The course aims at introducing the very interaction between politics and society in Africa since the beginning of the postcolonial episode. In this vein, it aims at pushing the students to question how an event that happens in state level reflects on the society in the continent. The course, all in all, objects to show the students that Africa is not made of single structure but contains different cultures and socioeconomic fabrics.
The course starts with elaborating the theoretical systematic of colonialism and postcolonialism, and then will introduce a specific event in different states and regions of Africa.
Vertical Tabs
Course Learning Outcomes
| Learning Outcomes | Program Learning Outcomes | Teaching Methods | Assessment Methods |
| Define basic concepts on colonialism/ postcolonialism | 1,2 | 1 | A |
| Recognize the African geography | 1,2,3 | 1 | A |
| Categorize Africa’s regions | 3 | 1 | A |
| Be aware of contemporary problems in Africa | 1,2 | 1,2 | A,D |
| Draw Turkish and Chinese Foreign Policy towards the African Continent | 1,2 | 1,2,3 | A,D |
| Question why Africa has so many problems currently | 1,2,3 | 1,3 | A,D |
| Evaluate Africa’s future better | 1,2,3 | 1,2,3 | A,D |
Course Flow
| COURSE CONTENT | ||
| Week | Topics | Study Materials |
| 1 | Meeting and introduction of the course. | |
| 2 | Colonialism/Postcolonialism |
Gilbert, B.M. 1997. Postcolonial Theory: Contexts, Practices, Politics. Verso. London
Osterhammel.J. 1997. Colonialism: A Theoretical Framework. Markus Wiener.Princeton Ferro.M. 1997. Colonization: A Global History. Routledge. London and New York Young, R.C.J. 2001. Postcolonialism. Blackwell Publishers. Oxford |
| 3 | The Modern Africa |
Afigbo,A.E, Ayandele,B.A, Gavin,R.J,Omer-Cooper,J.D. 1991. The Making of Modern Africa. Longman. Hong Kong
Wilson. H.S. 1994. African Decolonization. Hodder Headline. London Birmingham. D. 1995. The decolonization of Africa. UCL Press. London Wesseling, H.L.1996. Divide and Rule: The Partition of Africa: 1880-1954.Praeger.Westport |
| 4 | The Movie “Amistad” | |
| 5 | The Arab Spring |
Tanoukhi,N. & Mazrui.A. Arab Spring and the Future of Leadership in North Africa. Transition.No.106.2011.pp.148-162
Jones. P. The Arab Spring: Opportunities and Implications. International Journal, Vol.67.No.2. (Spring 2002. pp.447-463 Aras.B & Akarçeşme.S. Turkey and the Arab Spring. International Journal. Vol.67.No.1. Charting the new Turkish Foreign Policy. Winter 2011-2012. pp.39-51 |
| 6 | The Boko Haram around the Lake Chad |
Loimeler.R. The Development of a Militant Religious Movement in Nigeria. Africa Spectrum. Vol.47. No.2/3. pp.137-155
Maiangwa.B & Uzodike.U.O & Whetho.A.& Onapajo.H. Baptism by fire: Boko Haram and the Reign of Terror in Nigeria. Africa Today.Vol.59.No.2. Winter 2012. pp.41-57 Falola.T & Heaton.M.M. a History of Nigeria. 2008. Cambridge University Press.New York. Adesoji.A. Between Maitatsine and Boko Haram: Islamic Fundamentalism and the response of the Nigerian State. Africa Today. Vol.57.No.4.Summer 2011.pp.99-119 |
| 7 | The Genocide in Rwanda and Burundi |
Uvin.P. Reading the Rwandan Genocide. International Studies Review. Vol.3.No.3. Autumn 2001.pp.75-99
Burkhalter.H. The Question of Genocide The Clinton Administration and Rwanda. World Policy Journal.Vol.11.No.4. Winter 1994-1995. pp.44-54 Reyntjens.P. Rwanda Ten Years on: From Genocide to Dictatorship. African Affairs. Vol.103. No.411. April 2004. pp.177-210 Lemarchand.R. 1994.Burundi: Ethnic Conflict and Genocide.Woodrwo Wilson Center Press and Cambridge University Press. New York |
| 8 | Mid-term Exam | |
| 9 | The Movie “Hotel Rwanda” | |
| 10 | The Military in Africa |
Markaris. J & Waller.M. 1986. Military Marxist Regimes in Africa. Frank Cass. London
Tordoff. W. 1993. Government and Politics in Africa. Macmillan. London Morgan. E.C. 1997. Democratization in Africa: The Theory and Dynamics of Political Transitions. Praeger. London Onwumechili.C. 1998. African Democratization and Military Coups. Praeger. London |
| 11 | The Touareg in Mali and Niger |
Kisangani. E. The Touareg’s Rebellions in Mali and Niger and the US Global war on terror. International Journal on World Peace. Vol.29. No.1 March 2012. pp.59-97
Baudais.V. & Chauzal.G. Briefing: The 2010 Coup d’état in Niger: a Praetorian Regulation of Politics? African Affairs. Vol.110. No.439. April 2011. pp.295-304 Whitehouse.B. The Force of Action: Legitimizing the Coup in Bamako, Mali. Africa Spectrum. Vol.47.No.2/3. 2012.pp.93-110 Boas.M& Torheim.L. The Internaitonal intervention in Mali: Desert Blues or a new beginning? International Journal. Vol.68. No.3. September 2013. pp.417-423 |
| 12 | Pirates in Somalia |
Bruton.B. In the Quicksands of Somalia: Where Doing Less Helps More. Foreign Affairs. Vol.88. No.6. November/December 2009. Pp.79-94
Krech.H. The Growing Influence of Al Qaeda on the African Continent. Africa Spectrum. Vol.46. No.2.2011. pp.125-137 Boot.M. Pirates,Then and Now: How Piracy defeated in the Past and Can be Again. Foreign Affairs. Vol.88. No.4. July-August 2009. Pp.94-107 Luling.V. Come Back Somalia? Questioning a collapsed state. Third World Quarterly. Vol.18. No.2. June 1997. pp.287-302 |
| 13 |
The Movie “Captain Philips”
|
|
| 14 | Apartheid years in South Africa |
Worden. N. 1994. The Making of Modern South Africa: Conquest, Segregation and Apartheid. Blackwell. Oxford.
