IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

This course is a general introduction for students who are interested in the study of Africa's society, culture, and politics. The course will provide an overview of Africa's historical, political, cultural, and societal development. The main themes to be explored in this course will include Africa's pre-colonial livelihoods, colonialism and imperialism, the post-colonial transformations, and Africa in the age of globalisation. 

This course aims at exposing the students to how Africa has been subjected to stereotypes and misconceptions that largely inform the global perspectives of the continent. The course will seek to humanise our understanding of Africa by emphasising forms and means of daily life experiences and understandings such as family life, love and joy, the life cycle, faith and belief, livelihood aspirations, hopes for the future, development aims and achievements, and a sense of global belonging. The overall aim is that students will gain experience researching, discussing, and presenting global issues using a good command of the English language with both clarity and confidence. 

英語 / English

Important: This course may be conducted online. In this case, you will need access to a computer connected to the internet and a Zoom connection. The course will be based around classroom listening, discussion, and writing tasks. Reading and writing tasks will mainly be carried out outside the class. The assignments will be given on specific days and will require students to demonstrate comprehension of class content. All written assignments will be returned on time with written feedback. Students are requested to freely engage the instructor for clarifications and questions. The classroom language will be English, and students will be required to actively participate in classroom and homework tasks.

あり / Yes

あり / Yes

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[対面/face to face]：Introduction I

The course information, getting to know the other students and the instructor, constituting study groups, and Africa is not a country, part 1.

2[対面/face to face]：Introduction II

Research questions and issues in Africa (student-led session) and Africa is not a country, part 2.

3[対面/face to face]：Introduction III

What is politics? What is democracy? And how are these two defined in an African context.

4[対面/face to face]：The state in Africa 1

Dictatorship and authoritarianism.

5[対面/face to face]：The state in Africa II

Elections, conflicts, and violence.

6[対面/face to face]：The state in Africa III

Africa uprisings, political protests, and political change.

7[対面/face to face]：Issues in Africa I

Research questions and issues in Africa - revised(student-led session) and Africa is not a country, part 3.

8[対面/face to face]：Issues in Africa II

Research questions and issues in Africa (student-led session) presentation of the findings. 

9[対面/face to face]：Gender, sex, and sexuality

Women and men in culture and life: polygamy, sexuality, domination, and autonomy. 

10[対面/face to face]：Religion and political discourse in Africa

Religious sermons and political participation.

11[対面/face to face]：Globalization and Africa

Africa in the liberal global order: migration, labour, industrialization

12[対面/face to face]：International development and governance

Japan and China in Africa.

13[対面/face to face]：The youth and ICT in Africa

How is Africa tapping into the youthful population? How Africa is pacesetting in global technological development (Kenya's M-Pesa).

14[対面/face to face]：Revision and conclusion

Research questions and issues in Africa (student-led session) presentation of the findings.

Students will be required to use the Internet to research topics in preparation for the classroom sessions. Writing tasks will also be set for homework.

There is no set text for this course, but students are required to bring an A4 folder to organise their notes.

Khapoya, V. (2013). The African experience. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.

Grades will be calculated as follows:

10%: class attendance and participation
10%: pop quiz 1
10%: pop quiz 2
10%: pop quiz 3
40%: final presentation
20%: final quiz

N/A

A4 folder

Students are expected to attend all of the classes and to come to class on time. There may be some changes to the syllabus above in order to allow for some flexibility to cater to the needs of particular classes.