Helping Africa? Trends in Africa's relations with the world


Semesterangivelse: Efterårs kursus

 


Udgave: Efterår 2012
ECTS points: 10/15 ECTS (the difference between 10 and 15 ECTS lies in the examination form and the scope of the syllabus - see exam form and the study curriculum)
Institutter: Centre of African Studies, Købmagergade 46, 4., 1150 Copenhagen K.
Studieordning: 2005 curriculum, revised version 1 Sep 2012 (www.teol.ku.dk/cas/studentinformation/study_curricula)
Uddannelsesdel: Kandidat niveau
Kontaktpersoner: Julie Oxenvad, Centre of African Studies, e-mail: cas@teol.ku.dk, tel: 35 32 25 86
Andre undervisere: Lecturer: Stig Jensen
Skema- oplysninger:  Vis skema for kurset
Samlet oversigt over tid og sted for alle kurser inden for Lektionsplan for det Interdisciplinære kursusudbud Efterår 2012
Indhold: 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, the millennium development goals and African development initiatives such as NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development). We will also discuss Africa's role on the international scene focusing on issues related to “the war on terror” and climate change (both mitigation and adaptation issues) by exploring both the drives as well as 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 course will consist of the combination of lectures with active student participation, and presentations by a number of external experts from the private sector, NGOs and researchers. The participants are provided with introductory literature by the facilitator of the course. Active student participation is expected.
Eksamensform: 10 ECTS: Written paper
15 ECTS: Oral examination with synopsis
Please see www.teol.ku.dk/cas/studentinformation/exams and the study curriculum
Kursus hjemmeside:
Kursus hjemmeside: www.teol.ku.dk/cas/studentinformation/courses
Undervisnings- sprog: Kun engelsk
Sidst redigeret: 3/5-2012



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