Economy and Society in Africaspring 2017

Economy and Society in AfricaSpring 2017

AAAS 80aTuesdays/Fridays 12:30 – 1:50

Professor Wellington W. NyangoniMandel G11

Mandel 220

Email:

Tel: 781-736-2091

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course offers perspectives on the interaction of economic and other variables in African societies. Topics include the ethical and economic bases of distributive justice, models of social theory, efficiency and equality in law, the role of economic variables in the theory of history, and world systems analysis.

This class introduces students to the study of economic relations as social relations. Unlike neo-classical economics, which mainly posits markets and market behavior as a unique (and relational) type of activity, sociology has long argued that economic life is profoundly social, and is intertwined with all other forms of social relationships. Specifically, in capitalist societies, markets are culturally informed and institutionalized, and market activities are shaped by the exercise of power by both governmental and non-state actors. Market activities in turn profoundly shape and constrain all other social relationships. This course provides students with an introduction to the theories, methods and data to make sense of the deep interplay between economic and non-economic social life.

We now live in an era dominated by neo-liberal policies that promote free trade, free markets, deregulation of economic activity and tax policies in the name of innovation and economic growth. Sociology offers a fundamental critique of the assumptions that lie at the root of neo-liberalism; and indeed shows that the very concept of the holy grail of neo-liberalism – the free market – is an abstraction that bears little resemblance to real economic relations. Clarification of the social character of markets is not just an intellectual exercise: neo-liberal dogma obscured government’s ability to anticipate the catastrophic collapse of the world’s financial markets in 2008, and continues to undermine government’s ability to enact policies that might prevent the crisis from re-emerging in the future. In the wake of that crisis, and the longer-term trends that gave birth to it, a number of possible futures for capitalist societies are being openly discussed and contested in some African, Asian and Latin American countries. These countries and societies are looking for alternatives to capitalist and neoliberal models of development.

This course provides students with the analytic tools for use by social scientists to make sense of this dangerous yet potentially promising time, a moment when neo-liberalism’s hegemony is being seriously challenged. It does so in four units: first, we study the economy in the rich theoretical traditions in which modern sociology is methodologically grounded. Second, we study he conception of economics as a type of social activity by looking at the concepts of property, markets, firms, and labor from the vantage point of politics, societies, culture and local traditions.

OBJECTIVES AND GOALS

The learning objectives and goals of the course are for students using both theory and contemporary application, to:

Develop knowledge, understanding and skills and to introduce students to the key concepts and major theoretical perspectives in the study of the developing world;
Participate effectively and knowledgeably in discussion and to recognize the political and socioeconomic differences between developed and developing countries and the significant variation within the developing world;
Recognize the crucial role that socio-economic decisions have in society and the way in which economic problems and issues dominate media, politics and develop analytic skills to explore various factors that shape political, economic and social development and underdevelopment in the developing world;
Investigate the impact of the changing dynamics of the international systems on African countries and societies in analyzing and evaluating some of the major trends and economic activities; and
Apply concepts and theories used by social scientists to analyze how African societies are dealing with the problems of capitalism, imperialism and dependent development.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to keep up with the assigned readings for each class. Readings consist of both introductory and specialized, analytical texts and journal articles. The class sessions will cover topics and interpretations presented in the readings as well as additional materials introduced by the instructor. The class will combine lectures, films, discussions and principled debates. Students will be called upon to comment on the assigned readings and to raise questions on issues that affect the performance of African economic, political and social systems.

Class participation requires regular attendance, completion of assigned readings according to specified and allotted time periods, and informed consistent participation in class.

Grades will be based on the following:

A mid-term take home exam, due 3/10/201720%

A 15-page term paper, due 4/28/201730%

A final take-home exam, due 5/2/201740%

Class participation10%

(You are expected to pass – get at least 80% -- in order to pass the course. If you do not pass the exam on the first try, you can retake it until you pass).

If you have a documented disability and would like a reasonable accommodation made for you, please se me immediately after class.

Academic integrity is central to the mission of educational excellence at Brandeis University. Each student is expected to turn in work completed independently, except when assignments specifically authorize collaborative effort. It is not acceptable to use the words or ideas of another – be it a world-class philosopher or your lab partner – without proper acknowledgement of that source. This means that you must use footnotes and quotation marks to indicate the source of any phrases, sentences, paragraphs or ideas found in published volumes, on the internet, or created by another student.

Violations of University policies on academic integrity, described in section 3 of Rights and Responsibilities, may result in failure in the course or on the assignment, and could end in suspension from the University. If you are in doubt about the instructions for any assignment in this course, you must ask for clarification.

If you are working in a group that I have authorized, I will expect answers to resemble those of your partners; otherwise I expect you to do your work separately from your friends, classmates, family members, and so on. You are not permitted to have anyone other than your professor to help you on written assignments outside of class. If you have questions on the type of help you may receive, please ask me before you seek help from someone.

REQUIRED BOOKS

G. Harrison, Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering. Zed Books 2010
D. Booth and D. Cammack, Governance for Development in Africa: Solving Collective Action Problems. Zed Books 2010
J. Bright and A. Hruby. The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse. St Martin’s Press, 2015
H. Melber, The Rise of Africa's Middle Class: Myths, Realities and Critical Engagements Zed, 2016
J. Berman, Success in Africa: CEO Insights from a Continent on the Rise Amazon Books 2013

WEEKLY OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1:

Lecture 1: 1/17

Introduction: Discussion of the course requirements and expectations.

