PSCI 3082-001: POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Maymester 2017 Ketchum 1B60 Andy Baker Email: [email protected] Department of Political Science Office: Ketchum 224 University of Colorado at Boulder Office hours: MWTh 3:30-4:30 303-492-1733 ●●●●●●●●●●●●●● COURSE OBJECTIVES: Why is sub-Saharan Africa so poor, and why has democracy been such a rarity on the continent? In this course, students will explore and assess a variety of answers to these questions while surveying many of the main events and people in the region’s recent political history. Are economic and political underdevelopment due to the West and centuries of exploitation of the continent? Or are they the result of Africa’s poor post-independence leadership, as embodied in figures such as Idi Amin, Joseph Mobutu, Kwame Nkrumah, and Julius Nyerere? Alternatively, are they due to Africa’s geography, with its high disease burden and difficult terrain? The course will also consider the events and causes of recent African tragedies, such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the Rwandan genocide. Not all of Africa’s recent history, however, is so tragic. As such, the course will also focus on some African success stories, with the hope of presenting a balanced portrayal of the continent’s politics and optimism for its future. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●● REQUIRED READING: All readings listed on this syllabus are required. Three books are available for purchase at the CU Bookstore, and one copy of each is also available on course reserve at Norlin Library. You can also purchase any of these books at Amazon.com. They are as follows: (1) An Introduction to African Politics: Fourth Edition by Alex Thomson. ISBN 9781138782846 (2) King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild. ISBN 9780618001903 (3) Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries are Leading the Way by Steven Radelet. ISBN 9781933286518 YOU ALSO NEED AN ICLICKER DEVICE FOR THIS COURSE! ●●●●●●●●●●●●●● GRADES: Overall, the final grade will be allocated in the following manner: 1) Quizzes: 28% 2) Research Paper 25% 3) Final Examination 35% 4) Participation 12% First, 28% is based on five closed-book, in-class, multiple choice Quizzes. The dates of these quizzes are already specified on this syllabus and will not change; there are no makeup quizzes. With one exception, quizzes will be based on assigned readings. I will drop the lowest of your five quiz grades (including zeroes for non- attendance or forgotten clicker) and calculate your quiz grade based on your highest four scores. Quizzes will be taken in class using Clickers, so students should secure a clicker by Wednesday of the first week. Second, the Research paper (25%) is a short (750 words, 3 pages) paper based on course readings and some outside readings and research. More information on this assignment is at the end of this syllabus. Papers handed in after the specified time will have ten percentage points subtracted from their final score each business day they are late. Students will submit papers to the D2Learn dropbox for the course, where they are checked by turnitin software for plagiarism. You will NOT hand in paper copies of your research papers, so you must submit the electronic version before the deadline. Malfunctioning internet or computer equipment will not be an accepted excuse for late submissions. Third, 35% of the overall grade is based on a closed book, comprehensive Final Examination given on Thursday of the last week of class. Finally, the Participation (12%) component of the grade is based on student engagement and participation in class discussions. All students are expected to come prepared to each class session. There are no extra credit projects available in this course. Final grades will be determined using the following percentage scale: A=94.0-100, A-=90.0-94.0, B+=87.0-90.0, B=84.0-87.0, B-=80.0-84.0, C+=77.0-80.0, C=74.0-77.0, C-=70.0-74.0, D+=67.0-70.0, D=64.0-67.0, D-=60.0-64.0, F=<60.0. Please note that these are true cut-offs and there is no rounding. As always, academic dishonesty is not tolerated. Students engaging in academic dishonesty will receive an “F” in the class and may be expelled. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, passing off the work of others (especially that of current or former students as well as published or on-line text) as your own. Cheating on Clickers entries is also academic dishonesty. Examinations and quizzes will not be given to anyone at a day or time other than that already specified on this syllabus unless students have discussed with me IN ADVANCE special arrangements due to disability or time conflict. Students with disabilities who receive 1.5 time or some other allowance must show me authorization from 1 the Office of Services to Disabled Students during the first week of class and must still take the examination with special arrangements at the specified time. The professor retains the right to change the syllabus at any time. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●● MISCELLANEOUS GUIDELINES: With just a few exceptions, powerpoint slides are NOT posted or otherwise made available to students outside of class. If you miss class, you should copy the notes from a classmate. Please do not ask the instructor what you missed. In class, please turn off your cell phones. Also, please do not read newspapers, bring your dog(s), or chat with your neighbor. Aside from this syllabus, all course handouts are emailed to students and posted to D2Learn. They are not printed, copied, and handed out. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●● COURSE SCHEDULE: UNIT 1: THE ROOTS OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA Monday, May 15 Introduction The West: The Slave Trade

Tuesday, May 16 The West: The Scramble for Africa and Colonialism  Reading assignment: Chapters 1 and 2 of Thomson.  Discussion: Do slavery and colonialism explain African underdevelopment?