Ross.R. 1999. A Concise History of South Africa. Cambridge University Press. London Mac Kinnon.A. 2003. The Making of South Africa: Culture and Politics. Pearson. New Jersey |
| 15 | Turkish and Chinese Foreign Policies on Africa |
Harte.J. Turkey Shocks Africa. World Policy Journal. Vol.29.No.4. Winter 2012/2013. pp.27-38
Akgün,B.& Özkan.M. Turkey’s Opening to Africa. The Journal of Modern African Studies. Vol.48.No.4.December 2010 Alden.C & Alves.A.C. History and Identity in the Construction of China’s Africa Policy. Rewview of African Political Economy. Vol.35. No.115. March 2008. Pp.43-58 Schoemen.M. China and Africa: Whose Challenge and Whose Opportunity? Africa Spectrum.Vol.43. No.3. 2008. Pp.403-413 Kitissou.M. 2007. Africa in China’s Global Strategy. Adonis & Abbey. London |
Recommended Sources
| Recommended Sources | |
| Textbook | |
| Additional Resources | Rodney, W. How Europe underdeveloped Africa?(1973). Pambazuka Press. 2012 |
Material Sharing
| MATERIAL SHARING | |
| Documents | Weekly MS Powerpoint Presentations |
| Assignments | None |
| Exams | In class |
Assessment
| ASSESSMENT | ||
| IN-TERM STUDIES | NUMBER | PERCENTAGE |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 30 |
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 20 |
| Final Exam | 1 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE | 50 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE | 30 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION TO OVERALL GRADE | 20 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Course’s Contribution to Program
| COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM | ||||||||
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| 1 | Students will demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of Political Science and International Relations as well as other related disciplines such as Law, Economics and Sociology. | - | ||||||
| 2 | Students will interpret the structure, institutions and operation of national, international and supranational entities via utilization of the concepts and theories of Political Science and International relations and produce project reports that include possible solutions to problems of such institutions when necessary. | - | ||||||
| 3 | Students will demonstrate that they have developed a comparative, analytical and interdisciplinary approach vis-à-vis human societies and political systems. | - | ||||||
| 4 | Students will have improved their skills and awareness of personal responsibility and team membership through conducting group or independent research projects, doing internships and producing their graduation dissertations. | - | ||||||
| 5 | Students will demonstrate proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collections methods. | - | ||||||
| 6 | Students will prove their understanding of the rapidly-evolving dynamics of national and global environments requires constant self-assessment, life-long learning, and the ability to formulate innovative solutions to maintain their personal and professional development. | - | ||||||
| 7 | Students should be able to critically evaluate the body of knowledge in political science, assess self-competency and direct self-learning efforts accordingly. | - | ||||||
| 8 | Students will implement written and oral communication skills in English and Turkish in both academic and professional settings. | - | ||||||
| 9 | Students should be able to effectively demonstrate their knowledge of written, oral and reading skills in English both in international institutional settings and follow and interpret the global dynamics of the International Relations discipline. | - | ||||||
| 10 | Students will demonstrate their social skills and experience required by public or private institutions or in the academia. | - | ||||||
| 11 | Students will show empathy and respect towards societies other than one’s own. | - | ||||||
| 12 | Students should be able to effectively utilize computer and information technologies commonly-used in the social sciences. | - | ||||||
| 13 | Students will interpret domestic and international developments and express opinions, having acquired advanced knowledge and proficiency in the via communication with international scholars and students. | - | ||||||
| 14 | Students will respect personal, social and academic ethical norms. | - | ||||||
| 15 | Students should understand the personal, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility, and show duties of active and global citizenship. | - | ||||||
| 16 | Students should know that universality of social-political and legal rights and social justice are the principle components of contemporary society, and that scientific thinking is an essential prerequisite for maintaining social advancement and global competitiveness. | - | ||||||
ECTS
| ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION | |||
| Activities | Quantity |
Duration (Hour) |
Total Workload (Hour) |
| Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 16 | 4 | 64 |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Homework | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final examination | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Total Work Load | 130 | ||
| Total Work Load / 25 (h) | 5,2 | ||
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 5 | ||