POLI 1265 Africa in International Politics

This course is an introduction to the international relations of post-colonial Africa. It includes the global politics of pre-colonial Africa, the dynamics of colonialism, and the international relations of de-colonization as background topics. Moreover, the course will examine the politics of post-independence international alignments, the external causes and effects of authoritarian rule, and Africa's role in the global political economy. It concludes by reviewing pressing issues, such as state failure, the " war on terror", China's growing economic and political footprint, and African multilateralism. Students will understand the patterns of international relations in post-colonial Africa and explain and critically weigh available evidence using a range of theories to build their original insights.