TAFAHEL75U Optional course: Helping Africa?
In the current debate about Africa two extreme perspectives can
be identified. An Afro-optimistic approach illustrated by
statements as the following from business and government leaders
during the closing session of the 21st World Economic Forum on
Africa in Cape Town, May 2011: ‘African countries should now focus
on converting optimism in the continent's future into action’.
The other is the Afro-pessimism approach illustrated by the
following statement: ‘The basket-case African continent, mired in
strange pathologies such as "resource curses,"
"poverty traps," and "blood diamonds" which
hasn't changed much since the 1960s’.
This course aims to problematize recent "development"
initiatives on the African continent. Looking into specific African
as well as external development initiatives and there implications
for Africa and the Africans with special focus on poverty
reduction.
One of the elements in the course is to critically discuss actors
in Africa's development, such as: The African Union, African
States, externals donors (including China and India), non-states
actors including the private sector, and the role they are playing
in achieving poverty alleviation in Africa.
Another element will be to discuss and reflect on specific
initiatives such as: Development aid, Post-2015 Development Goals
and African development initiatives such as NEPAD (New Partnership
for Africa's Development) and the role of The African Union. We
will also discuss Africa's role on the international scene
focusing on issues related to “security and coping with
radicalisation linked to the war on terror”. Another topic in focus
will be issues linked to natural resources management including
climate change (both mitigation and adaptation issues) including
focus on the COP-21 event in Paris and possible implications on the
continent.
The course will also look into the role of the private sector with
detailed study and critical discussion of specific poverty-related
business activities in Africa. The business activities that are
chosen will reflect a variety of contexts and types of business,
illustrating the possibilities and challenges for business and the
activities effects on the African people and poverty reduction. The
chosen contexts of the specific poverty-related business activities
are microfinance, entrepreneurship, Brand Aid, tourism and
innovation-based development.
The aim is for the student to acquire the following qualifications:
- Ability to select, in consultation with the instructor, a relevant sub-topic within the overall focus area of the thematic course. The sub-topic will often be empirical in nature and geared towards specific conditions inAfrica, but it can also be more theoretical.
- Ability to independently and critically select relevant literature on the sub-topic to be studied.
- Ability to independently and critically analyse the sub-topic in question and to place it within the overall context of the thematic course in question.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- Total
- 28
For information on how to register please see http://teol.ku.dk/cas/studentinformation/courses/course_registration/
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 min.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- TAFAHEL75U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- Thursdays 13-16
- Continuing and further education
- Price
Please see here: http://teol.ku.dk/cas/programmes/part-time/
- Study board
- Study board of African Studies
Contracting department
- African Studies
Course responsibles
- Julie Katrine Oxenvad (3-6d727b437768726f316e7831676e)
Head of Administration
Lecturers
Stig Jensen