53697 - History and Political Institutions of Contemporary Africa

Learning outcomes

The course will examine the main phases and issues of Sub-Saharan Africa's contemporary history. The course aims at providind students the conceptual and analitical skills necessary to critically understand contemporary political processes, conflicts and the root causes of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

Course contents

The first part of the course will analyse the historical processes of colonization and decolonization of Africa. The second part will critically analyse the crisis of the African state, the problem of underdevelopment and the dynamics of conflict and democratization.

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended reading

Readings for students attending classes:

AM. Gentili, Il leone e il cacciatore , Roma, Carocci, 1995.

M. Zamponi, Breve storia del Sudafrica, Roma, Carocci, 2009.

M.C. Ercolessi, L'Angola indipendente, Roma, Carocci, 2011.

Readings for students not attending classes:

AM. Gentili, Il leone e il cacciatore , Roma, Carocci, 1995.

M. Zamponi, Terra, produzione e lavoro. Storia agraria dell'Africa australe: Il caso dello Zimbabwe , Aiep, San Marino, 2000.

M. Emiliani, Petrolio, forze armate e democrazia. Il caso Nigeria , Roma, Carocci, 2004.

M.C. Ercolessi, L'Angola indipendente, Roma, Carocci, 2011.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Students can find an Atlas of African History at the information desk of the Library R. Ruffilli and at the Segreteria didattica of the Faculty of Political Sciences "Roberto Ruffilli". 

Assessment methods

Students attending classes:

Two written exams (4 questions, 2 hours) during the course and a final oral exam (on all the topics of the course). The final mark is the average of the marks of the written and oral exams.

Students attending classes:

Oral exam

Teaching tools

Power point

Office hours

See the website of Arrigo Pallotti