Democrats, Dict Devt Africa

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Title: Democrats, Dictators, and Development in Africa This course dives into the ongoing tug-of-war between autocrats in Africa and the activists, opposition leaders, foreign actors, and institutional checks and balances that seek to constrain or displace them. Drawing on a mix of theory and cases, we will explore how democracy in Africa has evolved since the independence period, how autocrats are adapting new tools and technologies to survive in power, and how these trends are shaping—and are shaped by—conflict, development, and geopolitical competition. Students will immerse themselves in a country case of their choice to complement the key concepts and insights they learn for making sense of the evolving governance landscape on the continent.