This course explores the themes, issues, and trends that shape politics in Africa, across 54 countries and over 1.3 billion people.
Terms Offered
Spring 2022
REGISTRATION CURRENTLY NOT OPEN
Course Details
The purpose of this course is to explore the themes, issues, and trends that shape politics in Africa, across 54 countries and over 1.3 billion people. I hope the course will inspire in you an interest in African affairs. I also hope it will give you an opportunity to think critically about how context shapes political behavior and about how the sociopolitical world works. The material we will cover is organized around four broad issues: 1) the foundations of contemporary African politics, 2) political leadership in Africa, 3) the politics of identity, and 4) current issues and challenges in Africa.
Number of credits: 3
How You Will Learn and Work
This is a Global Classrooms Connections Course. The objective is to give students enhanced international exposure and experience from wherever they are. In this particular case, the instructor will be going to Benin for two weeks, and brings the students with him – virtually. You will then have an opportunity to work on a project to expand on something you learn from that virtual, in-country experience.
Cultural Connection
Benin
General Education Credits
None
School/College
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Prerequisites & Restrictions
Students must be in one of the following programs: Government & Politics or Government & Politics: International Relations. GVPT282 or GVPT280 are prerequisites.
Faculty Highlight
John McCauley
John McCauley is an Associate Professor of Government and Politics and the Director of the minor program in International Development and Conflict Management (IDCM). He is also a Research Affiliate at the Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and in the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM). His research focuses on ethnic and religious conflict, terrorism, and the political economy of development in Africa. He has conducted research in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Niger, and Nigeria. He is the author of The Logic of Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa (2017, Cambridge University Press).
Dr. McCauley received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in economics from the College of William & Mary and an M.A. in international relations from Yale University. Prior to joining the faculty at Maryland, he was a post-doctoral research fellow in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Dr. McCauley teaches courses on International Development and Conflict Management, the Political Economy of Development, African Politics, Field Research Methods, and Religion and Politics around the World. He is the 2023 winner of the Excellence in Teaching award from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
Tuition & Scholarship
Course costs should be calculated based on the university’s standard tuition and fees for undergraduate students and graduate students.
Students enrolled in winter and summer Global Classrooms courses may be eligible for the International Education Scholarship.
Cancellation and Refunds
Global Classrooms courses follow UMD's Schedule Adjustment policies.
Questions & Contact Info
For more course information contact John McCauley at mccauley@umd.edu.
For general questions, please contact the Global Classrooms team at globalclassrooms@umd.edu.