This seminar seeks to shed light on the impact of new technologies on contemporary African politics.
For this, we first draw on the approaches of Political Settlements and Access Orders to understand who is powerful in African politics and why. Second, we examine what influence new technologies have on politics in different contexts around the world – particularly in the forms of social media platforms and surveillance technologies. Third, students present case studies of African countries in which power politics is influenced and increasingly shaped by new technologies.
Students will be analyzing the balance of power in their respective case countries. Who are the most powerful elites in these countries and how do they get what they want? What happens if elite interests collide? How are problems solved if there is no functioning rule of law? Students then examine the role of new technologies in stabilizing and destabilizing these political settlements. Are new surveillance technologies buttressing authoritarianism in some countries while social media platforms stir unrest in others? If elections and referenda in the global North are influenced by surveillance and social media platform hacks, how is the internet affecting politics in African countries?
The seminar will be conducted in English.
The mandetory reading consists of an online course about power politics in Africa, and a book about the role of social media in contemporary politics (all English).
Apart from the mandatory reading, this course relies on a mix of online learning tools – mostly lecture videos, podcasts, reading lists that are partly accessible as audiobooks, and documentary films.
The Seminar is scheduled for every other Friday 2pm – 5:30pm, and will be conducted alternatingly in person and virtually. This means that every other session takes place on campus in Duisburg (room number to be determined). If for health reasons individual students cannot take part in person, a hybrid option allows access to the in-person sessions from home. In case the Covid situation precludes our in-person meetings, the seminar will be conducted fully remotely via Zoom.
Student requriements & testing:
– Attendance is recommended, not mandetory.
– All students can choose to either present in class or write a short (4-page) essay about an African case country.
– Aufbaumodul 4 students are tested orally in groups of 3-4 at the end of the semester. The oral test will take approx. 15 minutes and the material will consist of: (i) a short version of your seminar presentation followed by a few questions (in English); and (ii) test questions on the associated lecture 'Internationale Beziehungen und Global Governance' by Prof Reinold (in German).
– Wahlpflicht students will be graded on their presentations or short essays (no oral exam).
– Other students, such as exchange students, tend to be treated like Wahlpflicht students (i.e., graded presentation or short essay; no oral exam). |
