Africa in World Politics PLIT1003
Africa in International Politics PGSP11151
Spring Semester 2011-12
Lectures Mondays 2-3, Lec Th 1, 7 Bristo Sq.
UG Contacts:
Sara Rich Dorman email: sara.dorman@ed.ac.uk
Room: CMB 4.08 Office hours 12.00-14.00 Mondays
Jon Schubert email: j.schubert@ed.ac.uk
Room: CMB 4.13 Office hours by appointment
PG Contact:
Wolfgang Zeller email: wolfgang.zeller@ed.ac.uk
Room: CMB 4.12
Office hours: TBA
Lecture outline
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Africa and the International System: key debates
Africa and global security I: the cold war
Post-colonial relationships (France and UK)
Africa and global security II: post-9/11
China and Africa
Innovative learning week – no classes
Post-colonial states and borders since independence
Violence and conflict I
Violence and Conflict II
The Darfur Debate
Strategies of Extraversion?
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An examination of the interaction of three tendencies in African Politics: Nationalism,
Regionalism, & Internationalism. The course will examine the nature of Africa’s
integration into the world economy and political systems; the cold war and post-cold
war periods; the changing relations within and between Africa’s states and regions;
and changing relations between Africa’s States and external organizations, with an
emphasis on development policy.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1
 to understand the nature of Africa’s integration into the world economy and
political systems during the Cold War and post-cold War periods
 to analyse and explain the changing relations within and between Africa’s
states, regions and non-African states.
 to situate African political processes in their international social, political and
economic context.
RESOURCES
If you have not taken any previous courses in African Politics, please consult:
Gavin Williams, “Africa in Retrospect or Prospect,” Africa South of the Sahara.
(2002) [RESERVE OFFPRINTS]
Chris Allen, Understanding African Politics Review of African Political Economy
(1995) [RESERVE OFFPRINTS]
If you have not taken any previous courses in International Relations, please
consult:
Patrick J. McGowan & Philip Nel, eds. Power, wealth and global equity: an
international relations textbook for Africa (2002) [RESERVE]
Recommended texts
**Christopher Clapham Africa and the International System (1996) [RESERVE]
*John Harbeson and Donald Rothchild, Africa in World Politics: the African State
System in Flux (2000) [RESERVE]
Patrick J. McGowan & Philip Nel, eds. Power, wealth and global equity: an
international relations textbook for Africa (2002) [RESERVE]
*Ian Taylor and Paul Williams, eds. Africa in International Politics (2004)
[RESERVE]
Week 1
Africa and the International System: key debates
Questions for reflection:
What is Africa’s position in the international system? How has this changed over
time? How have African states evolved since independence? What sort of external
factors have influenced African politics? Is Africa a player in the international system
or a problem?
Background reading:
Christopher Clapham (1996) Africa and the International System, Chpt1 “Fragile
States and the International System” [RESERVE]
Naomi Chazan et al. (1999) Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa, Chpt 1 “The
Diversity of African Politics,” Chpt 2 “State Institutions and the Organization
of the Public Arena” and Chpt 12 “Africa in World Politics” [RESERVE]
John Harbeson and Donald Rothchild (2000) Africa in World Politics: the African
State System in Flux Chpt 1 “Africa in World Politics” and Chpt 2 “The
Heritage of Colonialism” [RESERVE]
2
Alex Thomson (2004) An Introduction to African Politics, chpt 8 “Sovereignty I:
external influences on African politics”
Roger Southall and Daniel Conway ‘Africa in the contemporary world’ in Patrick J.
McGowan & Philip Nel, eds. Power, wealth and global equity: an
international relations textbook for Africa (2002) [RESERVE]
Recommended reading
Robert Jackson and Carl Rosberg, “Why Africa’s weak states persist” World Politics
vol 35, 1 (1982), pp 1-24. [ON-LINE]
Crawford Young (2004) ‘The end of the post-colonial state in Africa? Reflections on
changing African Political Dynamics’ African Affairs 103, pp 23-49
[ONLINE]
Week 2
Africa global security I: cold war
Questions for discussion:
How have external actors intervened in Africa in the post-colonial period and how has
this influenced politics and state sovereignty? Was Africa a ‘pawn’ or a ‘player’ in the
Cold War?
