Introduction

Presentation of the teacher and students.

Presentation of the syllabus, learning outcomes and process of evaluation.

1. Studying African politics

1.1. Key concepts in the study of politics in Africa

A brief overview: maps and stereotypes.

Africa's place in the global system: external interventions and institutions

1. Studying African politics

1.1. Key concepts in the study of politics in Africa

A brief overview: debatable concepts in the study of politics in Africa.

1.2 Africa's place in the global system: external interventions and institutions

Neocolonialism and endogenous responses. UA’s Agenda 2063.

Colonial state and struggles for independence

Selection of groups of students and texts on democracy to be presented in class 8.

2. State-building processes

2.1 Colonial state and struggles for independence

The colonial state: features and examples.

Political and armed struggles for independence: the examples of Ujamaa (Julius Nyerere) and Amílcar Cabral.  

Political systems in Africa: a historical overview

2. State-building processes

2.2 Political systems in Africa: a historical overview

Classification of political regimes.

Diversity of postcolonial systems in Africa: democratic, hybrid and authoritarian regimes.

Resilient authoritarian countries

3. Authoritarianism in Africa

3.1 Resilient authoritarian countries

Mechanisms of autocratic resilience in Africa.

Resource-rich resilient authoritarian regimes in Africa: the cases of Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Constitutional and unconstitutional changes in power

3. Authoritarianism in Africa

3.2 Constitutional and unconstitutional changes in power

Reinforcing authoritarianism through constitutional means.

Coup d’états in the Sahelian region.

Political parties and elections

4. Democracy in Africa

4.1 Political parties and elections

Political parties as relevant political actors.

Major trends in the study of elections in Africa.

Debate on democracy in Africa

4. Democracy in Africa

4.2 Debate on democracy in Africa

Debate on democracy: main authors, arguments and proposals for the study of democratic processes in Africa.

Political participation of women

5. Political participation

5.1 Political participation of women

Underrepresentation of women in politics: political, socioeconomic and ideological obstacles.

Women and politics in Africa: Heads of State, Parliaments and Cabinets. Issues on representation.

Activism and popular protest

5. Political participation

5.2 Activism and popular protest

Contentious politics in different political regimes.

"African social movements or social movements in Africa?": periodization and cases.

Assessment of the course.