This course aims to provide an overview of the history of colonization on the African continent, the dark period of the rape of human and natural resources from the continent, the fights for independence and the independence movement that arose from them, the neocolonialism that occurred during the cold war era of emerging and post independence, and the challenges that have arisen on the continent due to neocolonial intervention, dictators and a continued plundering of the wealth of the continent.  

The first two weeks of the course, a historical overview of the colonization of the African continent will be presented.  A detailed understanding of the Berlin Conference of 1884 will be provided and fundamental concepts such as natural versus positive law will be taught in order to provide the foundation for the next 10 weeks of the course. 

Weeks 3 through 10 will each include a country study in order for students to conceptualize each country's unique and common challenges pre, and post occupation.  The countries studied will include:

Kenya
Uganda
DRCongo
Rwanda
South Africa
Ghana


Week 11 will be focused on an overview of present day challenges within the region and the possibilities and challenges of the future of the continent.  Week 12 will be set aside for class presentations of students final class projects.  

Materials will be provided ahead of time each week to prepare students for class. In class time will involve discussions, debates and projects designed to engage learners in critical thinking analysis in order to understand and assess the various perspectives, possibilities and outcomes.  Individual and collective perspectives will be analyzed and students should leave the course with a greater breath of historical knowledge as well as having gained experience in the analysis of dense, complex geopolitical materials to understand on a broader scale the decisions and motives of world leaders.