Required reading
Christopher Clapham, “The resort to the superpowers” Africa and the International
System (1996.) pp. 134-159 . [RESERVE] & [RESERVE OFFPRINTS] &
[WEBCT]
Christopher Clapham Africa and the International System (1996.) Part 2. [RESERVE]
Naomi Chazan et al eds. “Africa in World Politics” Chapter 12 Politics and `society
in Contemporary Africa (1999) [RESERVE]
Jeffrey A. Lefebvre, `Moscow's Cold War and post-Cold War policies in Africa', in
Edmond J. Keller and Donald Rothchild (eds.), Africa and the New
International Order: Rethinking State Sovereignty and Regional Security
(1996), 206-226.
James Mayall, “Britain and Anglophone Africa” in Amadu Sesay ed. Africa and
Europe (1986) [RESERVE]
Alex Thomson ‘Sovereignty I: external influences on African politics’ chpt 8 in An
Introduction to African Politics (2000, 2004)
The Horn
Robin Luckham and Dawit Bekele, “Foreign Powers and Militarism in the Horn”
Parts I & II, ROAPE 30 and 31 (1984). [BOTH PARTS ON OFFPRINT
RESERVE]
Jeffrey A. Lefebvre ‘The United States, Ethiopia and the 1963 Somali-Soviet arms
deal: containment and the balance of power dilemma in the Horn of Africa’
JMAS, 36, 4 (1998), pp. 611-643. [ON-LINE]
3
Jeffrey A. Lefebvre. Arms for the Horn: US Security Policy in Ethiopia and Somalia,
(1991)
Marina Ottaway, Soviet and American Influence in the Horn of Africa (1982)
Robert G. Patman, The Soviet Union in the Horn of Africa : The diplomacy of
intervention and disengagement (1990.)
Ruth Iyob, The Eritrean Struggle for Independence (1995). [RESERVE.] esp. pp. 1158
Richard B. Remnek, “Soviet Policy in the Horn of Africa” in Robert H. Donaldson,
The Soviet Union in the Third World (1981).
Angola during the cold war
James Mulira, “The Soviet Union, Angola and the Horn of Africa” in Amadu Sesay
ed. Africa and Europe (1986) [RESERVE]
Keith Somerville,. Angola : politics, economics and society (1986)
A J Klinghoffer, “The Soviet Union and Angola” in Robert H. Donaldson, The Soviet
Union in the Third World (1981)
Bill Minter, Apartheid’s Contras (1994)
The Congo: Lumumba and Mobutu
Carole Collins and Steve Askin, “External Collusion with Kleptocracy” ROAPE 57
(1993).
Kevin Dunn, Imagining the Congo: the International Relations of Identity (2003)
Chapter 3.
Adam Hochschild, King Leopold's Ghost (2000).
J. F. Clark, “Zaire: the bankruptcy of an extractive state” in Villalon, Leonard and
Huxtable, Philip The African State at a Critical Juncture (1998) [RESERVE].
M. McNulty, “The Collapse of Zaire: implosion, revolution or external sabotage”
JMAS 37,1 (1999) [ONLINE].
Jacques Depelchin, From the Congo Free State to Zaire: how Belgium privatised the
economy (1992)
Ludo de Witte, The Assassination of Lumumba. (2001.)
L Ndukimana and Boyce, JK, “Congo’s odious debt: external borrowing and capital
flight from Zaire” Development and Change 29, 2 (1998).
Week 3
Post-colonial relationships (France and UK)
Questions for discussion:
Continuity and change in relationships between African states and former colonial
powers. Why is the relationship between France and Africa so powerful? Does it
have more to do with France? Or with Africa? What has changed in Britain’s relations
with Africa since the end of the Cold War?
