305 The postcolonial state: politics, justice and security in Africa

4.11.-9.12. KE 10-12 T23 A216

PE 11.12. 15-20 U38 F205

LA 12.12. 9-14 AUD III

5 or 10 credits.

Target group/Course level

Maximum of 20 students will be taken. Priority is given to those majoring in Development Studies.

Objectives

Development policies and practices have recently become increasingly preoccupied with issues of security. This has involved redefining and redirecting development aid as a tool to prevent or resolve violence and conflict. The course aims at providing students with conceptual tools for examining this shift critically and for situating it in the context of longer-term issues of sovereignty and state formation.

Content

The course offers a critical introduction to contemporary discussions on state, sovereignty, security and politics in Africa, with an emphasis on contributions from anthropology, history and political science.

Completion

The course consists of lectures and student group presentations on course literature. During the weekend seminar that concludes the course, we will revisit the themes of the course by watching the film Apocalypse Now, followed by group work and discussions.

For five credits, a lecture diary is required. Additional five credits can be obtained by writing an essay.

The literature will be announced in the beginning of the course.

Grading

Grading will be on scale 1-5.