Socio-economic analysis of Africa

Teacher(s)

Chemouni Benjamin;

Language

French

Main themes

Following topics will be analyzed : - Africa in the world geopolitics - Dependency's mechanisms - Africa and the sleeping partners - The African debt - From structural adjustment to political adjustment - Enterprises and African entrepreneurship - Informal sector - Urban and rural Africa

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Analyze the main socio-economical pressures for Africa South of the Sahara and as a matter of fact in actual, recent and past history

Content

NB: This course will be in French. This course offers an analysis of the economic and social transformations of sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the historical and political dynamics that underpin them. Its aim is to provide students with theoretical and conceptual tools, as well as empirical analyses, enabling them to develop their own critical reflection on the major social and economic challenges of the continent. Topics covered include: the impact of colonization, the determinants of economic growth, the agricultural and industrial sectors, the environment, development aid, debt, the informal economy, and urbanization.

Teaching methods

Students are expected to engage with assigned readings at home, in French and occasionally in English. The course itself will combine the delivery of knowledge with collective discussions on the course topics and the assigned readings.

Evaluation methods

Assessment is based on two components:
First, continuous assessment in the form of weekly multiple-choice quizzes on the assigned readings, to be completed at home on Moodle. These quizzes account for 20% of the final grade. Each quiz opens one week before the scheduled session and closes the day before the session. The questions will be reviewed and corrected in class.
Second, a written exam, accounting for 80% of the final grade, taken without notes, structured around reflective questions that cut across the course as a whole. In the resit session, students will also take a similar written exam. The final grade for the resit session will include the continuous assessment grade (assigned readings – 20%) together with the written exam (80%).

Other information

As part of the assessment for this course unit, the use of artificial intelligence is prohibited, whether as a language assistant, an exploration and ideation tool, or a writing tool.

Online resources

All ressources are availaible sur Moodle. 

Bibliography

• Acemoglu, Daron, et James A. Robinson. Prospérité, puissance et pauvreté. Pourquoi certains pays réussissent mieux que d'autres. Markus Haller, 2015, Lire le chapitre 9
• Austin, Gareth, “Développement économique et legs coloniaux en Afrique”, Revue internationale de politique de développement, 2010, pp :11-36.
• Berrou, Jean-Philippe, et Thomas Eekhout. "L’économie informelle: un défi au rêve d’émergence des économies africaines?." Études internationales 50.1 (2019): 121-146.
• Chang, Ha-Joon, Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism, New York: Bloomsbury Press, 2008. Lire p.160-171.
•  Chang, Ha-Joon, Deux ou trois choses que l'on ne vous dit jamais sur le capitalisme. Média Diffusion, 2012. Lire Chapitre 11 « L’Afrique n’est pas condamnée au sous-développement »
•  Chang, Ha-Joon, Deux ou trois choses que l'on ne vous dit jamais sur le capitalisme. Média Diffusion, 2012. Lire Chapitre 12 « L’État peut choisir les gagnants »
• Cleland, John, et Kazuyo Machiyama. "The challenges posed by demographic change in sub-Saharan Africa: A concise overview." Population and Development Review 43 (2017): 264-286.
• Collier, Paul, et Stefan Dercon. "African agriculture in 50 years: smallholders in a rapidly changing world?" World Development 63, 2014, pp.92-101.
• Collier, Paul, Gordon Conway, et Tony Venables. "Climate change and Africa." Oxford review of economic policy 24.2 (2008): 337-353.
• Guengant, Jean-Pierre, et Hamidou Issaka Maga. "Afrique subsaharienne: dynamiques démographiques et enjeux de développement." Cités 82.2, 2020, pp 57-70.
• Hernández, Valéria, et Pascale Phélinas. "Débats et controverses sur l’avenir de la petite agriculture." Autrepart 3, 2012, pp.3-16.
• Jacquemot, Pierre, « L’industrialisation en Afrique en question. Des désillusions à un nouveau volontarisme », Afrique contemporaine, 2018/2 (N° 266), pp. 29-53.
• Mamdani, Mahmood. Citoyen et sujet : l'Afrique contemporaine et l'héritage du colonialisme tardif. Karthala Editions, 2004. Lire le chapitre 2.
• Olivier de Sardan, Jean-Pierre, "L’économie morale de la corruption en Afrique." Politique africaine 63.1 (1996): 97-116.
• Roll, K., Dolan, C., & Rajak, D. (2021). Remote (dis) engagement: Shifting corporate risk to the ‘bottom of the pyramid’. Development and Change, 52(4), 878-901.

Faculty or entity

> PSAD