Background Reading:
Christopher Clapham, “The foreign policies of post-colonialism” chpt 4 in Africa and
the International System (1996.) [RESERVE]
4
David Gardinier, “The Historical Origins of Francophone Africa” in Clark and
Gardinier eds. Political Reform in Francophone Africa (1997) [RESERVE
OFFPRINTS]
Required Tutorial reading
T.Chafer (2005) "From Confidence to Confusion: Franco-African Relations in the Era
of Globalisation" in France on the World Stage Eds M. Maclean and J. Szarka
DC430 Fra. (on WEBCT) OR Chafer, T. (2005) 'Chirac and la Françafrique: no
longer a family affair', Modern & Contemporary France, 13, 1, Jan., pp. 7-24.
Julia Gallagher Healing The Scar? Idealizing Britain in Africa, 1997–2007
African Affairs 2009 108: 435-451. OR Graham Harrison, The Africanization of
Poverty” African Affairs 2010, 391-408. Links on WEBCT
France
Le Vine, Victor T. (2004) Politics in Francophone Africa,
*Berouk Mesfin Only a Folie de Grandeur? Understanding French policy in Africa
African Security Review 17: 1 Short!
T.Chafer (2005) "From Confidence to Confusion: Franco-African Relations in the Era
of Globalisation" in France on the World Stage Eds M. Maclean and J. Szarka
DC430 Fra. (on WEBCT)
Chafer, T. (2005) 'Chirac and la Françafrique: no longer a family affair', Modern &
Contemporary France, 13, 1, Jan., pp. 7-24.
Cumming, Gordon and Langford, Rachael (2005) 'Introduction', Modern &
Contemporary France, 13:1,1-5.
Charbonneau, B. (2008) 'Dreams of Empire: France, Europe, and the New
Interventionism in Africa', Modern &Contemporary France, 16:3, pp. 279-295.
[ON-LINE]
Utley, Rachel (2005) 'Franco-African Military Relations: Meeting the Challenges of
Globalisation?', /Modern & Contemporary France/, 13:1, pp. 25-40. [ONLINE]
Tony Chafer, “Franco-african relations: No longer so exceptional?” African Affairs
(2002), 343-363 [ON-LINE]
Heilbrunn, J. (2005) ‘Oil and Water? Elite Politicians and Corruption in France’,
/Comparative Politics/, vol. 37, no. 3, April, pp. 277-296.
*Tamar Golan, “A certain mystery: how can France do everything that it does in
Africa – and get away with it?” African Affairs 80, 318 (1981) 3-11.[ONLINE].
Adekeye Adebajo, “Folie de Grandeur” World Today June 1997 pp 147-150 &
[WEBCT]
Daniel Bach, “France’s involvement in sub-saharan Africa” in Amadu Sesay ed,
Africa and Europe: from partition to Interdependence or dependence? (1986).
J Chipman, French power in Africa (1989).
Guy Martin, “Continuity and Change in Franco-African Relations” JMAS 33, 1
(1995).
Kaye Whiteman, “President Mitterand and Africa” African Affairs 82 (1983)
[ONLINE]..
5
Gordon Cumming, “Modernisation without ‘banalisation’: towards a new era in
French African aid relations?” Modern & Contemporary France 8(3)2000.
Daniela Kroslak, “France’s policy towards Africa: continuity or change?” in Taylor
and Williams Africa in International Politics (2004).
S. Brune, “Under pressure for reform: French policies south of the Sahara” in S.
Brune, J Betz, and W Kuhne Eds., Africa and Europe: relations of two
continents in transition (1994).
Asteris Huliaris, “The anglo-saxon conspiracy: French perceptions of the Great Lakes
crisis” JMAS 36, 4 (1998) [ONLINE].
Roland Marchal, “France and Africa” International Affairs 74, 2 (1998). [ON-LINE]
Shaun Gregory, “French Military in Africa” African Affairs 99 (2000). [ON-LINE]
Michael Reed, “Gabon: a neo-colonial enclave of Enduring French Interest” JMAS
25, 2 (1987), 283-320 [ONLINE].
Douglas Yates, The rentier state in Africa: oil rent dependency and neo-colonialism
in the republic of Gabon (1996). Esp. Chapters 2 & 3.
Britain
Rita Abrahamsen “A breeding ground for terrorists? Africa & Britain's 'war on
terrorism'” ROAPE 102 / December 2004, 677 – 684 [ON-LINE].
Rita Abrahamsen, 'Blair's Africa: The Politics of Securitization and Fear', Alternatives
30, 1 (2005). pp. 55-80.
