Contemporary Africa Policy Issues
Fall 2025
The three learning objectives are to acquire knowledge of contemporary Africa, to understand key policy dynamics primarily from African perspectives, and to enhance briefing and drafting skills. The instructor shares insights from 42 years of involvement in Africa. Two writing assignments use the format of professional memoranda. There is one oral briefing assignment and two exams. Students contribute to ten blog posts. The course employs lectures and class discussion, guest speakers, and various media. Readings and other media are a mix of African and external sources.
The first class begins with introductions, then a review of the syllabus and assignments, and finally a mini-seminar on professional oral briefings and policy advocacy memoranda. Most of the course is structured around the five regions defined by the African Union (northern, western, central, eastern, and southern). Each multidimensional regional survey class is followed by a contemporary policy issues class for that region (classes 2-7, 9-12). Class 8 includes the midterm exam covering the first half of the course. Class 13 considers the African Union, main continental trends, and forecasts. A final exam covering the second half of the course closes out class 14.