Africana Studies 341SR - Topics in Africana Studies: 'Topologies of Self-Reliance and Solidarity in Collective Action in African Communities'

This course will engage the students into looking at principles of self-reliance and solidarity in African communities. We will study cooperatives, burial societies, susu and tontines in West Africa, chama in East Africa, self-help groups and stokvels in South Africa, and sources ranging from proverbs and songs to speeches and government policy papers. The overarching goal of the course will be to learn from indigenous forms of solidarity and explore how they can be integrated with the rest of society and economy in a neoliberal world. Students will identify a case study, do a situational analysis and propose ways to integrate forms of solidarity with the national economy of their case study.

Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors; Prereq: 4 credits of coursework in Africana Studies or any social science.