Geopolitics of Sub-Saharan Africa - JPM972

• Title: Geopolitics of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Guaranteed by: Department of Political Science (23-KP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2021
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 25 / unknown (25)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: doc. Mgr. Bohumil Doboš, Ph.D.; doc. Martin Riegl, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): doc. Mgr. Bohumil Doboš, Ph.D.; doc. Martin Riegl, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the geopolitics of the African continent with the exception of North Africa that is in more detail covered in the Geopolitics of the Middle East course. The course covers internal as well as external factors affecting the region´s power dynamic and presents the regional analysis of the geopolitical dynamics throughout the region. The students should gather a basic understanding of the processes taking place in the dynamically evolving continent.

Last update: Doboš Bohumil, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (13.04.2021)

Course completion requirements

Final test (African realities) – 25% – minimum 50% to pass

Policy paper (1.500-2.000 words) – 25% (week 10) – one policy recommendation for your country´s involvement in Africa, debate on week 12

Final essay (3-3.500 words) – 50% – free topic selection

Last update: Doboš Bohumil, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (01.12.2021)

Literature

The full list will be available in Moodle.

Basic readings:

Bereketeab, R. (ed.) – National Liberation Movements as Government in Africa. Abingdon, Routledge (2018).

De Vries, L., P. Englebert and Schomerus, M. (ed.) – Secessionism in African Politics: Aspiration, Grievance, Performance, Disenchantment. London: Palgrave Macmillan (2019).

Englebert, P. and K. C. Dunn – Inside African Politics. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers (2013).

Hansen, S. J. – Horn, Sahel, and Rift: Fault-Lines of the African Jihad. London: Hurst Publishers (2018).

Herbst, J. – War and the State in Africa, International Security 14/4 (1990).

Herbst, J. – States and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control. Princeton: Princeton University Press (2000).

Jackson, R. H. and C. G. Rosberg – Why Africa´s Weak States Persist: The Empirical and the Juridical in Statehood, World Politics 35/1(1982).

Menkhaus, K. – Governance without Government in Somalia: Spoilers, State Building, and the Politics of Coping, International Security 31/3 (2006/7).

Varin, C. and D. Abubakar – Violent Non-State Actors in Africa: Terrorists, Rebels and Warlords. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

africacenter.org

allafrica.com

issafrica.com

www.crisisgroup.org (podcasts)

Last update: Doboš Bohumil, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (13.04.2021)

Syllabus

1) Introduction: Decolonization, Africa (on the periphery) in the World System
Process of decolonization, emergence of post-colonial states, right to secession,
impact of colonial history on contemporary Africa, geopolitical concepts and Africa

2) Post-colonial states and neopatrimonialism
Nature of post-colonial states, effective x failed cases, personal linkages vs.
institutionalisation of power

3) Proto-states, quasi-states, violent non-state actors
Alternative forms of organization of political map, redrawing of the de facto political
map

4) Western Sahel
Movement, organized crime, terrorism/insurgency, natural resources and external
intervention, political communities in desert environment

5) Sudan and the Nile
Water scarcity, river disputes, ethnic conflicts and dissolution of Sudan

6) Horn of Africa
Ethiopia as a regional power, Somalia and power vacuum, Eritrea as totalitarian
state, Djibouti and geostrategy, naval lines

7) Areas of PG analysis

Borders, capitals, political-geographic analysis of Afirca

8) Africa as a hotbed of open crisis: 1990s state failure

Experience from the 1990s, crises in contemporary Africa

9) Western, Central Africa, Southern Africa
History of civil war, Gulf of Guinea from conflict to stabilization and economic
progress, proxy conflicts, genocide, natural resources and warlords Central Africa,
Domination of South Africa, stabilization after civil wars, RSA as regional power,
race and politics

10) External interventions: the West as a security provider
Operations of external powers in Africa, focus on US, EU and its members

11) New actors in Africa: Future scenarios
China, Russia, India

12) Discussion over policy papers

RECORDINGS:

1) Week 1: s://cuni-cz.zoom.us/rec/share/sMtwe8M85ndv0Vqnoc5DL8N1iTxbO4uosELMAkSTYDDDG2XRrhGYaUXGvAQ4bNs.l-JsN_gtKQFFggdX 
Passcode: #sb!0M##

2) Week 2: https://cuni-cz.zoom.us/rec/share/daOVM0hYmlGyGTq0VyE9rPdaT8tr1r6zfKklYQTB-LaJKCXo3n3x2N_opbrVWuHZ.dy5iV-4E3qvKhy36
Passcode: 8$L%=9Wc

https://cuni-cz.zoom.us/rec/share/vseacQ2SAcjQtoBnwqLCwaqHiWR_zy8Rm-6boKe4zPE8TcdPKAXmlvTu7Pi8xlRf.KKhVPf8FNWa0Mcj4
Passcode: q7^HFK*N

https://cuni-cz.zoom.us/rec/share/8hBRRFpTLpphVMtpbROTnJxXmHZTpSP037D1mu2YSUL3oTse8swkCtrJH6pcRjpC.Bb-DzK6HyzidliMi
Passcode: 1HHmZ@+r

Last update: Riegl Martin, doc., Ph.D. (20.04.2023)