Decoding Africa!
- Sub-Saharan Africa between Economic Hyper Growth, Political Transition and Social Complexity
How do you as a business person, policymaker or NGO employee understand and handle the complexity and transition of Africa today?
Africa is in a period of unprecedented change in response to key global and local dynamics such as the world financial crisis, the Arab Spring, climate change, urbanization, new technology development, the discovery of new resources, and both the start and cessation of serious conflicts. The changes include the emergence of seven of the world's ten fastest growing economies, major political reforms and large social and cultural transitions, as well as mass dislocations both from man-made and natural causes.
This multidisciplinary course aims to illuminate and engage critically with the immense diversity of Africa's economic dynamics, social conditions, cultures, religions, political institutions, resources, and histories. It will provide participants with deeper insights into the multifaceted Africa of today, giving a better foundation for future interactions with both private and public African partners.
What you will learn
Bearing in mind that Sub-Saharan Africa is a very diverse entity, after the course you will:
- Be able to understand the role of states, markets and civil societies in governing natural resources in Africa
- Have an insight into levers and barriers of economic growth
- Understand the driving forces around the business environment and the private sector
- Be aware of citizenship in Africa and the boundaries of belonging to a nation
- Have knowledge of interaction between states and citizens - ideas about democracy, progress and governance
- Understand climate change in Africa and the impact on society and economy
- Have basic insight into religion on the continent and its deep effect on African societies
- Thus be able to comprehend the various developments across Africa
Course content
The course will provide you with the capacity to understand development processes and outcomes in African contexts through critical analyses and reflections on the complex relationship between political, economic, social and cultural dimensions of African societies, as well as their relationships with external actors. It will also explore the different meanings and manifestations of politics and consider how these shape, and are shaped by, the agendas and practices of a range of social, economic and political actors.
The course will use various teaching methods such as lectures, audio-visuals, discussions, workshops, case analysis, daily dilemmas, and preparatory reading. Participants' own cases may be included.
Participants
The course is aimed at those engaged in business, foreign policy making, media, and NGOs who interact with Sub-Saharan Africa and who might have some insight into some aspects of business, politics or culture but lack the necessary holistic overview needed in order to really decode ‘Africa'. We expect participants to have at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Course dates
5 days, 13- 17 August 2012, 9.00 - 17.00 at the University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Campus.
Course director
Stig Jensen, Assoc. Professor, Director of Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.
Other course teachers
Holger Bernt Hansen, Emeritus Prof., Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.
Mohamed Salih, Professor, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University of Rotterdam.
Christian Lund, Professor, International Development Studies, Roskilde University.
Poul Nielson, Former EU Commissioner, former Danish Minister a.o.
Ole Therkildsen, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS).
Amanda Hammar, Prof. MSO, Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.
Niels Kastfelt, lektor, Associate Prof., Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.
Jens Kovsted, Senior Advisor, Institute of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen.
André Sonnichsen, Assistant Prof., Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.
Karen Lauterbach, Assistant Prof., Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.
Søren Gilsaa, Ph.d. -candidate, Centre of African Studies/Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen.
Course fee
DKK 18,500/EUR 2,500 (excl. Danish VAT 25%). Fee includes teaching, course materials and all meals during the course.
