HIST 339 - Special Topics Course in Global History

Spring 2019: Revolutionary Africa: The Fight for Independent African Nationhood, 1950s to Present

This course will use diverse sources ranging from literature and film, to music and journalism, in order to trace the history of revolutionary movements across the African continent in the second half of the twentieth century. Special attention will be made to the intense two-decade long period in which a majority of African nations achieved independence. The course will also examine the continued struggle against persistent elements and actors from the colonial era, focusing on the ways in which Africans and African nations challenged and continue to challenge colonial and traditional legacies with regard to issues of race, gender, ethnicity, and national identity.  The course will explore the impact of political and social currents like Pan-Africanism, the Cold War, and neo-colonialism, and follow African reactions to these phenomena. Finally, this course will also cover contemporary issues on the African continent, including NGO and evangelical influence in African countries, #FeesMustFall, the continued battle against Apartheid’s legacy, the growing presence of the U.S. and China, and the impact of the Arab Spring.

 

Anticipated Terms Offered: very other year