Checking date: 29/04/2024


Course: 2024/2025

Geopolitics of Sub-Saharan Africa
(19654)
Geopolitics and Strategic Studies (Plan: 387 - Estudio: 346)
EPC


Coordinating teacher: GARCIA ALVAREZ, ANTONIO JACOBO

Department assigned to the subject: Social Sciences Department

Type: Electives
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
-To know the most important geopolitical and geostrategic elements and themes affecting Sub-Saharan Africa. -To interrelate and understand synoptically the different geopolitical and geostrategic elements and phenomena specific to Sub-Saharan Africa. -To locate and relate geopolitical and geostrategic regional dynamics of Sub-Saharan Africa with the global geopolitical structure. -To link theoretical analysis to the historical processes, socio-economic structures, and geopolitical challenges prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. -To understand, use and rigorously apply the main theoretical frameworks formulated recently to explain the structure and functioning of regional geopolitics in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. -To analyze the economic power of major countries along with alliances, initiatives and ongoing rivalries at the regional level. -To understand and analyze the major conflicts, risks and threats in Sub-Saharan Africa related to international security. -To understand and analyze the geo-economic and political consequences of globalization and regionalization in Sub-Saharan Africa and their geostrategic implications.
Skills and learning outcomes
Description of contents: programme
This course will approach the analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of the following aspects: -Delimitation and geopolitical characterization of the region. - Geographic imaginaries and their geopolitical dimensions and consequences. -The legacy of the past: territorial history and process of configuration of the current political map. - Political systems and models of territorial organization. -Geographic setting and natural, demographic, economic and cultural resources. Strengths and weaknesses. - Ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity. -Development and socio-economic and territorial inequalities. -Structuring of the territory: transport networks and system of cities. - Main geopolitical challenges, threats and conflicts. - Main regional blocks and powers. Study of cases. -External relations and relevance of the region in world geopolitics. -Sub-Saharan Africa - Spain relations.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 50
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 50

Calendar of Continuous assessment


Basic Bibliography
  • Butts, Kent H and Thomas, Paul R. The Geopolitics Of Southern Africa: South Africa As Regional Superpower. Routledge. 2021
  • Carmody, Pádraig. The New Scramble for Africa. Polity Press. 2016
  • Carmody, Pádraig. . The Rise of the BRICS in Africa: The Geopolitics of South-South Relations. Zed Books. 2013
  • French, Howard W. . Born in Blackness. Africa, Africans and the Making of the Modern World. 1471 to the Second World War. Liveright. 2022
  • Heshmati, Almas. Economic Integration, Currency Union, and Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in East Africa . Springer. 2016
  • Iliffe, John . Africans, The History of a Continent. Cambridge University Press. 2017
  • Kornegay, Francis; Mthembu, Philani. Africa and the World. Navigating Shifting Geopolitics. Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection. 2020
  • McCauley, John F. The Logic of Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa. Cambridge University Press. 2017
  • Mcevedy, Colin. The Penguin Atlas of African History. Penguin Books. 1996
  • Meredith, Martin. The State of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence. Simon & Schuster UK. 2021
  • Olupona, Jacob K.. African Religions: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 2014
  • Omeje, Kenneth (ed). . Peacebuilding in Contemporary Africa: In Search of Alternative Strategies.. Routledge. 2018
  • Somerville, Keith. Africa´s Long Road Since Independence. The Many Histories of a Continent. Penguin. 2017
  • Taylor, Ian. African Politics: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 2018

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.