Politics 249 - African Politics

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to a historically informed comparative study of African politics. The course views Africa as a distinct region with a vital role in the international system, reviewing major theories designed to explain patterns of African politics and the variations between and within African states. The course is motivated by the need to understand the legacies of colonialism, the relative weakness of the African state, and the variation of political and economic development in the continent. Finally, the course examines some aspects of social change and political reforms in post-independence Africa, such as democratization, international relations, and the role of civil society.