UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA
IRL 3060: AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COURSE SYLLABUS
SEMESTER,
CREDIT:3 UNITS
LECTURER:
Time:
Consultation Hours:
Venue:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A survey of relations among selected African nations, and among African nations and other regions of the
world; the role of ideology, foreign economic and political pressures, and personality on Africa international
polices.
COURSE OBJECTIVES



To provide students with a strong foundation in International Relations of African States utilizing
concepts and approaches adopted from the wider subject area of International Relations.
To expose students to the requisite knowledge and analytical tool they need to maximize their
ability to describe, explain, predict and evaluate the International Relations of African States
To examine and analyse the patterns, processes and issues that have characterized Africa’s
behavior in the international system since independence, through the Cold War and its aftermath.
COURSE CONTENT
Week 1 (14th and 16th Jan): Introduction
Introduction: Africa as a sub-system in International Relations
Week 2 (21st & 23rd Jan):
Theoretical assumptions of African International Relations
-Development of African International Relations
-Some early approaches
Week 3 (28th & 30th Jan):
Post-colonial International Relations: Interpretations of African IR
Week 4 (4th & 6th Feb)
African IR during the Cold War and After
Week 5 (11th & 13th)
African International Relations in the 1990s
Week 6 (18th & 20th)
Africa’s International Relations and the Quest for Continental Unity
Week 7 (25th & 27th)
Regional Cooperation and Integration
Week 8 (3rd & 5th March):
Security Concerns in Africa
-The Organization of African Unity (OAU)
-African Union (AU)
-The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD)
Week 9 (10th & 12th):
Globalization, Democracy and Development in Africa
Week 10 (17th & 19th):
International Relations of Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa (Group Presentation)
Week 11 (24th & 26th):
International Relations of Western Africa (Group Presentation)
Week 12 (31st & 2nd April):
International Relations of Northern Africa (Group Presentation)
Week 13 (7th & 9th):
International Relations of Southern Africa (Group Presentation)
Week 14 (14th & 16th): Final Exam
COURSE TEXTS
Chan, Stephen, (1990), Issues in International Relations: A View From Africa, London, Macmillan.
Keller, E.J. & Rothchild, D. (eds.) (1996), Africa in the New International Order: Rethinking State
Sovereignty and Regional Security, Boulder, Lynne Rienner.
Jackson H, Robert, (1990), Quasi-States: Sovereignty, International Relations and the Third World,
Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Clapham, Christopher (1996), Africa and the International System: The Politics of State Survival, Cambridge,
Cambridge University Press.
Tandon, Y.A, (1974), Readings in African International Relations, 2 Vol, Nairobi, East African Literature
Bureau.
Dunn, Kevin C & Shaw, Timothy M. (eds.) (2001), Africa’s Challenge to International Relations Theory,
New York, Palgrave Publishers Ltd.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
-Combination of Lectures, active class discussion and student presentations.
-PowerPoint Presentation
-Student punctuality and active participation is highly encouraged. Participatory learning is the ideal.
COURSE EVALUATION
Attendance and Participation
Group Presentation
Term paper (8-10)
Mid-Term Examination
Final Examination
Total
GRADING
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
90 - 100
87 - 89
84 - 86
80 - 83
77 - 79
74 - 76
70 - 73
67 - 69
64 - 66
62 - 63
60 - 61
0 - 59
- 10%
- 10%
- 20%
- 30%
- 30%
100%
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