Rita Abrahamsen and Paul Williams, 'Ethics and Foreign Policy: The Antimonies of
New Labour's 'Third Way' in Sub-Saharan Africa', Political Studies 49, 2
(2001), pp. 249-265.
David Slater and Morag Bell, 'Aid and the Geopolitics of the Post-Colonial: Critical
Reflections on New Labour's Overseas Development Strategy', Development
and Change 33, 2 (2002). pp. 335-361
R Dixon, Williams, P, 'Tough on Debt, Tough on the Causes of Debt? New Labour's
Third Way Foreign Policy', British Journal of Politics and International
Relations 3, 2 (2001). pp. 150-172;
Gordon Cumming “UK African policy in the post-cold war era: from realpolitik to
moralpolitik?” Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, vol. 42 no 1, (2004)
Linda Melvern & Paul Williams, “Britannia waived the rules: the Major government
and the 1994 Rwandan genocide” African Affairs (2004). [ON-LINE].
P S Mistry, 'Reasons for Sub-Saharan Africa's Development Deficit That the
Commission for Africa Did Not Consider', African Affairs 104, 417 (2005).pp.
665-678;
Tom Porteous (2005) ‘British government policy in sub-Saharan Africa under New Labour’ in
International Affairs: 81 (2) pp281-297 [ONLINE]
Tom Porteous, Britain in Africa (2008)
Ian Taylor, 'Advice Is Judged by Results, Not by Intentions: Why Gordon Brown Is
Wrong About Africa', International Affairs 81, 2 (2005). pp. 299-310;
Paul Williams, 'Blair's Commission for Africa: Problems and Prospects for UK
Policy', The Political Quarterly 76, 4 (2005). pp. 529-539;
Paul Williams “Britain and Africa after the Cold war: beyond damage limitation?” in
Taylor and Williams Africa in International Politics (2004).
Zoe Ware, 'Reassessing Labour's Relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa', The Round
Table 95, 383 (2006). pp. 141-152;
6
Week4 Africa and global security II: post-9/11
Questions for discussion
This week will look at how Africa’s position in the world has changed since 9/11,
with a particular attention to the role of the US and Islam. It will also consider
the position of China, which ahs become a much more substantial player on
the continent since 2000.
Required Tutorial Readings
Rita Abrahamsen, 'Blair's Africa: The Politics of Securitization and Fear', Alternatives
30, 1 (2005). pp. 55-80.
Jan Bachmann and Jana Hönke ‘Peace and Security’ as Counterterrorism? The
Political Effects of Liberal Interventions in Kenya African Affairs 2010
109: 97-114;
Islam
Jan Bachmann and Jana Hönke ‘Peace and Security’ as Counterterrorism? The
Political Effects of Liberal Interventions in Kenya African Affairs 2010
109: 97-114;
Haynes, Jeffrey: “Islamic Militancy in East Africa,” Third World Quarterly, vol. 26,
no. 8 (2005), pp. 1321-1339
Alex de Waal (ed.): Islamism and Its Enemies in the Horn of Africa (London: Hurst &
Co., 2004)
Bjørn Møller Religion and conflict in Africa : with special focus on East Africa /
Danish Institute for International Studies Copenhagen : DIIS, 2006
http://www.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/Reports2006/RP_06_6_bmo_religio
n%20and%20conflict.pdf
USA and Africa after the Cold War
Nicolas van de Walle US policy towards Africa: The Bush legacy and the Obama
administration African Affairs 2010 109: 1-21;
William G. Martin “Beyond Bush: The future of popular movements & US Africa
policy”ROAPE 102 / December 2004, 585 – 597 [ON-LINE].
Peter Schraeder, "Reflections on the study of US foreign policy towards Africa"
JMAS (2003), 41, 1 pp 139-152 [ON-LINE].
Peter Schrader, 'Forget the rhetoric and boost the geo-politics" African Affairs (2001),
387-404, [ON-LINE].
Chris Alden, "From neglect to 'virtual engagement'" African Affairs (2000), 355-371.
