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Last update: PhDr. Kateřina Werkman, Ph.D. (17.09.2018)
African Security (JPM306) Summer semester 2018 6 ECTS Friday 9:30-10.50, Jinonice building, room 4020 Lecturers Katerina Werkman (katka.werkman@gmail.com) Office hours Friday 11:00 - ONLY upon prior agreement by email!!! Course description This course aims to provide participants with a detailed understanding of the issues pertaining to security in sub-Saharan Africa. It adopts a broad view of security and includes the analysis of threats to African state and its institutions as well as to groups and individuals. Particular emphasis is placed on the study and seminar discussions of selected case studies from across the continent. Students are expected to prepare thoroughly for each seminar, understand the main texts and actively participate in the class discussions. Aims of the course At the end of the course, students should have a clear understanding of the diversity of issues in the security environment in Sub-Saharan Africa and be able to make an informed analysis of selected African case studies. Structure of the course
Readings: Seminar 1: STATE IN AFRICA Sierra Leone
Keen, D. (2005): Conflict and collusion in Sierra Leone. Chapter 2 - Historical Background: Uneven Development (Suffolk: James Currey). Mali Craven-Matthews, C. & P. Englebert (2018): A Potemkin state in the Sahel? The empirical and the fictional in Malian state reconstruction. IN: African Security Vol. 11, Iss. 1, pp.1-31. DRC Boas, M. (2010): Returning to Realities: a Building-block Approach to State and Statecraft in Eastern Congo and Somalia, Conflict, Security & Development, Vol.10, No. 4, pp.443-464. Zimbabwe Mlambo, A. (2013): Becoming Zimbabwe or Becoming Zimbabwean: Identity, Nationalism and State-building. IN: Africa Spectrum, Vol.48, No.1, pp.49-70. South Sudan Frahm, O. (2015): Making borders and identities in South Sudan. IN: Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp.251–267. Seminar 2: VIOLENCE AND CONFLICT I
50% class participation (25% in-class contributions, 25% memos) 50% final exam
Given the seminar style format of the class, attendance at every class meeting, for the full length of the class, is required and expected. Class participation is not the same as mere attendance but is understood to be active participation during class, including asking questions informed by the readings and grappling with arguments, concepts and evidence. This course depends on students’ active participation. Students are thus expected to be prepared thoroughly for each seminar: to understand the main texts, be able to speak during every class, answer questions about the readings or pose well-informed questions about them. If you plan to sit quietly in class all semester this is not the course for you! Students are required to attend all seminars. One absence is permitted but students’ shall notify me in advance about it. Further absences will be considered on individual basis. Please note that in case of non-emergency and/or avoidable reasons, additional coursework will be provided in order to meet the course requirements. Class participation In order to capture class engagement, the participation grade is composed of two components. The first component credits students’ in-class contributions (25% of the final grade), while the second component reflects the engagement with the readings and class discussions beyond the classroom (25% of the final grade). Students are asked to write a total of 5 memos throughout the term. These class reflection memos allow students to weigh in on ideas/arguments raised during the actual class. Each reflection memo must include at least two points which can be in the form of: clarifying questions of arguments/ideas raised during class, or statements/questions that engage the topic of the discussion further and raise new questions/points. Class reflection memos are due by midnight on the next Friday after the relevant class. Please send them by email in a Word or PDF document titled NAME_Class reflection memo_number (1 or 2). The class reflection memos will be made available for everyone. This may provide students with a further opportunity to engage with the discussed issues and also help in preparing for the final exam. Final Exam During the official examination period, students will be given an essay exam. There will be 5 questions and you will be required to answer 2 of them. In total, I will provide you with a list of no more than 10 questions - from which 5 will be selected for each term of the essay exam - no later than 30th of April, to give students the opportunity to begin thinking about how they would answer them and to share ideas with their peers.
Evaluation As stated in the official department evaluation table.
Course rules The Code of Study and Examination of Charles University in Prague provides the general framework of study rules at the university. According to art. 6, par. 17 of this Code, “a student may not take any examination in any subject entered in his study plan more than three times, i.e. he shall have the right to two resit dates; no extraordinary resit date shall be permitted. (…) If a student fails to appear for an examination on the date for which he has enrolled without duly excusing himself, he shall not be marked; the provision of neither this nor of the first sentence shall constitute the right to arrange for a special examination date.” Any written assignment composed by the student shall be an original piece. The practices of plagiarism, defined by the Dean’s Provision no. 18/2015, are seen as “a major violation of the rules of academic ethics” and “will be penalized in accordance with Disciplinarian Regulations of the faculty.”�
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