The Global Knowledge Economy and African Workers in it - Einzelansicht

This seminar discusses the prospects for African workers in an era of rapid global change and asks what African governments and their development partners can do to help African workers to enter and shape the global knowledge economy. Core questions are: How can we classify African economies, and what roles can African workers play in the world of the 2020s? How does the global debate on artificial intelligence and job automation translate to Africa? Is catch-up development bound to happen or could we be moving toward greater geographical inequality and an eventual ‘useless class’ in the Global South? What role do platforms and internet connectivity play for inclusive growth in the coming decade? Can a globalized services economy emerge as a driver for African job creation?

Student eligibility & output: this course is offered (i) as part of BA PoWi Aufbaumodul 7 (i.e., for those who also sit Prof Hartmann’s lecture), and (ii) as Wahlpflicht (or other).

1. Aufbaumodul 7 students hold a 15-minute presentation (graded pass/fail) and write a 20-page term paper (Hausarbeit).

2. Wahlpflicht students and others (e.g., exchange students) hold a 15-minute presentation (graded 1-6).

Term papers: Aufbaumodul 7 students write a 20-page term paper (Hausarbeit, i.e., 6,000-word text, excluding references and annexes). Term papers are chosen from the range of topics discussed throughout the course (facilitated by consultations with the lecturer). A detailed outline of the seminar paper needs to be submitted by 23 July 2021. Students who choose to hand in the full paper by 23 July 2021 will receive comments within two weeks and the option to revise and resubmit to improve their grade. Either way, the final deadline for seminar papers is 30 September 2021 (last day of the semester).

Presentations: all students hold a 15-minute presentation. Presentation slides must be completed and emailed to the lecturer latest 7 days before the date of the presentation. The lecturer will comment within days, suggesting revisions. Please pick a presentation by entering your name here.

Short Essays: Wahlpflicht students who wish not to hold a presentation may instead write a 5-8-page short essay. An outline of the short essay needs to be submitted by 18 June 2021. Students who choose to hand in the short essay in full by 18 June 2021 will receive comments within one week and the option to revise and resubmit to improve their grade. Either way, the final deadline for short essays is 23 July 2021 (last day of the lecture period).

Course medium: this is an online course, conducted exclusively via Zoom. All assigned course material can be accessed via Moodle. Please respect authors’ intellectual property (the usual copy right stipulations apply).