Africa is typically placed at the margins of academic and popular discourses about international politics. This module turns the tables, placing Africa and its engagement with the outside world at the centre of analysis. The aim here is not to deny Africa's position of structural weakness within a highly uneven global political and economic system but rather to investigate how African actors, institutions and processes interact with the global system. In so doing, the module encourages students to challenge conventional understandings of international politics and develop a detailed and nuanced understanding of Africa's place within the international system.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Autumn Term 2021-22 |
The module first introduces students to key conceptual approaches to Africa’s role in international politics, from ‘Africanist’ critiques of mainstream international relations theory to theories of extraversion and African agency. Students are then encouraged to apply these theoretical approaches to the most salient issues in African international politics - the role of the African state, Africa’s place in a changing global order, peace and security, trade, aid, climate change and health. The topics incorporate case studies in order to encourage students to reflect critically on the diversity and specificity of African political contexts and experiences while also developing a broad understanding of the international politics of the continent as a whole. Through group and individual seminar tasks and formative and summative written assessments, the module will enable students to develop and enhance a range of key transferable skills, including written and oral communication, critical thinking, and argumentative and analytical skills.
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
Task | Length | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework Essay |
N/A | 100 |
None
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay |
N/A | 100 |
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 20 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.
Brown W and Harman S (eds) (2013) African Agency in International Politics. London: Routledge.
Dunn, K. C. & Shaw, T. M. eds. (2013) Africa's Challenge to International Relations Theory (second edition, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).
Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S. J. 2013. The Entrapment of Africa within the Global Colonial Matrices of Power: Eurocentrism, Coloniality, and Deimperialization in the Twenty-First Century. Journal of Developing Societies, 29(4), 331-353.
Bayart, J.-F. 2000. Africa in the World: A History of Extraversion. African Affairs, 99(395), 217-267.