Admission requirements
To be registered as (Res)MA student at Leiden University.
Description
This course aims to show how the disciplinary perspectives of history, political anthropology, economics, and human geography have contributed to thinking and research on the central themes that are the backbone of the MaAS programme: ’Framing’, ‘Developing?’, ’Decolonising?’, ‘Moving and Dwelling’, ‘Caring’, and ‘World Views’. What questions have been asked and what research topics have been taken up in the aforementioned domains of enquiry from these (combined) disciplinary perspectives? And what kind of methodologies and methods have been used to tackle those research questions? We will for instance delve deeper into the concept of inclusive development as it is nurtured from economic and human geography perspectives and juxtapose those approaches to critical contributions from political anthropology. Also: how have historical processes of decolonization in various parts in Africa an influence on current power constellations and economic linkages? We will delve further into these and other specific themes, and in so doing, learn more about historical and contemporary processes in Africa, while also critically scrutinizing the associated (theoretical) debates and the ways in which disciplinary inputs (sometimes harmoniously, sometimes frictionally) jointly nourish the interdisciplinary field of African Studies.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, the students;
are able to identify, analyse and compare disciplinary contributions from history, political anthropology and political science, economics, and human geography to the themes covered
are able to combine, analyze and present general scientific output on historical, political, economic and social developments concerning Africa, for oral, written and multi-modal assignments;
are able to actively participate in academic debates on issues treated in the course, and to moderate in-class discussions in such a way that they engage the other students in the discussion and move the discussion forward;
have furthered their skills in using the knowledge and analytical thinking acquired in the course for collaboratively formulating a concrete research question, operationalizing this, conducting a research interview, and reporting on this.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Participation in class and in-class assignments: 20 % (relates to objectives 1 to 3)
Position paper and debate: 20 % (related to objectives 1-3)
Interview group assignment and reporting: 10 % (relates to objective 4)
Written exam: 50 % (relates to objectives 1-2)
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
In case the sub-assignments and/or final product are not sufficient, students can take one re-sit for each of the sub-tests. The resubmission date will be decided upon together but will take place not later than the 15th of January.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
To be announced on BrightSpace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
Not applicable.