COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 461: U.S. POLICY TOWARDS AFRICA

Department of Political Science

School of Social Sciences

College of Humanities

First Semester, 2015/2016 Academic Year

Lecturer: Dr. Iddi Ziblim

Office:  Room 15, Political Science Dept.

                                      E-mail: ziddi48@hotmail.com

Course Title	U.S. Policy Towards Africa
Course Code	Poli 461
Purpose and Objectives	Course Description and Objectives: This course is designed to provide an overview of United State’s policy towards Africa since the end of the Second World War.  It seeks to understand the historical dynamics of U.S. – Africa relations as well as analyzing the contemporary features and orientation of US foreign policy towards the continent.  Beginning with a critical appraisal of US National Interest as a driving force in her foreign policy towards Africa, the course will explore the substance and nuances of US Africa policy over the years.  We will examine the continental dimensions and impact of US Africa policy decisions as well as the domestic forces that influence foreign policy making in the US.  The central questions we will address are (1) what is the true nature of US-Africa relations and what factors shaped that relationship; (2) how does Africa stand to gain from its relationship with the world’s super power; and (3) what are the prospects for a better US-Africa relations in the future.   Course Expectations: The primary goal of offering this course is the intellectual development of your knowledge and analytical ability in the realm of US external relations towards the African continent.  Students are expected to have a general knowledge of world affairs, international relations theory, considerable reading comprehension skills and analytical skills. We will succeed in this class if by the end of the semester you are able to do the following: 1.      Identify the major factors influencing US foreign policy towards Africa; 2.      Explain the driving force of US interest in Africa and analyze the dynamics of foreign policy formulation in the US. 3.      Discuss US major foreign policy initiatives in Africa during the Cold War; 4.      Explain the shift in US foreign policy orientation towards Africa in the post-cold war era; 5.      State the underlying principles and objectives of AGOA, MCA, AFRICOM, and other major ongoing US foreign policy initiatives in Africa; and 6.      Discuss the way forward for productive US-Africa relations. A Power Point presentation would be adopted in the lectures.  Students will be required to write a final examination paper based on the topics covered during the semester.    Grading System:             Interim Assessment (IA) — 30%             Final Exam — 70%             Total Mark/Grade — 100% Final Exam Format:             Five (5) essay questions and you answer three(3). Students should note that academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class.  (See University Handbook for penalties).
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment
1	20th August, 2015	Course Overview Administrative elements of the course/Course structure		Lecture:  JQB 19
2	27th August, 2015	Introduction to U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Africa.		Lecture:  JQB 19
3	3rd Sept., 2015	Understanding the Making of U.S. Foreign Policy.		Lecture:  JQB 19
4	10TH Sept., 2015	The Trend of U.S. Africa Policy in the Twentieth Century.		Lecture:  JQB 19
5	17th Sept., 2015	Post-September 11(9/11) U.S. Africa Policy.		Lecture:  JQB 19
6	24th Sept.,2015	U.S. Foreign Assistance to Africa.		Lecture:  JQB 19
7	1ST Oct., 2015	U.S. Foreign Policy in the Horn of Africa		Lecture:  JQB 19
8	8th Oct.,  2015	Mid-Term Exams		Exams:  JQB 19	Interim Assessment (30%)
9	15th Oct., 2015	U.S. Foreign Policy in the Great Lakes		Lecture:  JQB 19
10	22nd Oct., 2015	U.S. Foreign Policy in  Southern Africa		Lecture:  JQB 19
11	29th Oct., 2015	U.S. Foreign Policy in North and West Africa		Lecture:  JQB 19
12	5th Nov.,  2015	Obama’s Africa Agenda.		Lecture:  JQB 19
13	12th Nov., 2015	Course Review and Evaluation	Revision	Lecture:  JQB 19
14-18	Revision and Exams

                                                      

READINGS

1.  Schraeder, Petter, United States Foreign Policy Towards Africa: Incrementalism, Crisis and Change, London, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
2. Rochester, J. Martin, U.S. Foreign Policy in the Twenty-First Century, Westview Press, 2007.
3. Rothchild, Donald and Edmond J. Keller, Africa-US Relations: Strategic Encounters, Boulder, CO, Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc, 2006.
4. Carter, Gwendolyn M., “United States Policies Toward South Africa and Namibia” in Beyond Constructive Engagement, 
5. Lyman, Princeton N. & Robinnette, Kathryn A., “Obama and Africa: Matching Expectations with Reality”, JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, vol.62, No.2, Spring/Summer 2009.
6. Almquist, Katherine J., “U.S. Foreign Assistance to Africa: Securing America’s Investment for Lasting Development”, JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, vol. 62, No.2, Spring/Summer 2009.
7. Kraxberger, Brennan M., ‘The United States and Africa: Shifting Geopolitics in an “Age of Terror”, Africa Today, 2005, vol. 52, No. 1.
8. Abramovici, Pierre and Julie Stoker, ‘United States: The New Scramble for Africa’, Review of African Political Economy’, 2004, vol. 31, No. 102. 
9. Oueslati, Salah, “U.S. Foreign Policy and the Complex Factors in the Decision-Making Process”