In African Studies, the African state is one of the most heatedly debated concepts. In this seminar Southern Africa will be used as the regional context in which we will discuss various mainstream, critical and post-colonial contributions to this debate, with a focus on the nature of European settler economies and their legacy, African liberation movements in power and their political culture, the political economy of post-independent states in the region, regional integration through SADC and SACU as well as recent processes of state capture in South Africa, etc.
The course is based on student presentations (single and/or group). Students will train their capability in independent research inquiry and verbal presentation. In addition they will be trained in review and essay writing.
Suggested reading
Roger Southall 2013. Liberation Movements in Power: Party & State in Southern Africa.Woodbridge: James Currey.
- Trainer/in: Constanze Blum
- Trainer/in: Ulf Engel