Socio-economic analysis of Africa

Teacher(s)

De Leener Philippe;

Language

French

Main themes

Following topics will be analyzed : - Africa in the world geopolitics - Dependency's mechanisms - Africa and the sleeping partners - The African debt - From structural adjustment to political adjustment - Enterprises and African entrepreneurship - Informal sector - Urban and rural Africa

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Analyze the main socio-economical pressures for Africa South of the Sahara and as a matter of fact in actual, recent and past history

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content

The course will address some key contemporary socioeconomic issues related to Sub-Saharan African countries such as public debt, food sovereignty, land gabbing, informal economy, family features and dynamics, rural challenges, urban dynamics, …
Two principal objectives will be put forward: (1) developing critical questioning capacity and (2) enhancing critical investigation capacity, both in the field of social dynamics and economy in Africa. The challenge pursued is to help students elaborate their own points of view and arguments with regards to situations prevailing in contemporary Africa.

Teaching methods

Participatory and active methods will be prioritized from the beginning. Practical student experiences will be particularly valued. Professional and first line witnesses will be invited to share their own lived-through experiences closely related to matters treated during the course (field actors, researchers, activists, …).

Evaluation methods

Written examination. Four reflection questions in close connection with subject matters that have been deepened during the seminar.

Other information

It is  advisable to have a basic knowledge on Subsaharan African contexts but it is not a definite prerequisite.

Faculty or entity

PSAD