Donald Rothchild, "The US foreign Policy Trajectory on Africa" SAIS Review
(Winter-Spring 2001) [ON-LINE]
Sean McFate, “Briefing: Us Africa Command: Next Step OR Next Stumble?” African
Affairs, January 2007 [ONLINE]
Evolving Security Questions
7
Paul Williams. “From non-intervention to non-indifference: the origins and
development of the African Union’s security culture” African Affairs,
106/423, 253–279 [ONLINE]
Padraig Risteard Carmody (2005) “Transforming Globalization and Security: Africa
and America Post-9/11” Africa Today vol.52, no.1, pp.97-120 [ONLINE]
Rita Abrahamsen “A breeding ground for terrorists? Africa & Britain's 'war on
terrorism'” ROAPE 102 / December 2004, 677 – 684 [ON-LINE].
Rita Abrahamsen, 'Blair's Africa: The Politics of Securitization and Fear', Alternatives
30, 1 (2005). pp. 55-80.
Hills, Alice: “Trojan Horses? USAID, Counter-Terrorism and Africa’s Police,” Third
World Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 4 (2006), pp. 629-643.
Week 5
China in Africa
Updated shortly SRD 16 Jan. 2012
2 videos
*Chris Alden, China in Africa (2007) Online as googlebook; see chapter on webct.
C Alden, D Large, RS de Oliveira eds China Returns to Africa 2008
Taylor, Ian, (2008), ‘Sino-African Relations and the problem of human rights’,
African Affairs, vol.107, no.426, pp.63-87.
Tull, Denis M., (2006), ‘China’s engagement in Africa: scope, significance and
consequences’, Journal of Modern African Studies, vol.44, no.3, pp. 459–479.
(hyperlinked)
Africa-Asia Confidential issues on WEBCT
Week 6
Week 7
20-24 February Innovative Learning Week
Post-colonial states and borders since independence
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Are borders different in Africa than elsewhere? Are they different in different parts of
Africa? Do they represent pre-colonial, colonial, or post-colonial inventions? What
is the relationship between state-formation and borders? Why is the Eritrean-
8
Ethiopian border conflict unresolved? Why has the Nigerian-Cameroonian border
dispute been resolved without conflict? Do borders matter in Africa?
BACKGROUND READINGS
Christopher Clapham “Boundaries and States in the New African Order” in Daniel
Bach ed. Regionalisation in Africa: integration and disintegration (1999)
[RESERVE]
Ravi L. Kapil, “On the conflict potential of inherited boundaries in Africa” World
Politics 18, 4 (1966), 656-673.
Required tutorial reading
Jeffrey Herbst, “The Creation and Maintenance of National Boundaries in Africa”
International Organization 43, 4 (1989), 673-692 [ONLINE]
Markus Kornprobst “The management of border disputes in African regional subsystems comparing West Africa and the Horn of Africa” JMAS 40.3 (2002),
369-393[ON-LINE]
FURTHER READING
*Paul Nugent, “Arbitrary Lines and the People’s Minds” in African Boundaries
(1996) [RESERVE OFFPRINT]
*Lansana Gberie “West Africa: The Curse Of Borders” January 19, 2005 On
WEBCT SHORT!
Pierre Englebert, and Rebecca Hummel "Let's Stick Together: Understanding Africa's
Secessionist Deficit." African Affairs, July 2005, 104(416):399-427.
MIMESIS AND MIMICRY IN DYNAMICS OF STATE
AND IDENTITY FORMATION IN NORTHERN SOMALIA, . Africa. Volume
Markus V. Hoehne,
79, Page 252-281
Eritrea-Ethiopia border disputte
EEBC decision: http://www.un.org/NewLinks/eebcarbitration/
**Ruth Iyob The Ethiopian & Eritrean conflict: diasporic vs. hegemonic states in the
Horn of Africa, JMAS 38, 4 (2000). [on-line]
Tekeste Negash and Kjetil Tronvoll, Brothers at war: Making sense of the EritreanEthiopian war (2000)
Dan Connell “From Alliance to the Brink of All-Out War: Explaining the EritreaEthiopia Border Crisis” Middle East Report 1998
Gilkes, P. & M. Plaut. War in the Horn: the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
1999
Plaut, M. & D. Jacquin-Berdal, eds. Unfinished Business: Ethiopia and Eritrea at
war. 2005.