Wednesday, May 17 The West: The Cold War, Trade, and Aid  Reading assignment: Chapter 8 of Thomson  Reading assignment: Start reading Hochschild.  Discussion: Overall, what has been the impact of the West on Africa?  QUIZ 1: On the map of Africa

Thursday, May 18 The South (Africa’s “Big Men”): Nationalism and Independence . Reading assignment: Continue reading Hochschild. . Reading assignment: Chapters 3 and 6 of Thomson. . Discussion: Why did nationalist dreams fall so short?

Friday, May 19 The South (Africa’s “Big Men”): Military Rule and Economic Disappointment  Reading assignment: Continue reading Hochschild.  Reading assignment: Chapter 7 of Thomson. . Discussion: Why haven’t Africa’s various economic strategies worked? Or have they? QUIZ 2: On chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 of Thomson

Monday, May 22 Nature: African Geography and Development  Reading assignment: Finish Hochschild.  Viewing Assignment: Watch Parts 1 and 3 of Guns, Germs, and Steel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwZ4s8Fsv94 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ9espgY-Po  Discussion: Do you find geographical explanations of underdevelopment convincing, outlandish, or something in between? QUIZ 3: On videos and entirety of Hochschild

UNIT 2: AFRICA’S RECENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES Tuesday, May 23 Ethnic Diversity  Reading assignment: Chapter 4 of Thomson  Reading assignment: Start reading Radelet

2  Discussion: Is the West responsible for the Rwandan genocide?

Wednesday, May 24 War and Economic Stagnation  Reading assignment: Chapters 9 and 10 of Thomson  Reading assignment: Continue reading Radelet  Discussion: Why did the 1990s see so much political violence in Africa?  QUIZ 4: On chapters 4, 9, and 10 of Thomson

Thursday, May 25 HIV/AIDS in Africa  Reading assignment: Continue reading Radelet  Discussion: How did the HIV/AIDS epidemic get to be so bad? What is the most effective way to address it?

UNIT 3: AFRICA RISING? Friday, May 26 Democratization and Economic Success Stories  Reading assignment: Finish reading Radelet  Reading assignment: Chapters 11 and 12 of Thomson. Also pp. 100-104  Discussion: Is Africa experiencing a renaissance?  QUIZ 5: On chapters 11 and 12 of Thomson and entirety of Radelet

Monday, May 29 NO CLASS: MEMORIAL DAY

Tuesday, May 30 South Africa: Apartheid  Discussion: What are the historical roots of South Africa’s racial strife? Why did apartheid occur in South Africa? How could a minority impose its will for so long?

RESEARCH PAPERS DUE AT 11:59PM OF TUESDAY, MAY 30!

Wednesday, May 31 South Africa: The Fall of Apartheid and the Rise of Democracy  Discussion: Do you consider South Africa a success story? What are the prospects for its future?

Thursday, June 1 COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM

Friday, June 2 NO CLASS

RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT: Africa is the most economically underdeveloped region of the world, and it also remains a laggard in how democratic its political systems are. Why does Africa continue to struggle with these challenges? Why have economic affluence and democracy been so rare on the continent? In short, what causes Africa’s economic underdevelopment and lack of democracy: Western powers, Africa’s leadership, or geography? You will write a short paper that makes a definitive argument that answers this last question. The paper should be about 750 words (about three double-spaced, 12 pt. font pages and certainly no longer than 1000 words). You must support the argument with relevant facts and details from one African country on which you do outside research. You must consult and cite sources other than those assigned in class (although you may also cite required readings) and include formal citations and a bibliography. The paper should be polished and free of spelling errors and typos. You MUST submit an electronic copy of the entire paper to D2Learn by 11:59PM on May 30. Papers handed in after this time will have 10% subtracted from their final score each school day they are late. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. The paper should be typed, polished and free of spelling errors and typos. You will NOT hand in paper copies of your research papers, so you must submit the electronic version before the deadline. Malfunctioning internet or computer equipment will not be an accepted excuse for late submissions.

3 Plagiarism is taken very seriously and could get you expelled. If you copy four or more words from another author/person without formally citing and quoting them, you have committed plagiarism. All papers will be reviewed by the turnitin software for originality. You must also cite ideas as well as all quotes. If you paraphrase what another person wrote, you still have to site her or him. Also note that you are not allowed to “plagiarize yourself”: In other words, your writing for this paper must be original and cannot be from a paper you have written or are writing for another class.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO POLICIES: UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO POLICIES If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for exam accommodations provide your letter in the first three weeks of the semester) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at [email protected]. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Medical Conditions: Injuries, Surgeries, and Illnesses guidelines under Quick Links at Disability Services website and discuss your needs with your professor.

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, please inform the professor immediately if you have any religious holiday conflicts with scheduled exams or deadlines that appear on this syllabus. See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. CU-Boulder will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy, "Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies, and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://hr.colorado.edu/dh/

All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council ([email protected]; 303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://honorcode.colorado.edu

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