Course Catalogue

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In this course students will learn key theories and concepts about politics and international relations of, from, and on Africa. The course will include discussions of contemporary issues as well as country case studies from across the continent. It will also include discussions of policy-making from and toward African countries for students interested in applied knowledge.

Lecture: One hour per week, for 10 weeks

Seminar: One hour per week, for 10 weeks (x2) per week.

Entry to Honours Politics or International Relations requires a grade point average of 12 (Grade C) over Politics 2A and Politics 2B as a first attempt.

None

None

Seminar fulfilment (10%)

Reflective essay: 1500 words (35%)

Final paper (academic or policy options): 2500-3000 words (55%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aim of this course is to introduce students to African politics and international relations, offering a critical and historically-informed perspectives to elucidate contemporary challenges and debates both specific to Africa and within the study of politics and IR more broadly. Through engagement with course materials, students will draw together insights on local, national, regional, and international dynamics. Students will develop a critical orientation toward questions of politics and power in and from Africa. More broadly, the course will deepen students' knowledge and understanding of international relations by providing them a grounding in non-western concepts and theories, that can both broaden and deepen their existing knowledge base.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate an understanding of key theories and concepts from and used to explain politics and international relations in and on African contexts;

■ Apply key theories and concepts to empirical cases to explain political processes and outcomes in select African countries;

■ Critically assess competing scholarly interpretations of political processes and phenomenon on African contexts.

■ Reflect on if and how these lessons can be applied beyond the African continent.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.