Reid, R.J. ‘Old problems in new conflicts: some observations on Eritrea and its
relations with Tigray, from liberation struggle to inter-state war’, Africa 73, 3:
369-401
ICG, Ethiopia and Eritrea: War or Peace? Sept 2003.
Cameroon-Nigeria border dispute
ICJ decision: http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/idocket/icn/icnframe.htm
9
*Piet Konings “The Anglophone Cameroon-Nigeria boundary: Opportunities and
conflicts” African Affairs 2005 104: 275-301
Bola Olowo, ‘Border problems” West Africa 20 May 1996, 783 and the series of
articles from 21 October to 25 November 2002
Secessionism and Federalism
Pierre Englebert, and Rebecca Hummel "Let's Stick Together: Understanding Africa's
Secessionist Deficit." African Affairs, July 2005, 104(416):399-427.
Pierre Englebert "Wither the Separatist Motive?" In Kevin Dunn and Morten Boas
(eds.). African Guerillas: Raging against the Machine. , 2007, 55-68
*Adam, H. “Formation and recognition of new states: Somaliland in contrast to
Eritrea” ROAPE 59 (1994).
Anon. “Government recognition in Somalia ans regional Political stability in the
Horn” JMAS 40, 2 (2002), 247-272.
Ian Spears “Reflections on Somaliland & Africa's Territorial Order” ROAPE 95
March 2003.
Ken Menkhaus “State collapse in Somalia: second thoughts” ROAPE 97 Sept. 2003.
Mark Bradbury, Adan Yusuf Abokor, Haroon Ahmed Yusuf “Somaliland: choosing
politics over violence” ROAPE 97 Sept. 2003 455 – 478
Gerard Prunier, “Somaliland: birth of a new country?” in Charles Gurdon, ed. The
Horn of Africa (1994).
Gavin Williams, The Nigerian Civil War on WEBCT
John De St. Jorre,. The Nigerian civil war 1972
Robin Luckham,. The Nigerian military : a sociological analysis of authority &
revolt, 1960-67 (1971.)
M Lofchie,. Zanzibar: Background to Revolution (1965)
G. Cameron “Zanzibar’s Turbulent Transition” in Review of African Political
Economy No. 92 (2002): 313-330.
Week 8
Violence and conflict in Africa I
Background reading:
Broch-Due, Vigdis, ed. Violence and belonging : the quest for identity in postcolonial Africa (2005)
Kaarsholm, Preben ed. Violence, political culture & development in Africa (2005)
Bay, Edna G Donham, Donald eds. States of violence :
politics, youth, and memory in contemporary Africa
Case study: Peasants and conflict
Thandika Mkandawire The Terrible Toll of Post-Colonial 'Rebel Movements' in
Africa: Towards an Explanation of the Violence against the Peasantry
The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 40, No. 2 (Jun., 2002), pp. 181215
10
Stephen Ellis Violence and History: A Response to Thandika Mkandawire The
Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Sep., 2003), pp. 457-475
Thandika Mkandawire Rejoinder to Stephen Ellis The Journal of Modern African
Studies, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Sep., 2003), pp. 477-483
Other key readings
*Allen, Chris, “Warfare, endemic violence & state collapse in Africa” ROAPE 81
(1999) [ONLINE]
*Chabal P. and JP Daloz, “The Political Instrumentalization of Disorder” in Africa
works: disorder as political instrument (1999), pp 141-163 [ON WEBCT]
Guerrillas and ex-guerrillas
Christopher Clapham (ed), African Guerrillas, (1998)
Kevin Dunn and Morten Boas (eds.). African Guerillas: Raging against the
Machine. Boulder, Col.: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2007
S. R. Dorman, “Post-liberation Politics in Africa: Examining the political legacy of
struggle” Third World Quarterly, Sept 2006. [ON-LINE]
William Reno, Warfare in Independent Africa (Cambridge University Press, New
York, NY, 2011).
