MVZb2059 Democracy, the state and conflict in Africa

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Prof. Dr. Siegmar Schmidt (lecturer), Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 26. 4. 10:00–13:40 bude_upresneno, Tue 27. 4. 10:00–13:40 bude_upresneno, Wed 28. 4. 10:00–13:40 bude_upresneno
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MVZ241 Dem, state and conflict Africa && !NOW( MVZ241 Dem, state and conflict Africa )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 56 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The main aim of the course is to understand the relation between democracy, state and conflicts in Africa. The course is composed of 6 sessions (each session lasts 90 minutes).
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to outline key issues of democratization in Africa and explain the nature and sources of various conflicts on the continent.
Syllabus
  • 1. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: HISTORICAL LEGACIES FROM COLONIALISM AND DE-COLONIALIZATION
  • 2. DEMOCRATIZATION IN AFRICA: FROM AUTHORITARIAN RULE TO A CONTINENT OF “DEFECTIVE DEMOCRACIES”
  • 3. “THINGS FALL APART AGAIN”? STATE COLLAPSE IN AFRICA
  • 4. CHINA IN AFRICA: NEOCOLONIALISM OR AFRICA´S SAVIOR?
  • 5. THE EU CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA: THE CASE OF THE SAHEL-REGION
  • 6. THE AFRICAN UNION (AU) – MORE THAN A PAPER TIGER? AN AFRICAN RESPONSE TO AFRICA’S PROBLEMS
Literature
  • The African Union and its institutions. Edited by John Akokpari - Angela Ndinga-Muvumba - Timothy Murithi. [Cape Town]: Centre for Conflict Resolution, 2008, xxvi, 390. ISBN 9781920196486. info
  • MAKINDA, Samuel M. and F. Wafula OKUMU. The African Union : challenges of globalization, security, and governance. 1st ed. Oxon: Routledge, 2007, xvii, 209. ISBN 9780203940112. info
  • THOMSON, Alex. An introduction to African politics. Second edition. and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2004, x, 284. ISBN 0415282624. info
  • State failure and state weakness in a time of terror. Edited by Robert I. Rotberg. Cambridge: World Peace Foundation, 2003, viii, 354. ISBN 0815775733. info
Teaching methods
Lectures with presentations, group project, reading.
Assessment methods
Group project (20% of the final grade).
Final written exam based on the lectures and readings (80% of the final grade).
Attendance 100% - students are required to be present at every session.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Teaching dates:

26 April 2021, 10:00-11:30 + 12:00-13:30

27 April 2021, 10:00-11:30 + 12:00-13:30

28 April 2021, 10:00-11:30 + 12:00-13:30

Prof. Dr. Siegmar Schmidt is Professor for International Relations and Comparative Government at the University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany. His research interests and a wide range of publications focus on African politics, development issues, foreign policy of Western states and European integration.

The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2021/MVZb2059