Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme.
Limited places are also open for exchange students.
Please note: this course takes place in The Hague. Traveling between University buildings from Leiden to The Hague may take about 45 minutes.
Description
This course will equip students with both a broad general understanding of African economies and more in-depth knowledge on relevant dynamics in contemporary African political economies in the context of processes of globalization and modernization.
The study of diverse economies in Africa will offer students insights into the (contested) notion of ‘Africa’ as a continent and its relation to processes of ‘globalization’ from the perspective of a diversity of economic dynamics. In particular in the neoliberal era of the late 20th century Africa has alternatively been referred to as a ‘dark’, ‘failed’, or ‘sinking continent’ while more recently the notion of ‘Africa rising’ is used. Whatever the qualifications, Africa constitutes an ‘inconvenient continent’ where the continuing dominance of external economic interests intersects with new as well as longer existing economic spheres. The imbalance between the global North and South is not ‘natural’ or ‘self-evident’ but, rather, the result of a long history of (post)colonial developments which, in Africa, have impacted countries and societies in diverse and sometimes unexpected ways.
The following is a list of issues that will be covered in this course:
Introduction to the problematic notion of Africa as a continent.
Introduction to debates on the history of the influence of globalization on African economic developments.
The influence of global institutions like the IMF, World Bank, etc. on African political economies.
Subsistence, Slavery and Socialist economies.
Economies of tourism and migration.
Economies of cloth and clothing.
Occult & Virtual economies (ICT).
Agricultural and Extractive economies.
Uncaptured and informal economies.
The NGO-ization of African economies.
Violent & (Im)moral economies.
Course objectives
Students have:
Acquired an overview of the historical and contemporary economic developments and political economy dynamics in their chosen area and deepen their existing knowledge and understanding of different economic systems, economic institutions, economic processes and actors in the different regions / countries of the region, using the concepts acquired during the courses Principles of Economics and Foundations of Political Economy.
Been acquainted with academic debates on selected topics in the specific region.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Lectures are held every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Weekly lectures will cover issues both inside and outside the readings.
Tutorials
Tutorials are held once every three weeks, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance. Being absent at more than one of the tutorial sessions will result in a lowering of your tutorial grade (30% of the end grade) with 1 point for each session missed after the first session. Please note that being absent at any tutorial session may have a negative impact on the grade of the assignment due for that particular tutorial session. This is at the discretion of the tutor.
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), which equals 140 hours, broken down by:
Attending lectures: 24 hours
Attending tutorials: 8 hours
Assessment hours (exams): 4 hours
Study of compulsory literature (approximately 7 pages / hour): 64 hours
Completing assignments, preparing for classes and exams: 40 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
Midterm Exam: Written examination with 50% open questions and 50% closed questions (multiple choice).
Final Exam: Written examination with 50% open questions and 50% closed questions (multiple choice).
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 30% |
| Midterm Exam | 30% |
| Final Exam | 40% |
End Grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note of the following:
The end grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of Tutorial grade, Midterm Exam grade, and Final Exam grade.
The weighted average of the Midterm Exam grade and the Final Exam grade needs to be 5.5 or higher.
This means that failing Exam grades cannot be compensated with a high Tutorial grade.
Resit
If the end grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), or the weighted average of Midterm- and Final Exams is lower than 5.5, there is a possibility of retaking the full 70% of the exam material, replacing both the earlier Midterm- and Final Exam grades. No resit for the tutorial is possible.
Please note that if the Resit Exam grade is lower than 5.5, you will not pass the course, regardless of the tutorial grade.
Retaking a passing grade
Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2018 – 2019.
Exam review
How and when an exam review takes place will be determined by the examiner. This review will be within 30 days after official publication of exam results.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for tutorial groups. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.
Reading list
James Ferguson, Global Shadows: Africa in the Neoliberal World Order, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0822337171 ISBN-10: 0822337177
Further material (digital, statistical, written and video) will be distributed during the course and uploaded on Blackboard.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for Tutorials and Lectures is mandatory.
Students will be enrolled for Exams by the Administration Office, as long as they have a valid Tutorial enrolment.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
When contacting lecturers or tutors, please include your full name, student number, and tutorial group number.