

Colonialism and the African Experience

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 4

Sept. 19th-last 30 min.-Basil Davidson video                     Achebe, Part 2

 

 

 

 

 

Week 5

Sept. 27 – Oct. 1

African Nationalism and the Struggle For Freedom

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 5

Achebe, Part 2

 

Section II

Week 6

Oct. 4 - 8

African Independence and the Post-Independence Era

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 6

 

a) Decolonization and Transfer of Power

 

Achebe, Part 2

 

b) Problems at Independence

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 7

Oct. 11 - 15

Issues of Independent Statehood

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 6

 

Mid-Term Exam:  October 13 (Cumulative)

 

Week 8

Fall Break (October 18 – 22)

Week 9

Oct. 25 – 29

Problems of Legitimacy and Democratization

Readings:

Tangri, Chapter 5

Course Reserve (Fintel Library)

 

 

 

 

Week 10

Nov. 1 – 5

The Military and Militarism

Readings:

Tordoff, Chapter 7 Course Reserve (Fintel Library)

 

 

 

 

Week 11

Nov. 8 – 12

South Africa

Readings:

Khapoya, Chapter 7

 

 

 

 

 

Week 12

Nov. 15 – 19

Contemporary Problems in African Politics:  Economic Development

Readings:

To Be Assigned (TBA)

Week 13

Nov. 22 – 26

Thanksgiving 11/25

 

 

 

Section III

Week 14

Nov. 29 - Dec. 3

Contemporary Problems in African Politics:  Democratic Experiments

Readings:

TBA

Week 15

Dec. 6 - 10

Contemporary Problems in African Politics:  Health, Identity & Education

Readings:

TBA

 

 

 

 

Week 16

Dec. 16

Final Exam  2 – 5 pm

 

 

 

 

            COMPARATIVE POLITICAL SYSTEMS: AFRICA (POLI 224)

Fall 2004

Research Paper

 

The research paper is expected to be 8-10 (double-spaced) pages in length, exclusive of bibliography.  It will focus on topics included in Sections I and II of your course outline.  The course material covered in Sections I & II is to be used as historical background to your paper.  Select a country and use it as a case study of any of the problems/issues discussed in Sections II & III.  For example, if you wish to examine problems of political legitimacy, you might select a case such as Kenya, your paper will critically analyze the political history of the country so as to establish a context for problems of legitimation.  Be sure to base your discussion on the contemporary (post independence) politics of your case.  Your conclusion should summarize the causes of the problems and how you think they might be resolved by domestic and international actors.

Deadline for topics and cases:           September 13

Paper Outline & Bibliography due       September 27

        (typed)

Completed Paper due                         December 1

Four points will be deducted for each day the completed paper (plus all material required for submission) is overdue. No paper will be accepted 2 days after the due date. All materials are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated. Papers not handed in at the beginning of class will be considered late. Computer related excuses will not be entertained!

Research notes, and drafts must be used and submitted (these will be returned). The completed seminar paper AND one good copy must be submitted. The graded original with comments will be returned. The instructor may require that poorly researched or written papers be re-written prior to the assignment of a paper and course grade. Handwritten papers are not acceptable and all papers must include textnotes and a bibliography following the format indicated in the "Guidelines for Research Papers" (attached).  All work must be original for this course. Failure to utilize proper citation and quotation procedures (use Cuba as the guide) and/or failure to meet any of the above mentioned requirements constitutes a violation of academic integrity. Students are expected to be aware of and to review the contents of the College Academic Integrity Handbook.

 

Consult the Instructor if there are any questions regarding the research for or writing of the paper.  If you are not in the habit of writing drafts, begin to do so.  PC users should print hard copies and retain disks which may be requested by instructor if necessary.  Computer gimmicks like enlarged marginalization or font-size will adversely affect your paper grade.