Studying at York
Africa & International Politics - POL00084M
Module summary
Africa is typically placed at the margins of academic and popular discourses about international politics. This module turns the tables, placing Africa and its engagement with the outside world at the centre of analysis. The aim here is not to deny Africa's position of structural weakness within a highly uneven global political and economic system but rather to investigate how African actors, institutions and processes interact with the global system. In so doing, the module encourages students to challenge conventional understandings of international politics and develop a detailed and nuanced understanding of Africa's place within the international system.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
The module first introduces students to key conceptual approaches to Africa’s role in international politics, from ‘Africanist’ critiques of mainstream international relations theory to theories of extraversion and African agency. Students are then encouraged to apply these theoretical approaches to the most salient issues in African international politics - the role of the African state, Africa’s place in a changing global order, peace and security, trade, aid and climate change. The topics incorporate case studies in order to encourage students to reflect critically on the diversity and specificity of African political contexts and experiences while also developing a broad understanding of the international politics of the continent as a whole. Through group and individual seminar tasks and presentations and formative and summative written assessments, the module will enable students to develop and enhance a range of key transferable skills, including written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, and argumentative and analytical skills.
Module learning outcomes
By completing this module, students will have:
- developed their capacity to understand and critically evaluate key theories of International Relations as they relate to Africa.
- acquired an advanced knowledge of key issues and relationships in African international politics
- developed their ability to select, synthesise and critically analyse a range of literature on African international politics.
Academic and graduate skills
By completing this module, students will have:
- developed their skills of written and spoken argument
- developed their ability to reflexively engage with a range of source material to build a reasoned argument
- enhanced their analytical skills through seminar tasks and assignments
- enhanced their oral communication and interpersonal skills through group-based seminar tasks
- enhanced their written communication skills through formative and summative assessments
Module content
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Introduction to Africa and International Politics
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Africa and International Relations Theory
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The African State in the International System
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Africa and Global Security
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Africa and the Aid Relationship
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Africa and Global Trade
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Africa and Global Environmental Politics
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Africa and Global Health Governance
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Africa and China
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Revision Lecture and Assessment Preparation
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Brown W and Harman S (eds) (2013) African Agency in International Politics. London: Routledge.
Cornelissen, S., et al. eds. (2012) Africa and International Relations in the 21st Century (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).
Dunn, K. C. & Shaw, T. M. eds. (2013) Africa's Challenge to International Relations Theory (second edition, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).
Harbeson JW and Rothchild D (eds) (2013) Africa in World Politics: Engaging a Changing World Order. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.