IRS 103: Introduction to African Politics

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. explain African liberation from the shackles of colonialism;
2. state the nature of politics in post-colonial Africa;
3. discuss the establishment of the organization of African unity (OAU) to rid Africa of all colonial vestiges;
4. explain the politics of succession to power and retention of power after independence;
5. discuss the incidence of direct military intervention in African politics;
6. analyse the establishment of the African Union (AU) to fast track economic development of the continent; and
7. state the reason for the establishment of regional international organizations to facilitate regional and sub-regional integration.

Course Contents

The origins, nature and problems of African Politics. Problems of colonialism, neo-colonialism and apartheid. Succession to power, military rule and many others. Africa’s lingering dependence on the former metropolis, and Africa in International Politics. The formation of

the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to liberate Africa from colonial subjugation, and later the formation of the African Union (AU) to help fast track economic development. Efforts towards sub-regional political, and economic integration through the instrumentality of sub-regional international organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the defunct East African Common Market.