Universität Wien

140254 SE African Presidents Unveiled: The Origins of Presidentialism (2019S)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 05.03. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 19.03. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 26.03. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 02.04. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 09.04. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 30.04. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 07.05. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 14.05. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 21.05. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 28.05. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 04.06. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 18.06. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
  • Tuesday 25.06. 11:00 - 13:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course offers a general introduction to African political history through the lens of presidential powers in postcolonial Africa.

Presidential rule, closely related to personal rule, is a prominent feature of African studies, yet the making of presidents and of presidential systems of rule has for a long time remained an untold story: the political negotiations and imagination surrounding the construction of presidential powers deserve greater attention. This course attempts to provide historical perspectives to the study and the understanding of the origins and development of presidentialism, that is to say the concentration of executive powers in the hands of the president.

The sessions are organized thematically. Key texts personal rule and presidentialism will first be critically discussed. Covering varied case studies from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, we will then reflect on different aspect of the making of a president, such as the emergence of the father of the nation to the political uses of his memory, violence and masculinity or the importance of networks and in particular of gendered networks. Finally, we will reflect on the constitutionality of presidentialism.

By the end of the course, students will be able to name and introduce key African leaders, to assess critically the historical dynamics of continuity or change that played during decolonization and after independence, and have a critical appraisal of presidential political systems.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participation (50%) and 3000 – 5000 words essay (50%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Course content.

Reading list

The reading list (in English) and bibliography will be available on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

SAG.SE.1, SAG.SE.2
IE: VM1

Last modified: Th 29.10.2020 00:22