Africa since Independence

Africa, the second largest continent in the world and arguably the most diverse and dynamic is often overlooked and dismissed. In its recent history and until the present day the continent is in many ways the fastest changing in the world. In the future these changes are likely to have an increasingly meaningful impact on its inhabitants and the world at large. Despite this, the diversity of the continent almost renders it meaningless to talk about Africa in general As such, this course provides an overview and insights into the most important ideologies, events and transitions that the continent has undergone since gaining independence and what this means for the future of the continent. Specifically the course investigates the creation and changing nature of African development, governance and societies, this allows us to situate Africa in the global arena and consider the future of the continent.

Objectives: To acquaint students with Martin Meredith and Crawford Young's concept of the state of Africa To familiarise students with different national development programmes and their underlying values To understand the working of patrimonial governance To debate the relationship between ethnicity and nationality To engage with promising initiatives to break with the past