IC218 African Development I
Fall 2012 TTh 2:30-3:25 Good Hall 202
Emil Nagengast Daniel Welliver
GH316 ext 3650 GH410 ext 6605
Office Hours: MW 2-3, Th 1:30-2:30 and by apptOffice Hours: TTh 8:30-10, W 10-11:30 and by appt
Gambia Trip Information
Departure: December 28, 2012Return; January 17, 2013
Course Fee: $3500 (Covers: Round Trip flight: USA-Banjul, Housing, Meals, Transportation in Africa, Field Trips, Laundry, Donations)
Overview:We will focus on the ethical predicaments concerning humanitarian and development aid in Africa. It is commonly assumed that “helping Africa” is a win-win operation: the Africans gain money and assistance that will lift them out of poverty and the “westerners” gain a sense of accomplishment. Much good has been done through the many development programs in Africa, but there is a growing sense among people in the development field that “drive-by humanitarianism” causes more harm than good. In this course we will examine the debates surrounding the role of aid in Africa. We will consider African and non-African perspectives. We will read about and discuss humanitarianism on the personal and international levels. We will also review African history and contemporary Gambian politics in order to prepare for the winter trip. During the trip we will meet with many Gambians and non-Gambians who work in the development field. We will also have the chance to do some humanitarian work in the Gambia (e.g. helping with repairs on a rural school, working in the women’s cooperative farms).
Some of the questions that will guide our readings and discussions in IC218, IC219 and throughout the trip in the Gambia are:
1)To what extent are service learning programs aimed at “doing something for” as opposed to “doing something with” the targeted communities?
2)What lessons from community service programs in the US can we apply to humanitarian programs conducted in Africa (and the developing world, in general)?
3)Do undergraduate service learning programs in the Gambia (and elsewhere) fit the description of “drive-by humanitarianism”?
4)Do undergraduate service learning programs in the Gambia (and elsewhere) reinforce, rather than break down, US prejudices? (e.g. Africans are helpless. Without our assistance they have no hope.)
5)Do humanitarian programs in Africa create a culture of dependence (on foreign donors) among Africans?
6)What is the relevance of the above questions to the on-going debates about the positive and negative aspects of foreign aid to Africa? (i.e. aid from governments, international organizations and NGOs)
7)What can we learn about all of these questions from first hand interaction in the Gambia with: Gambian officials; US government officials; leaders of Gambian and European NGOs; Gambians (such as teachers and hospital administrators) who are regular recipients of foreign donations; Europeans and Gambians who organize humanitarian “work” programs in the Gambia?
8)Can we discover ways to make humanitarian work more effective?
EXPECTATIONS
We expect intelligent participation from all students this semester. Attendance is required. We do not give a grade explicitly for "class participation," but consistent positive contributions in the classroom occasionally provides justification for raising a student’s final course grade.
Unless I receive direct authorization from the Dean of Students (because of a death in the family, for example) all students must take all the exams at the scheduled times.
Improper use of information found on the internet for your research papers will result in AT LEAST an F on your paper, and most likely an F in the course. If you are not sure about what constitutes plagiarism it is your responsibility to find out (i.e. ask me). Plagiarism entails either: using someone else's words or ideas without providing a citation; OR providing a citation, but "cutting and pasting" from a source without using quotation marks to indicate that you are using someone else's exact words. To avoid plagiarism you must paraphrase the cited information (i.e. put it into your own words).
Format: We will meet for two hours per week throughout the fall semester. There will be frequent quizzes. There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The course will be a combination of lectures and discussions. The fee for the Gambia trip is attached to this fall semester course because we need to have students financially committed to the trip in September – so that we can pay for airfare and other expenses. Students receive a separate grade for this course, but in order to receive IC credit students must complete IC219 in the spring semester.
Writing Assignment: The heart of IC218 will be two three-page papers that combine personal reflection and primary research. Each student will identify paper topics that are linked to the themes raised in the readings. We will require meetings with the professors through the fall semester so that each student can receive feedback on the paper before he/she submits a final draft. The students will have the opportunity to rewrite the first paper.
Withdrawal Policies: This course will follow normal JC withdrawal policies except that the students must sign a statement of financial obligation on September 20. If they withdraw from the class after September 20, they must pay for the airline ticket that we purchased for them, in addition to any other expenses that we incur in preparation for the trip. An exemption from this financial commitment will be granted in the event of a personal injury that does not allow travel.
A student can complete IC218, but not go on the Gambia trip. But they would have to pay for the airfare (and other costs), unless they have a medical excuse. Also, they will not get IC credit unless they complete IC219 - and the Gambia trip is a required component of IC219.
ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates accessibility in all aspects of the learning environment. If you have an identified disability and are in need of specific accommodations, please contact Student Services office (Founders) and they will assist you with your needs including the formal notification to all your professors.
Required Text (available in the bookstore)
Toxic Charity by Robert D Lupton
Additional readings will be assigned throughout the semester
Grading:
Quizzes30%
Papers25%
Midterm Exam20%
Final Exam25%
Course Schedule with Assigned Readings:Aug 23, 28, 30 Introduction to the course and the tripSept 4, 6 Gambian History and SocietyReading: “Gambian History” (on the P drive)Sept 11, 13, 18 Current Events in the GambiaReadings: Webpage of the Gambian government: of the African Online News service:
Sept 20 - Introduction to Humanitarianism: Am I (are we) helping or hurting, giving or taking … and how do we know?Readings:Toxic Charity – Selections to be Announced“Community Centered Service Learning” (P drive)
Sept 25, 27 - Applying Sociological Tools for Rich Description and Thorough Analysis of Humanitarian Efforts
Oct 2, 4 - The Ethics of Helping at the Micro-level of Analysis: Beggars, Bumpsters and Bona Fide Beneficiaries
Oct 9, 11 - Humanitarianism at the Mezzo Level – Organizations and CommunitiesNeighborhood Center in Uptown Harrisburg: A Case Study
Readings: Toxic Charity – Selections to be Announced“A Firing and a Resignation” (P drive)
Oct 16, 18 – Completing the Case Study Analysis: So What Does this Have to Do with African Development? * Watch Hans Rosling’s 9-minute presentation on the washing machine: Watch five Power Up Gambia short video clips. The total combined watching time for these clips is less than 12 minutes:
MIDTERM October 25
Oct 30, Nov 1, 6, 8, 13 Debates about African Development
Readings: Ethical Dilemmas of Humanitarian Action:
Nov 15, 20, 27, 29, Dec 4, 6 Debates about African DevelopmentReadings: Review of “Dead Aid”: Aid to Africa Doing More Harm than Good?” NPR Debate: Charity?” all the debate on the worth of aid, we can well afford to pay the price”:
FINAL EXAM December ____