2007/2008 COURSE CATALOGUE

NAIROBI, KENYA

Course: MARY AFST 526: Contemporary Political and Economic Realities in Kenya

Course Overview:
The course seeks to understand the structure of East African political and economic systems from pre-colonial days to contemporary times which underpin the present crises and upheavals.

Course Description:
The course will study political and economic foundations, past and present, of African society intensively; clan based political allegiances and communal economic systems; colonial-imposed changes; and post-independence attempts to create nation-states. It will focus on the conflicts and crises which are disrupting effective government and economic development.

Method of Delivery
Through lectures, readings, discussions and direct field research.

Course Outline

1. Pre-colonial period

Dominant Social Formation

(1) Centralized pre-colonial social systems

Feudal tendencies, Chiefdoms, kingdoms and slave systems

(2) Non-centralized pre-colonial political systems

i. Kinship and clan communal systems
ii. Corresponding political economic institutions 

2. Political economy of the pre-colonial African societies

1.  Politics and economics of the pre-colonial communal and pre-capitalist     political-economic information 

2. Emerging specializations

3. Economic activities and relations in the pre-colonial Kenya

1. Emerging feudal and merchant capitalist production and exchange relations. 

Colonial Period

4. Colonial Imposition of foreign rule

1. Early contacts with Europe and the Arab world. 

2. Various forms if resistance and accommodation. 

3. Economic and political institutions of colonialism. 

5. Political and economic effects of colonization

1. socio-economic effects of colonization. 

2. social class formation. 

3. integration into the international political economic system. 

6. Modes of colonization

1. British

2. French

3. Portuguese

4. Effects of the modes of colonization on the development of nationalization. 

7.Nationalism and the emergence of independence movements 

1. The proto-nationalist resistances 

2. Nationalism and the emergence of independence movements. 

8. Socio-cultural environment

1. Ethnicity 

2. Race and Class

9. Colonial institution of repression

1. The colonial state and institutions.

Post-colonial period

10. The politics of independence

1. The nature of resistance movements 

2. The elite control of politics

3. The legacy of colonial era.

11. The post-colonial state

1. The social base of the post colonial state

2. Ideology and the politics of development 

12. Ethnic and sub-ethnic basis of political power 

1. The balance of forces in post colonial society 

2. Stunted class-consciousness

3. The retardation of labour movement  

13. Political parties 

1. Types of parties and their social bases 

2. Party-political organizations 

3. Ethnic basis of party 

14. National integration and politics of nationhood 

1. Ethnicity and nationality 

2. Ethnicity and sub-ethnic conflicts 

15. Ideological currents in the African polity 

1. African socialism 

2. From multi-party to one party state  and democracy in Africa 

16. Democratization and the good governance discourse 

1. The clamor for pluralism 

2. The fall of the Soviet empire 

3. The emergence of  a uni-polar world (political economic order)

4. Re-awakening  of popular democratic forces 

5. The role of civil society 

17. Ideological challenges of democratization 

1. Old wines in new bottles 

2. Continuity and change 

3. The influence of the multilateral and bilateral institutions 

18. Civil society and democracy 

1. The new civil society /NGOs

2. External influence 

3. The good governance 

19. Globalization and national political economy 

1. Washington and its discontents 

2. Neo-liberalization 

3. Post Washington 

20. Transition politics 

1. The drive towards regionalization 

2. Constitutional realignments

3. Politics and transition 

4. Anti-corruption agendas 

5. Other political -economic challenges  

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrahamsen, R. (2000). Disciplining Democracy: development discourse and good governance in Africa. London: Zed Books. 

Barkan, Joel D (Ed.). (1984). Political and Public Policy in Kenya and Tanzania.  Nairobi: Heinemann Press. 

Boahen, Adu A. (1987).  African Perspective on Colonialism. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press. 

Bratton, M. & Van de Walle, N. (1997). Democratic Experiments in Africa: Regime transitions in comparative perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Chazan, Michel A. & Eisenstast S.N.E.J. (Eds.). (1983). The Early State in Africa Perspective.  New York: Brill: Leiden. 

Evans-Pritchard & M. Fortes (Eds.). (1987). African Political Systems. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. 

Friis-Hasen, Esbern. (1987). CDR Research Report and IRA Research Paper. Copenhagen: Center For Development Research. 

Hodgkin, Thomas. (1961). African Political Parties. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.

Kurtz, D.V. (2001). Political Anthropology: Power and paradigms. Boulder, Colombia: Westview Press. 

Mshomba, R.E. (2000). Africa in the Global Economy. Boulder, Colombia: Lynne Rienner Publishers. 

Rainer Siegler, D.B. (1990). Political Stability and Development: A Comparative Analysis of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

Salih, M. (Ed.) (2003). African Political Parties: Evolution, institutionalism and governance. London: Pluto Press. 

Samoff, Joel. (1974). Tanzania: Local Politics and the Structure of Power. Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press. 

Salim, Ahmedha.  (Ed.). (1984). State formation in Eastern Africa.  Nairobi: Heinemann Press.

Tordoff, William. (1991). Government and Politics in Africa. London: Macmillan Education Ltd.

Pratt & U.M. Bismarck (Eds.). (1981). Towards Socialism in Tanzania.  Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Young, C. (1994). The African Colonial State in Perspective. New Haven: Yale University Press.