Politics of Sub-Saharan Afr

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

While most of the world is growing economically, sub-Saharan Africa continues to stagnate. Moreover, whereas political stability and state consolidation characterize most regions of the world, political volatility and failed states remain ubiquitous in Africa south of the Sahara. Why does Africa seem to encounter greater obstacles to economic development and political stability than any other region of the world? The purpose of this course is to consider these questions by analyzing contemporary politics and political economy in sub-Saharan Africa. In the first part of the course, we examine the region’s pre-colonial and colonial political structures. Subsequently, we will survey the political continuities and changes that have occurred since independence. The main topics we will cover are state consolidation, democratization, patronage politics, economic stagnation, civil war, ethnicity, failed states, and HIV/AIDS. The course provides an overview for why the region remains economically depressed and politically volatile.