Information Package / Course Catalogue
Africa in Global Politics
Course Code: ULU475
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 5
Objectives of the Course

The aim is to inform students about the political transformation of the African continent from the pre-colonial period to the present day; and to equip them with the ability to analyze the continent's place in the global system in terms of actors, resources, and security.

Course Content

The course Africa in World Politics examines the historical, political, and institutional transformation of the African continent from the pre-colonial era to the present day. The course explores the continent's internal political structures, security crises, and economic dynamics stemming from its rich resources; it also analyzes the competition between global powers such as the US, France, China, and Russia, as well as Türkiye's multifaceted Africa policy. The main objective is to equip students with the ability to strategically evaluate the African Union's institutional structure and the continent's place in the international system in light of current global developments.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.By critically examining Eurocentric and Orientalist approaches in African studies, the students can analyze continental politics using Afrocentric models.
2.The students can explain the structural effects of the colonial legacy, artificial borders, and decolonization processes on modern state-building and political regimes in Africa.
3.The relationship between the continent's rich underground resources and development and internal conflicts can be evaluated within the framework of the "Resource Curse" concept.
4.The students can provide a comparative analysis of the power struggles between global powers such as the US, France, China, and Russia in the continent, and Türkiye's multifaceted Africa policy.
5.The students can discuss the institutional role of the African Union, current security threats on the continent (radicalization, piracy, climate migration), and Africa's future vision in global governance.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Englebert, P. & Dunn, K. C. (2013). Inside African Politics. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
2.Herbst, J. (2014). States and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control. Princeton University Press.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction
Week 2 - Theoretical
Precolonial Africa and the Berlin Conference
Week 3 - Theoretical
Colonial Legacy and Independence Processes (Decolonization)
Week 4 - Theoretical
State Building and Political Regimes in Post-Independence Africa
Week 5 - Theoretical
Africa during the Cold War
Week 6 - Theoretical
Security, Civil Wars, and Ethnic Conflicts in Africa
Week 7 - Theoretical
Security, Civil Wars, and Ethnic Conflicts in Africa
Week 8 - Theoretical
Regional Integration and the African Union
Week 9 - Theoretical
Debates on Neocolonialism
Week 10 - Theoretical
Global Powers' Competition in Africa
Week 11 - Theoretical
Global Powers' Competition in Africa
Week 12 - Theoretical
Turkey's Africa Policy and Soft Power
Week 13 - Theoretical
Current Security Issues
Week 14 - Theoretical
General Evaluation
Week 15 - Final Exam
Final exam
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Presentation1%20
Midterm Examination1%20
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142370
Presentation 110111
Midterm Examination115116
Final Examination130131
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)128
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
OÇ-1
5
3
2
1
2
3
2
2
1
1
1
3
OÇ-2
3
5
4
2
3
2
4
2
3
2
1
5
OÇ-3
2
3
4
1
3
5
4
4
3
2
3
2
OÇ-4
3
4
5
5
4
3
3
3
4
2
3
2
OÇ-5
2
3
4
3
5
3
4
4
5
4
2
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026