58吃瓜

IR3024 The Politics of Africa

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Lecture: 12 noon Monday Tutorial: 11am and 1pm Tuesday

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr A P Dyzenhaus

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof I Taylor

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module is an introduction to African politics. Contemporary Africa is complex and varied: the continent has over fifty states with di铿�erent histories, colonial experiences, economies, and social structures. The module highlights the critical roles of colonial histories in shaping contemporary political and economic developments in Africa. It covers the emergence of colonial states, the central legacies of colonial rule and the impact of colonialism in shaping process of state and nation. In this module, we will critically examine trends within African politics while placing them in conversations within the broader subfield of international relations. We begin with a review of the history of colonialism on the continent. We will then discuss how the colonial state interacted with existing political formations in Africa and how the legacies of that interaction continue to shape African politics and institutions today.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60%

Re-assessment

Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 hour lecture (x11 weeks), two 1 hour tutorials (10 weeks), 2 hours office hours (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of the diversity of Africa and the main political and economic developments on the continent.
  • Students will develop an appreciation for the importance of the historical context of contemporary Africa - especially the role of colonialism in shaping African politics.
  • Students will learn how to engage with research from the African continent from a wide variety of disciplines to understand key concepts in African politics, like neo-patrimonialism, democratisation, colonialism, the resource curse, structural adjustment, ethnicity, tradition and violence.
  • In writing an exam, response papers and an essay, students will take the initiative to analyse and theorise about African politics and apply the tools in learned about in lecture and discussed in tutorials.
  • Students will develop research skills by writing a research and case study-based paper.
  • Students will be able to apply their knowledge of comparative foreign policies (Year 1) and democratisation (Year 2) to this region as well as research methods like 鈥渃ase studies鈥� and 鈥渃omparison鈥�.