Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH African Politics
School	Government
Department	International Development
Module Code	08 34426
Module Lead	Nic Cheeseman
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-30 hours Guided independent study-160 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module introduces students to major debates in the contemporary study of African politics and development, setting these issues within their historical, social and cultural contexts. It will analyse the shifting balance between the state and society, the role of international forces, the changing role of the state in development, and the most recent important trends such as urbanisation and the emergence of particularly young populations. The selected themes will all be examined with reference to continental patterns and variations and reflect key areas of academic and public debate, and fields in which there is a lively and often contested literature. Weekly lectures will be complemented with participatory weekly seminars, giving students the opportunity to engage with some of the most important questions facing Africa today, such as: What was the impact of colonial rule? Are African states different to European states? Are they really states at all? Why has Africa seen so many civil wars?
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Describe the key features of states in Africa, and discuss whether or not they are different to states elsewhere in the world. Explain the key domestic/international and political/economic/social/geographical challenges to African development. Analyse the variation between African countries’ development trajectories and political settlements, with reference to history and theory. Evaluate the usefulness of different theories and frameworks for understanding politics and development in Africa.
Assessment	34426-01 : Presentation : Presentation (25%) 34426-02 : 3000 word assessment : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x oral presentation (25%) – mid-term assessment and 1 x 3,000 written assignment (75%) – final assessment. Reassessment: N/A
Other
Reading List