Prospectus

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Politics and Development of Africa

Course
2015-2016

Tags

GED, ID, Psc

Admissions requirements

  • A 200-level course in International Development, Regional Studies, or Political Economy.

  • Quantitative Research Methods

Description

Even though the notion of ‘international development’ is central to any discussion on global justice and inequity, it has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Zooming in on this controversial subject, the course aims to discuss the various definitions of international development and analyse some of the main processes and actors that drive and hinder it. The course starts from the analytical perspectives that are common within the field of development studies. Through a wide range of empirical case studies, drawn in particular from Africa, students will be challenged to critically contrast, evaluate, and connect the various theoretical approaches to the real-world problems of the ‘bottom billion’. As such, the course provides insight into some of the key issues concerning international development and helps students to identify, understand, and evaluate them in a wide range of cases.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

  • Be able to reproduce theories of and approaches to international development.

  • Have contrasted and evaluated different explanations of development in specific cases, particularly in the African context.

  • Have constructed analytical arguments about development in Africa in different written and oral formats.

  • Have written a research essay based on a (comparative) case study analysis of a salient issue in African politics.

Timetable

Once available, timetables will be published here.

Mode of instruction

This course will be taught through two-hour interactive seminars. Seminars will generally include a short introduction by the instructor, after which students will be asked to present, debate, or otherwise reflect actively on the relevant theme and readings.

Assessment

Class participation 15%;
Assignments 15%;
Short essays 40%;
Research essay 30%.

Blackboard

There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.

Reading list

TBA

Registration

This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

Dr. David Ehrhardt, d.w.l.ehrhardt@luc.leidenuniv.nl.