Political Science 176: African Political System

Prof. Sonny Fernandez

2nd Semester, 2016-2017

Link to Syllabus and Key readings:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B02ukUF8GhCuNG4wWnJ3SU9udTA?usp=sharing

Course Facilitator:
Sonny Fernandez
Full Professor, Political Scientist and Geographer
Division of Social Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
UP Visayas
Email: prfernandez2@up.edu.ph
Consultation hours: MTh: 2-5pm; TF 8-10am; DSS-CAS Faculty Room

Course Description: This course is a survey of the political system of selected African states using
a comparative approach.

Course Requirements and grading system:

1. Two exams (40 percent)

2. Research paper (30 percent) and presentation (10 percent)
3. Class participation (20 percent)
Note that valid/official excuse slips is required before taking make-up exams or extending
deadlines. Failure to comply can lead to being dropped from the roll or getting failing marks.

Course Outline:

I. Class management issues and concerns (1 meeting)

II. Review on the creation of a research paper based on the Key Readings
The paper should be a case study on two or more African states. Research will be done, using
three or more of the key readings as part of the conceptual or analytical framework, to describe
and analyze the key features and performance of state structures and social institutions in
meeting: national or local priorities, and/or; international commitments. A class session will be
devoted to provide practical tips in doing online searches for references for the case studies.

III. Introduction to comparative approach in analyzing states (3 meetings)

Key Reading (KR) 1. Background to comparative politics
Key Reading 2. African Political Systems: “Typology and Performance” 27 Jan
 Actors/
institutions/
processes

IV. African politics, institutions and development

Key Reading 3: States and Power in Africa by Jeffrey I. Herbst: A Review Essay
Key Reading 4. The Political and economic legacy of colonialism in Africa
Key Reading 5. Formal versus informal institutions in Africa
Key Reading 6: Neopatrimonialism
Key Reading 7: Rethinking neopatrimonialism
Key Reading 8: Poverty trap and weak institutions
Key Reading 9: Political and economic governance in Africa

V. Review on the creation of a research paper based on the Key Readings (1 meeting)
The paper should be a case study on an African state or states. Using the method discussed in KR1
and KR2 data will be gathered to characterize the selected state. Further research will be done,
with other key readings (KR3 to KR9, and other useful references), to describe and analyze the key
features and performance of state structures and social institutions in meeting: national or local
priorities, and/or; international commitments. A class session will be devoted to provide practical
tips in doing online searches for references for the case studies.

VI. Selection of case study; submission and class discussion of a 3-level sentence outline for the
research paper
All papers will have two main objectives:
a. Characterization/typology of selected state
b. Describe and analyze both state structures and agencies/actors, and institutional performances
in meeting avowed goals.
Key pointers will be provided in composing research project reports and proper citation of
references.

VII . 1st Long exam on the Key Readings

VIII. On-line interaction and/or face-to-face consultation with the professor during the writeup
of the research paper

IX. Presentation of the research papers and subsequent revision to incorporate

comments/suggestions online and in class; all outlines of term paper should be in by 16 March
(emailed softcopy and hard copy in my office box); presentation starts on 20 March
Points will be subtracted to those who cannot beat deadlines for the submission of the outline and
full paper, as well as those unable to present their case study. Those unable to deliver the outputs a
week after the deadline will be dropped from the course. Exceptions will be made upon
presentation of valid excuse slips from the infirmary or letters of explanation.

X. Synthesis and Conclusion 15 May

XI. 2nd Long exam on the research papers, focusing on shared and divergent features of African
political systems 18 May; also the deadline of submission of hard and soft copy of term papers

Other References
http://www2.etown.edu/vl/africa.html
http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/
https://academic.oup.com/jae/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/jae/ejt016