INTR 4039: Economic Globalization and African Development ( To be advised )

The object of this unit is to explore the political and economic interactions between globalization and African development - analysing the position of Africa within a changing global economy. The unit will examine issues such as; why Africa occupies the position it does in the world economy, and what are the implications of a changing world economy for the future of Africa. Anchored within the paradigm of political economy of Africa, this unit proposes to tease out the interesting conundrum between the market and the state. It starts with the underlying assumptions of political economy, within which it is proposed to pose the following questions: What is the relationship between political power and wealth creation, or how does social and power relations affect and organize the economy? Is it useful to analyse economy and political power independently of each other? Thereafter the unit proceeds with selected themes in political economy of Africa whereby some very interesting topical issues will be tackled.