University of Essex

GV241-5-AU-CO:
Political Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Government

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 05 October 2023

End date: Friday 15 December 2023

Credits: 15

Last updated: 19 May 2022

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

BA L212 Global Politics,
BA L213 Global Politics (including Placement Year),
BA L214 Global Politics (including Year Abroad)

Module description

The module is organized around key concepts and categories from mainstream comparative politics, and comparative methods will be used throughout to analyse the main issues. Yet the course will also demonstrate the continuing relevance of the historical, political and cultural specificities of African politics.

The module will focus on various issues in African politics, such as colonialism , independence, authoritarian breakdown, democratization, corruption, human rights and democratic consolidation.

Module aims

The course aims to introduce students to the main features of contemporary African politics. By building on a comparative approach, this course serves as an introduction for those who are unfamiliar with the history, politics and societies of the region.
The course will challenge students to analyse complex problems in African politics and encourage them to provide informed arguments on these matters.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:
• Think critically about the political reality in countries of Sub-Saharan Africa within a broad historical & comparative perspective;
• Develop a more comprehensive understanding and familiarity with the main theoretical and empirical contributions of comparative politics to the study of Sub-Saharan Africa;
• Identify the key issues in the contemporary democratic politics of Sub-Saharan Africa, and apply the methods of comparative politics to clarify and analyse them;
• Identify the political, historical and socio-economic roots of the governability issues affecting countries of the region at the beginning of the 21st century;
• Write and orally communicate clear and well-researched observation about the substantive questions raised in the course

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be taught over 2 hours per week

Bibliography

Alex Thomson (2016) An introduction to African politics. Fourth edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4516779.
Thomson, A. (2016c) An introduction to African politics. Fourth edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://essex.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=4408356720007346&institutionId=7346&customerId=7345.
How to Write About Africa | Binyavanga Wainaina | Granta (no date). Available at: https://granta.com/how-to-write-about-africa/.
Edwards, Z. (2018) ‘No Colonial Working Class, No Post-Colonial Development: a Comparative-Historical Analysis of Two Oil-Rich Countries’, Studies in Comparative International Development, 53(4), pp. 477–499. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-017-9255-9.
Nyamnjoh, F.B. (2012) ‘“Potted Plants in Greenhouses”: A Critical Reflection on the Resilience of Colonial Education in Africa’, Journal of Asian and African Studies, 47(2), pp. 129–154. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909611417240.
NAHOMI ICHINO, NOAH L. NATHAN (2013) ‘Crossing the Line: Local Ethnic Geography and Voting in Ghana’, The American Political Science Review, 107(2), pp. 344–361. Available at: https://www-jstor-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/stable/43654018.
Stephen N. Ndegwa (1997) ‘Citizenship and Ethnicity: An Examination of Two Transition Moments in Kenyan Politics’, The American Political Science Review, 91(3), pp. 599–616. Available at: https://www-jstor-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/stable/2952077.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Final Essay	40%
Practical	Presentation	30%
Practical	Quiz	30%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Florian Kern, email: fkern@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Florian Kern

Contact details: Module Supervisor: Dr Florian Kern - fkern@essex.ac.uk / Module Administrator: Jasini Hobbs - govquery@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Dr Stefano Pagliari

Institution: City, University of London

Academic role: Senior Lecturer in International Politics

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Government

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Module Directory

GV241-5-AU-CO:Political Development in Sub-Saharan Africa