Unit information: The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021/22

Unit name	The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
Unit code	POLI21231
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Flint
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The unit considers the politics of the independent states of sub-Saharan Africa with particular emphasis on a number of core themes: the colonial legacy, the nature of the post-colonial state, society and its institutions, the nation-building projects of these states, the movement towards democratisation in the 1990s and finally the relations between African states and their relationship, in turn, with the outside world.

Aims:

• To introduce the political issues and debates relating to sub-Saharan Africa.

• To discuss the nature of the post-colonial state in Africa and the significance of the colonial legacy.

• To focus on aspects of African nationalism, nation-building, the movement towards democratisation in recent years and the international relations of the African states.

• To elicit written and oral discussion of issues raised in the unit.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the unit the student will have developed the following:

1. an understanding of the making of contemporary Africa.
2. an ability to engage in scholarly seminar discussion on related topics.
3. an ability to deliver a scholarly seminar presentation on an aspect of African politics.
4. an ability to write in a scholarly way about African politics.

Teaching Information

The unit will be taught through blended learning methods, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities

Assessment Information

2,000 word essay 1 (25%) 2,000 word essay 2 (75%)

Both assessments test all learning outcomes

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI21231).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.