Zachariah Mampilly, Rebel Rulers: Insurgent Governance and Civilian life during
war (2011)
Resource curse
Scott Pegg ‘Can policy intervention beat the resource curse? Evidence from the ChadCameroon pipeline project’ African Affairs 405/418, 2006 1-25
Michael Ross “Does Oil Hinder Democracy?” World Politics 53 (2001), 325–61.
[ON-LINE]
Terry Lynn Karl, “The Perils of the Petro-State: Reflections on the Paradox of Plenty”
Journal of International Affairs, 1999, Vol 53, issue 1
Week 9 Violence and Conflict II
What are the current trends in conflicts in Africa? A look at recent data and debates
Required Tutorial reading:
Jeffrey Gettleman, ‘Africa’s endless wars: why the continent’s wars never end’,
Foreign Policy 178 March/April (2010), pp. 73-75.
Scott Strauss, “WARS DO END! CHANGING PATTERNS OF POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA” African Affairs April 2012
Paul Williams, War and Conflict in Africa (2011)
William Reno, Warfare in Independent Africa (Cambridge University Press, New York, NY,
2011).
11
Case study: Greed versus grievance; macro vs micro
Paul Collier, Doing well out of war: an economic perspective. In M. Berdal & D.
Malone (Eds.), Greed and grievance: economic agendas in civil wars. (2000).
Cramer, Christopher, Civil war is not a stupid thing : accounting for violence in
developing countries (2006.)
Esther Mokuwa, Maarten Voors, Erwin Bulte, and Paul Richards, “Peasant grievance and
insurgency in Sierra Leone: Judicial serfdom as a driver of
conflictAfrican Affairs 2011 pp 339-366 “
Paul Richards ‘The New Barbarism’ Fighting for the rain forest: war, youth and
resources in Sierra Leone (1995)
Robert Kaplan “The Coming Anarchy” The Atlantic Monthly (1994) on webct
Ibrahim Abdullah , ‘Bush Path to destruction: the origins and character of the
Revolutionary United Front, JMAS, Vol. 36, No. 2, 1998
Africa Development Special issue on Sierra Leone XXII Nos 3&4 (1997). [Includes
critique of Kaplan and Richards]
Week 10
The Darfur Debate
Questions to think about: Is the conflict in Darfur about resources or identities? Why
has it proved so intractable? Why has the international community failed to be more
effective? Is Mamdani’s critique justified?
Background Readings
John Markakis, National and Class Conflict in the Horn of Africa (chapter on Sudan)
Ann Mosley Lesch, The Sudan: Contested National Identities (1999).
Ruth First, Barrel of a Gun (1970). (chapter on Sudan)
Peter Woodward, Sudan, 1898-1989 The Unstable State (1990)
**ICG God, Oil and Country: Changing the Logic of War in Sudan Africa Report
N°39 28 January 2002
Required Tutorial Readings
Douglas Johnson “Peace. Genocide and crimes against humanity in Sudan” in
Preben Kaarsholm ed. Violence, political culture & development in Africa
2006 ON WEBCT
Mahmood Mamdani Saviors and Survivors Chapter on WEBCT
Critiques: in African Affairs October 2009 and in Alex de Waal’s blog Making
sense of Sudan http://blogs.ssrc.org/sudan/category/darfur/saviors-and-survivors/
Regional concerns
Alex de Waal Who Are the Darfurians? Arab and African Identities, Violence and
External Engagement African Affairs 2005 104/ 415: 181-205
Flint, Julie & de Wal, Alex, (2005) "The War" from Flint, Julie & de Wal, Alex,
Darfur : a short history of a long war pp.97-117,143-145, ON WEBCT
Alex de Waal and Julie Flint, Darfur : a short history of a long war, 2005
Alex de Waal, War in Darfur and the search for peace (edited), Cambridge : Harvard
University Press, 2007.
12
Alex de Waal. Briefing: Darfur, Sudan: Prospects for peace African Affairs Jan 2005;
104: 127 - 135.
Marielle Debos Fluid Loyalties in a Regional Crisis: Chadian ‘Ex-Liberators’ in the
Central African Republic African Affairs 2008 107: 225-241.
