Afri 68: Political Protest and Conflict in Africa

Spring Semester 1999 MW: 2-3:15 Alumni 205

This course surveys contemporary forms of political conflict and protest in Africa. The objective is to use political conflict as a lens through which to discuss and understand current social and political realities on the African continent. A limited number of sites of political conflict will be examined in detail. This term these sites will include Kenya, Southern Africa, Nigeria, and the Guinea Coast (Sierra Leone and Liberia). We will examine the nature, causes, and consequences of these conflicts. These case studies will be used to discuss topics which are broader than but closely related to political conflict. These topics will include, but will not be limited to: ideologies of political opposition, ethnicity and nationalism, child soldiers, famine and refugees, and everyday forms of resistance to state power.

Course Requirements Texts Course Topics and Readings Return to Home Page

Course Requirements:

All students are expected to attend all classes and to complete all assigned readings. Attendance and participation will be considered in assigning final grades. Your final grade will be based on the assignments listed below. Please take note of the dates the assignments are due. Late assignments will be penalized.

Map Quiz (February 1)              10%
First Exam (February 22)         15%
Second Exam (March 29)           15%
Final Exam (May 1)                    25%
Research Paper (April 28)          20%
Presentation                                  10%
Attendance and Participation   10%

Map Quiz: This is a short evaluation of your ability to identify basic geographic and political features of the African continent. You can find a map and a list of countries and their capitals in the text Understanding Contemporary Africa, edited by Gordon and Gordon (page 22). Use this map to study for the map quiz. Other maps might be outdated or use alternative spelling. Note that you are expected to learn both the countries and their capitals.

Remember to bring blue books to the first, second and final exams.

You will have the opportunity to write a research paper (10-15 pages) on a topic of your choice. Part of your grade will be based on a presentation you will make on your research topic.

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Texts:

The following texts are available at Student Store. They are also on reserve at the Undergraduate Library.

The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon
A Complicated War: The Harrowing of Mozambique, William Finnegan
Weep Not Child, Ngugi Wa Thiongo
Open Sore of a Continent, Wole Soyinka

The following texts and readings marked with an asterisk (*) are on reserve at the Undergraduate Library.

Understanding Contemporary Africa, edited by April Gordon and Donald Gordon
Africa, edited by Phyllis Martin and Patrick O'Meara
Divide and Rule, Africa Watch
The Revolutionary Years: West Africa Since 1800, J.B. Webster and A.A. Boahen
Robert Kaplan, "The Coming Anarchy" (photocopy)
Schuster, "The Final Days of Dr. Doe" (photocopy)
Claude Welch, "The Ogoni and Self-Determination" (photocopy)
Paul Richards "Rebellion in Liberia and Sierra Leone" in Conflict in Africa, Oliver Furley(ed). 134-70.

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Course Topics and Readings:

Jan 6   Introduction

Jan 11 Perspectives on Africa (*Martin and O'Meara, pp.  3-45)

History and Politics

Jan 13     The Colonial Experience (*‘The Colonial Era,' Martin and O'Meara, 135-155)

Jan 20     Theories of the Anti-Colonial Revolution (Fanon, ‘Concerning Violence')

Jan 25      Film: Fanon

Jan 27      Building African Nations (Fanon, ‘On National Culture')

Feb 1       Map Quiz

Continuities and Disruptures: Kenya

Feb 3        Historical Background (Ngugi Wa Thiongo)

Feb 8        Film: Mau Mau (Ngugi Wa Thiongo)

Feb 10      Tools of oppression and opposition (Ngugi Wa Thiongo)

Feb 15      Post-colonial politics (*‘African Politics,' Gordon and Gordon, 53-90)

Feb 17      Manipulating ethnic politics in contemporary Kenya (*Africa Watch, 1-18)

Feb 22     First Exam

Feb 24       Library Research

Neo-Colonial Struggles I: Southern Africa

Mar 1        Historical Background (*‘South Africa,' Gordon and Gordon, 335-370)

Mar 3        Struggling Against Aparthied

Mar 15      Zimbabwe (Finnegan, 27-36, 62-81)

Mar 17      Film: Flame

Mar 22      Mozambique (Finnegan, 105-136)

Mar 24      Aftermath (Finnegan, 237-258)

Mar 29      Second Exam

Neo-Colonial Struggles II: Nigeria

Mar 31       Historical Background (Soyinka, Open Sore of a Continent)

Apr 5         Military Rule and Neocolonialism (Soyinka, Open Sore of a Continent)

Apr 7         Film: The Drilling Fields

Apr 12       Defending Minority Rights (*Welch, "The Ogoni and Self-Determination")

Post-Neo-Colonial Conflicts: The Guinea Coast

Apr 14        Historical Background (*Webster and Boahen, pp.  111-136, 361-373)

Apr 19        Rebel Movements (*Schuster ‘The Final Days of Dr. Doe,' *Kaplan ‘The Coming Anarchy')

Apr 21        Theories of disorder (*Richards ‘Rebellion in Liberia and Sierra Leone')

Apr 26        How to rebuild?

Apr 28        Review (Paper due)

May 1         Final Exam (4:00 PM)

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