Modern Africa: From Empire to Nation-State

Catalog description

This course examines the major historical developments in Africa from 1945 to the present and pays special attention to the diversity of experiences within the vast continent. The first part focuses on Africans’ varied responses to the waning European imperial project and explores different ways in which African nationalist leaders and everyday people challenged colonial administrations to ultimately achieve their independence. The second part of the class investigates the consequences and opportunities of decolonization, including questions of political legitimacy, state-building, structural adjustment programs and international aid, human rights, and civil conflicts.