Geography

Postcolonial Africa

Module code: L7040
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Workshop
Assessment modes: Coursework

The module explores debates over key postcolonial political, economic and sociocultural dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa. It encourages you to think critically about dominant representations of the subcontinent in the West, and to understand different, often conflicting accounts of postcolonial continuities and transformations.

Topics include debates over some of the following:

  • the character of the postcolonial state and governance, nationalism and ethnicity
  • borders
  • the politics of land and natural resources
  • processes of urbanisation
  • mobility and new forms of transnational connection between Africa, Europe and China.

Module learning outcomes

  • An understanding of key processes of political, economic and social change in in post-colonial Africa, and divergent explanations derived from contrasting theoretical approaches
  • An ability to think critically about, and challenge dominant representations of the sub-continent
  • Knowledge of the power relations that shape processes and representations of change