305 Governing the Topographies of Extraction

Target group/Course level

Priority is given to those majoring in Development Studies. Max. 20 students.

Content

Reviewing statistics on Africa’s declining share of world trade, Susan George remarked in 1993 that “one can almost hear the sound of sub-Saharan Africa sliding off the world map.” But in 2008 Africa seems to be back on the map. World market prices for “strategic minerals” are rising, and not only governments and multinationals based in western countries, but increasingly Chinese and other new economic power-players are scrambling to secure their access to Africa’s remaining mineral wealth. Is Africa finding a new place for itself in the world economy, or simply back to its colonial role as provider of raw materials?

This course offers a critical introduction to current research on the historical, economic, social, political, environmental and geographical dimensions of the way mineral extraction in Africa is currently reconfigured by powerful players both out- and inside the continent. We will approach these topics through theoretical literature and case studies of specific minerals, countries, multinationals and transport routes. The emphasis is however not on world markets or international relations. We will try to discover the human faces of those who govern, or are governed by the topographies of extraction and also pay attention to less well-known cases than “Shell in Nigeria” or “China in Sudan”. The daily realities of small-scale miners, smugglers, “human taxis” and other foot-soldiers of extraction will also emerge in ethnographic detail.

Course work and forms of study

Course requirements to receive 5 or 10 ECTS

• Attendance of minimum 5 of 7 course sessions.
• Presentation of 20 min. (+25 min. for discussion) during the course as part of a working group (2-4 students). In each session, one student group will present on a topic related to the lecture theme of the session. Presentation topics will be discussed in the first course session, and student suggestions are welcome.
• Course diary (min. 1 page A4 per lecture and student presentation = 2 pages per session)
• Essay ca. 5000 words (this is optional, for additional 5 ECTS); topic to be chosen by the student and approved by course supervisor, or assigned by supervisor.