TAFADSA15U Thematic course: Development and Armed Conflicts in Africa (15 ECTS)
MA programme in African Studies
Development and Armed Conflict in Africa
Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen
and
Institute for Strategy, Royal Danish Defence College
Introduction
The proliferation of armed conflicts alongside increasingly militarized foreign interventions in Africa offers an interesting backdrop for exploring the dynamic relationship between development and security. This course explores the local and global dynamics of war economy, regional security architecture, military interventions and state building. In that way, we engage with the increasingly fused and complex military and civil environment on the continent, including civil-military relations (CMR).
To fully comprehend how security and military power is perceived and utilized in contemporary Africa one has to understand the basic political and sociological contexts from which armies and other armed actors have emerged over space and time. In this compact course, students will be introduced to contemporary research relevant for comprehending political and security-related dynamics in Africa. We will shed light on the cultural and institutional context in which national and transnational security actors navigate, including African armies, foreign military assistance, but also mercenaries and other organized armed groups (OAGs).
The course includes a self-funded study trip to Ghana will visit key African and international institutions and organizations related to the theme of the course. For CAS students the study trip is optional but strongly encouraged. The course has a particularly heavy workload between week 36 where the course begins and during the five-day study trip in week 39. Students are also expected to be familiar with all the course literature prior to the first day of the course.
The 15 sessions are taught both at CAS and RDDC in order to stimulate debates and collaboration across the educational and professional spectrum. The syllabus amounts to approximately 900-1200 (7.5 ECTS) and 1600-1800 (15 ECTS) pages. The exam will consist of a written paper on a topic of the student’s own choosing comprising 24,000-28,800 characters (7.5 ETCS) or 36,000-43,200 characters (15 ECTS).
This compact course is a unique collaboration between the Centre of African Studies (CAS) and The Royal Danish Defence College (RDDC) and the course will to a large extent draw on guest lectures from renowned scholars in the field. The study trip is arranged by the RDDC and only students who have participated in the course will be able to obtain an invitation.
The first three days of the course will be in Building 118 at the Royal Danish Defence College (Ryvangs Allé 1, 2100 Copenhagen Ø). The last two days will be at the Centre of African Studies at KUA.
- Stimulate the students’ abilities to critically engage in in-depth analysis of a chosen sub-topic and situate it within the broader context of armed conflicts, foreign interventions and military strategies.
- Strengthen the students’ abilities to independently and critically engage with relevant literature on topics related to the overall theme.
- Drawing on key experts in the field, the students will obtain detailed understanding of complexities of specific local conflicts and obtain ability to see their global effects.
The syllabus amounts to approximately 586 pages of literature for RDDC students and for CAS students the pages amount to 900-1200 (7.5 ECTS) and 1600-1800 (15 ECTS) pages.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- Preparation
- 122
- Exam Preparation
- 150
- Exam
- 120
- Total
- 420
As an exchange, guest and credit student – click here
Part-time students – click here
Professional master students – click here
Class size 20
Priority will be given to MA CAS students
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written examinationA written paper on a topic of the student’s own choosing comprising 36,000-43,200 characters.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Exam period
For more information click here
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- TAFADSA15U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterBachelor,Bachelor choice,Full Degree Master choice,Part Time Master
- Duration
- 1 semester
15 lectures are held during week 36 and the 5-day study-trip is in week 39
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- 15 lectures are held during week 36 and the 5-day study-trip is in week 39
- Course is also available as continuing and professional education
- Study board
- Study board of African Studies
Contracting department
- African Studies
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Theology
Course Coordinators
- Toke Andreas Møldrup Wolff (3-78657b4478697370326f7932686f)
Lecturers
Thomas Mandrup (RDDC)
Toke Møldrup Wolff (CAS)
and guest speakers