Lecture 2 and 3: 1/20, 1/24

Economics and Society, An overview: Economics and social structures of pre-colonial African traditional societies.

Readings:

G. Harrison, Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering. Chapter 1
D. Booth and D. Cammack, Governance for Development in Africa: Solving Collective Action Problems. Chapter 1
J. Bright and A. Hruby. The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse. Chapter 1 and 2
H. Melber, The Rise of Africa's Middle Class: Myths, Realities and Critical Engagements. Chapter 1
J. Berman, Success in Africa: CEO Insights from a Continent on the Rise. Chapter 1

Week 2

Lecture 4, 5, and 6

Watch documentaries and social, economic, political and social transformation from pre-colonial to colonial Africa

Week 4 and 5

Lecture 7, 8, and 9 2/3, 2/7

The Process of Decolonization, the rise of Nationalism and Pan Africanism

Readings:

G. Harrison, Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering. Chapter 2 - 3
D. Booth and D. Cammack, Governance for Development in Africa: Solving Collective Action Problems. Chapter 2
J. Bright and A. Hruby. The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse. Chapter 1 and 2
H. Melber, The Rise of Africa's Middle Class: Myths, Realities and Critical Engagements. Chapter 2 and 3
Wellington W Nyangoni, Africa in the United Nations Systems Farleigh Dickson University Press; Chapter 2 and 3

Hand or Post on Latte (Lecture 8) Term Paper Topics

Week 6 and 7:

Lectures 10, 11, 12 and 13 and 6: 1/27 and 1/30

National Building, Modernization and State Led Development.

Readings:

G. Harrison, Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering. Chapter 4 and 5
D. Booth and D. Cammack, Governance for Development in Africa: Solving Collective Action Problems. Chapter 3 and 4
J. Bright and A. Hruby. The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse. Chapter 1 and 2
H. Melber, The Rise of Africa's Middle Class: Myths, Realities and Critical Engagements. Chapter 4, 5 and 6
Wellington Nyangoni, Development and the Economies of Self-Reliance in Tanzania Chapter 1 - 3

Give Take Home Midterm Exam on 2/17 or Post on LATTE

Week 8: February 20 – 24. Midterm Recess: No university exercises

Week 9:

2/28, 3/1, 3/3 and 3/7

Models and strategies of development (Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere)

Kwame Nkrumah, Africa must unite;
Julius Nyerere, African Socialism – The Arusha Declaration
Kwame Nkrumah, class struggle in Africa

Week 10 and 11:

Economic destabilization and Political Instability (ethnic conflicts, military coups), imperialism and corruption. 3/10, 3/4, 3/17 and 3/21

Readings:

G. Harrison, Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering. Chapter 6 and 7
D. Booth and D. Cammack, Governance for Development in Africa: Solving Collective Action Problems. Chapter 4 and 5
J. Bright and A. Hruby. The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse. Parts III and IV
H. Melber. The Rise of Africa's Middle Class: Myths, Realities and Critical Engagements. Chapter 7 and 8

Submit Midterm Exams on 3/10

Weeks 12 and 13

Economic Regionalism (Lagos Plan of action, African alternative Framework for African Development and the New Economic Partnership for African Development). 3/24, 3/28, 3/31 and 4/4

Readings:

Todd J. Moss, African Development: Making sense of the Issues and Actors, Boulder: Rienner Publishers, 2012. chapters 8 – 10
Organization of the African Unit (OAU) Read Report.
Additional Reports to be given in class
G. Harrison, Neoliberal Africa: The Impact of Global Social Engineering. Chapter 8 and 9

Weeks 14-15:

The Bretton Woods Institutions and Structural Adjustment Programs.

Readings:

Todd J. Moss, African Development: Making sense of the Issues and Actors, Boulder: Rienner Publishers, 2012. Read chapters 10 - 11
Wellington Nyangoni. The World Bank and Structural Adjustment in Africa. Chapters 1 - 5

Hand in Final Exam 4/25

Weeks 16 and 17: 4/7, and 4/22 April 10 – 18 - Pass over recess – No classes

Weeks 17 and 18: 4/3 – 4/10

Africa and Globalization (Reading to be provided in class – China, BRICS and South to South Relations): 4/21, 4/25, 4/28

M.C. Lee Africa World Trade: Chapters 1 - 4
C. Alden, China in Africa
Deborah Brantigan, The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China

Term Paper due 4/28

Take Home Final Exam Due 5/2

Library Reserved List

Todd J. Moss, African Development: Making sense of the Issues and Actors, Boulder: Rienner Publishers, 2012
Hans Holman, Snakes in Paradise: NGO and the Aid Industry, Kumarian Publishers, 2011.
Ivor Agyeman, Pilgrims of the Night: Development Challenge and Opportunities, Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2011.
Sylvain H. Boko and Diery Seck, NEPAD and the future of Economic Policy in Africa. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2008.
Meshack, Khosa (ed), Regionalism in the New South Africa. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate Publishing, 1998.
Wellington W. Nyangoni, Development and the Economics of Self-Reliance in Tanzania. Marlborough, MA: Msasa Publications, 1997.
Fantu Cheru, African Rennaissance: Roadmaps to the Challenge of Globalization.
UNECA-African Union, Economic Report on Africa, 2012. Unleashing Africa’s Potential as a Pole of Global Growth. UNECA, Addis Ababa 2012.
United Nations Development Program, Africa: Economic Outlook 2011: Special Themes: Africa Emerging Partners, UNDP/UNECA, Addis Ababa, 2011.