69226 - Development and Cooperation Policies in Africa

Course contents

The course unit is formed by two Modules.

The first Module, by Dr. Corrado Tornimbeni, addresses, in the first place, the historical and political context of the development and cooperation policies in sub-Saharan Africa, that is, the different phases that characterise the political and social history of the continent from the late colonial period. Then, it will analyse the development paradigms within the local and international political contexts in which they originated, and will examine their influence on the measures implemented by the sub-Saharan African countries with regard to the national and regional development policies. It will discuss the prevalent models of international cooperation in the various historical moments, their structure, their problems, and their relationship with the prevailing development paradigms. Finally, the Module will address specifically the post-Cold war context and will analyse two important areas of development cooperation: the natural resources management programmes and the issue of food security (included, in particular, the theme of biofuels).

The second module – held by Roberta Pellizzoli – focuses on the analysis of the gender approach within development policies and cooperation practices in Africa since the 1970s. Particular attention will be devoted to the following issues and to the analysis and discussion of relevant case studies in: analytical approaches to gender and development; gender mainstreaming in the political institutions of African countries; poverty reduction strategies and their impact in terms of gender equality; international and national policies for agricultural and rural development and their implications for gender equality and women's empowerment.

Readings/Bibliography

For students attending classes

GENERAL

- A. Pallotti e M. Zamponi, Le parole dello sviluppo. Metodi e politiche della cooperazione internazionale, Carocci, Roma, 2014; chapters: "1. Sviluppo", "2. Lotta alla povertà", "3. Sviluppo rurale", "5. Genere e sviluppo", "6. Cittadinanza, identità, appartenenze", "8. Governance e good governance", "9. Empowerment", "10. Partecipazione".

FIRST MODULE

- D. Potts, “Accesso alle risorse naturali in Africa australe: l'influenza del cambiamento politico e delle pratiche di sviluppo / Natural Resource Access in Southern Africa: The Influence of Political Change and Development Practice”, in afriche e orienti, Numero speciale / Special Issue 2007

- R.A. Schroeder, “Geographies of environmental intervention in Africa”, in Progress in Human Geography, vol. 23, n. 3, 1999

- C. Tornimbeni, "Introduzione. (In)sicurezza alimentare tra Sud e Nord del mondo: nuove sfide e opportunità", in C. Tornimbeni (a cura di), Sicurezza alimentare nei Paesi in via di sviluppo, Aiep Editore, 2010

SECOND MODULE:

- K. Wilson (2011), "‘Race', Gender and Neoliberalism: changing visual representations in development", in Third World Quarterly, vol. 32, n. 2

- E. Ransom, C. Bain (2011), "Gendering Agricultural Aid: An Analysis of Whether International Development Assistance Targets Women and Gender", in Gender & Society, vol. 25, n. 1

- R. Pellizzoli e G. Rossetti (a cura di) (2013), Donne, terre e mercati. Ripensare lo sviluppo rurale in Africa australe, CLEUP, Padova: one chapter to be chosen from those of: Pellizzoli, Lanzano, Navarra, Cirillo, Migliardi

 

 

For students NOT attending classes :

(it is suggested, in any case, to contact course unit professors in order to better organise the study of the readings)

 

it is suggested to read the following text in order to better understand the readings for the exam:

* A.M. Gentili, Il leone e il cacciatore. Storia dell'Africa sub-sahariana, Carocci, Roma, nuova edizione aggiornata 2008: cap. IV.

 

Texts for the final exam :

- A. Pallotti e M. Zamponi, Le parole dello sviluppo. Metodi e politiche della cooperazione internazionale, Carocci, Roma, 2014; chapters: "1. Sviluppo", "2. Lotta alla povertà", "3. Sviluppo rurale", "5. Genere e sviluppo", "6. Cittadinanza, identità, appartenenze", "8. Governance e good governance", "9. Empowerment", "10. Partecipazione".

- D. Potts, “Accesso alle risorse naturali in Africa australe: l'influenza del cambiamento politico e delle pratiche di sviluppo / Natural Resource Access in Southern Africa: The Influence of Political Change and Development Practice”, in afriche e orienti, Numero speciale / Special Issue 2007

- R.A. Schroeder, “Geographies of environmental intervention in Africa”, in Progress in Human Geography, vol. 23, n. 3, 1999

- C. Tornimbeni, "Introduzione. (In)sicurezza alimentare tra Sud e Nord del mondo: nuove sfide e opportunità", in C. Tornimbeni (a cura di), Sicurezza alimentare nei Paesi in via di sviluppo, Aiep Editore, 2010

- S. Chant, S. Caroline (2012), "Fixing women or fixing the world? ‘Smart economics', efficiency approaches, and gender equality in development", in Gender and Development, vol. 20, n. 3, 2012

- K. Wilson (2011), "‘Race', Gender and Neoliberalism: changing visual representations in development", in Third World Quarterly, vol. 32, n. 2

- E. Ransom, C. Bain (2011), "Gendering Agricultural Aid: An Analysis of Whether International Development Assistance Targets Women and Gender", in Gender & Society, vol. 25, n. 1

 

 

Teaching methods

Lessons and weekly discussions on the issues presented during classes.

Assessment methods

The final exam will be an oral examination. Students will be asked to demonstrate:

- to have learnt an appropriate scientific method for the study of the themes of the course unit;

- to be able to use a critical analysis in addressing the texts provided and he discussions developed during classes (for those attending classes); attention will be given to the use of sources and to the consciousness of the different scientific positions emerging from the programme;

- to have developed the capacity to discuss the themes of the course unit with independent thinking, appropriate language, ability to synthesize informations and through a consistent discourse;

The exam will cover all texts indicated in the reading list. The texts to be chosen will be taken as a starting point to expand the discussion to other themes of the programme too.

 

Teaching tools

Maps; Italian, African and International journals and periodicals; documents of the main international organisations of development cooperation. At the beginning of the classes internet resources for the study of development issues in sub-Saharan Africa will be showed.

Office hours

See the website of Corrado Tornimbeni

See the website of Roberta Pellizzoli