Postcolonial Africa.

Catalog description

This course will look at historical developments in Africa over the course of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, focusing on the Sub-Saharan Africa. We will follow the political, social, economic, and cultural changes wrought by colonialism and learn how they have affected the development of the sub-continent. The first part of the class will follow the colonization process, as the European powers fought for power in the scramble for Africa. Next, we will look at the rise of the African nationalist movements and the subsequent struggles that led to the decolonization of African nations in the 20th century. Finally, we will study the postcolonial states, looking at how their modern conflicts, crises, and challenges reflect aspects of their colonial past.