Heather J. Sharkey Arab Identity and Ideology in Sudan: The Politics of Language,
Ethnicity, and Race African Affairs Jan 2008 107: 21-43
Oystein Rolandson “Sudan: the janjawiid and government militias’ in Dunn and Boas
African Guerrillas raging against the machine 2007
The International Community
Nick Grono Briefing — Darfur: The international community’s failure to protect
African Affairs October 2006; 105: 621 - 631.
Alex De Waal Darfur and the failure of the responsibility to protect International
Affairs November 2007 [on webct and online]
The CPA, the South and the East
Douglas H. Johnson Why Abyei Matters: The Breaking Point of Sudan's
Comprehensive Peace Agreement? African Affairs Jan 2008 107: 1-19;
Douglas Johnson, The Root Causes of Sudan’s Civil Wars (2002)
ICG Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement: The Long Road Ahead Africa
Report N°106 31 March 2006
Sara Pantuliano Comprehensive Peace? An Analysis of the Evolving Tension in
Eastern Sudan Vol.33 No.110 of the Review of African Political
Economy (December 2006: pp709-720)
Week 11: Strategies of extraversion?
Reflecting on the themes and discussions of the course, is it helpful to think about
‘strategies of extraversion’? Do African states ‘manage’ their position within the
world to their own advantage? Or are they at the mercy of international trends and
events? What do the cases studied tell us about the nature of African statehood and
Afrioca’s relations with the contemporary international system?
Required Tutorial Readings
Fred Cooper, Africa Since 1940: the past of the present (2002) Chapter7: the recurrent
crises of the gatekeeper state. [ON WEBCT]
Bayart, JF Africa in the world: a history of extraversion African Affairs 99, 395
(2000) (long – but read some of it!)
Chabal P. and JP Daloz, “The Political Instrumentalization of Disorder” in Africa
works: disorder as political instrument (1999), pp 141-163 [ON WEBCT]
Christopher Clapham Africa and the International System (1996.) Part 1. [RESERVE]
John Harbeson and Donald Rothchild “The African State and State System in Flux”
in John Harbeson and Donald Rothchild, Africa in World Politics: the African
State System in Flux (2000) [RESERVE]
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*Crawford Young, “The African colonial state revisited” Governance 11, 1 (1998)
[on webct]
Crawford Young, The African colonial state in comparative perspective (1994).
Chapter 4 ‘Constructing Bula Matari’ [RESERVE]
Bill Freund, The Making of Contemporary Africa (1994, 1998) (Chapter 6)
Contemporary Sovereignty and Statehood
Bayart, JF “From kleptocracy to the felonious state?” in Bayart, JF (ed) The
Criminalisation of the State in Africa (1999)
Christopher Clapham, “The Challenge to the state in a globalized world”
Development and Change 33 (20020, 775-795. [ONLINE]
*Crawford Young, “The end of the post-colonial state in Africa? Reflections on
changing African Political Dynamics” African Affairs 103 (2004), 23-49.
Jeffrey Herbst, States and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and
Control ( 2000). [RESERVE] final chapter on offprint reserve.
*Jeffrey Herbst, “ New Approach to Sovereignty in Africa” SAIS Review vol. XXI no.
1 (Winter-Spring 2001) pp 219-223. [ONLINE via Project Muse]
*Walter Clarke and Jeffrey Herbst, “Somalia and the Future of Humanitarian
Intervention” Foreign Affairs 75, 2 (1996) pp70-85. [RESERVE OFFPRINT]
*Robert Jackson and Carl Rosberg, “Why Africa’s weak states persist” World Politics
vol 35, 1 (1982), pp 1-24. [ON-LINE]
W. Zartman Collapsed States: The Disintegration and Restoration of Legitimate
Authority,. (1995) [RESERVE]
Thomas Callaghy et al Intervention and Transnationalism in Africa (2001)
[RESERVE]
Catherine Boone, “Empirical statehood and reconfigurations of Political order” in
Leonardo Villalon and Phillip A Huxtable, eds. The African State at a critical
juncture (1998) [RESERVE]
Kevin Dunn and Time Shaw eds. Africa’s Challenge to International Relations theory
(2001) [RESERVE]
William Pfaff, “A New Colonialism? Europe must go back to Africa” Foreign Affairs
74, 1 (1996), pp 2-6.
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