90450 - China In Africa

Learning outcomes

Combining the fields of migration studies and labor studies, the course introduces the students to social issues connected with the Chinese presence in Africa and African presence in China. At the end of the course the students will be able to understand and critically analyze the strategies and agency of the different actors. As a large part of the course will rely on visual tools, the students will also acquire the ability to critically analyze visual documents.

Course contents

Chinese in Africa and Africans in China

The relationship between China and African countries is at the center of heated debates, with Chinese investments, infrastructure construction, loans, job creation and resource appropriation  in Africa often presented in binary terms: Either China is portrayed as a predator and the new imperialist power in Africa, or it is celebrated as a friend offering "win-win cooperation" to its African counterpart. This takes place against a global backdrop where scholars and pundits alike are increasingly forced to take a stand, as non-partisan analysis is in vertical decline and views on China have rapidly polarized.

Using images and video, the course will offer a nuanced discussion of the many facets of the Chinese presence in Africa. At the same time, the course will examine the actions of African states and the agency of African elites and populations in relation to Chinese presence and activism on the continent.

The Chinese presence in Africa will not be analyzed in isolation, but will be discussed within the framework of the "Global China" phenomenon, which is visible in China's increasing outward flows of investment, loans, migrants, infrastructure, media, and international engagement.

The course also offers an introduction to visual sociology as a tool that will enable students to develop sociological interpretations of the visual materials proposed by the instructor.


TOPICS

1. RACIALIZATION AND INTERSECTIONALITY IN AFRICA-CHINA ENCOUNTERS

2. CHINA IN AFRICA

3. CHINESE SOFT POWER

4. CHINESE AND AFRICAN LABOR IN AFRICA

5. THE GOLD RUSH

6. CHINA AS A MODEL FOR AFRICA

7. THE AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

8. DEVELOPMENT, AID AND THE REPRODUCTION OF DEPENDENCY

9. AFRICANS IN CHINA 

GUEST LECTURERS

Chris Alden, London School of Economics, UK

Mariasole Pepa, University of Padua, Italy

Elisa Gambino, University of Manchester, UK

Costanza Franceschini, University of Milan, Italy

Other guest lecturers may be invited

Readings/Bibliography

There are no textbooks assigned for this course. Readings are book chapters and (e-)journal articles. These can be accessed directly with username and password from Virtuale https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=37363.


Videos will be available on Dropbox.

Teaching methods

Lectures, student presentations, group discussions, documentaries and films.
Students are expected to prepare assigned readings in advance. Participation is expected and will be rewarded.

 

Assessment methods

Students attending class are expected to:

1. Make presentations to the class and stimulate class discussion on one or more papers included in the reading list and other papers agreed upon with the instructor;

2. Complete each week's readings in advance of class. Attendance, participation, and level of engagement with the readings are critical to the quality of the experience and student success in the course. Student initiative in articulating themes, connecting different texts and visual materials, proposing video clips or other visual products related to the course theme will be positively evaluated.

3. Write a final essay (2500-3000 words, including references) on one of the topics discussed in class, as agreed upon with the instructor. A topic not included in the reading list - and the relevant bibliography - can be agreed with the instructor.

Grading Criteria

1. Active participation in class discussions 25%.

2. Individual or group presentations 25%.

3. Final paper 50%.

To pass the course, you must pass ALL exams.

To have the final grade registered, students should register on the official exam dates in the Almaesami website (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm).

Students must attend at least 75% of the classes.

More about the FINAL ESSAY: The essay should be in MS Word (.docx). Please make sure that you send the essay as a .doc/.docx, NOT as a .pdf document.

References should be listed in the text, e.g. (Ceccagno 2022), not in the footnotes. All references mentioned in the Reference List are cited in the text, and vice versa. 

A signed statement of independence should be included at the end of the essay.

 Essays that do not meet these criteria will be returned and must be resubmitted.

Final essays should be submitted for grading at least 15 days prior to the official exam date(s). An essay is considered submitted when the student receives the instructor's email confirming receipt.

Non-attending students: please contact the instructor in advance.

Students who do not attend class will take an oral exam based on the course readings and videos. Questions will be designed to test the student's ability to think critically about the issues presented and to construct an argument using appropriate language.

For both attending and non-attending students, the assessment will take into account:
> Correct knowledge of the topics

> Ability to critically analyze and connect concepts, images, and issues

> Competence in using appropriate terminology

 

Teaching tools

In-person and online lectures. Four guest lecturers have been invited this year, and others may be invited. An extensive bibliography will also be made available for those who wish to study the subject in depth. The readings will be supplemented by films and videos.

Office hours

See the website of Antonella Ceccagno