African Political Parties

The origin of political parties is inextricably linked to the colonial era. Parties were either created as instruments of colonial rule or arose as organized means of resistance to colonial power. This colonial legacy still affects the behavior and role of political parties a half-century after independence. What are the distinctive features of African political parties both across the continent and with other continents? To answer this question, the course is divided into three sections: (1) the pivotal moments in the rise of political parties in modern world politics; (2) an overview of the distinctive characteristics of African political parties in general; and (3) a focused examination of West African political parties in particular.