| Unit name | The Politics of Violence in Contemporary Africa |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLIM3031 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Ibreck |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit analyses the causes, dynamics and consequences of violence in sub-Saharan Africa in the post-Cold War period. The aim is to develop a critical understanding of the human rights abuses, conflicts, and genocide which have plagued the continent, and to examine local, national and international initiatives to build peace. It explores key concepts at stake in violence, including ethnicity, genocide, gender, nationalism, democratisation, human rights, trauma, reconciliation and transitional justice. Each week we undertake a broad study of a thematic issue and evaluate its relevance in the discussion of a particular conflict. We explore the histories of violence in selected case studies in depth, examining competing explanations and assessments. We also take account of other recent examples, considering the similarities and differences between the origins, meaning and impact of episodes of violence in contemporary Africa, and the extent to which they relate to a shared predicament.
