POL 8406: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF AFRICA: SUB-THEME: CLASS POWER AND THE STATE IN 21ST CENTURY AFRICA

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

NIGERIA

POL 8406: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF AFRICA

SUB-THEME: CLASS POWER AND THE STATE IN 21^ST CENTURY AFRICA

2014/2015 ACADEMIC YEAR

INSTRUCTOR: M. M. YUSIF

mmyusif@yahoo.com

mmyusuf07@gmail.com

http://www.mmyusuf.blogspot.com

Introduction

This is the teaching programme of the course on the political economy of Africa, which is part of the Masters Degree Programme of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano – Nigeria during 2014/2015 Academic year.

It is intended to expose students for a research work which centres on an analysis on class power and the state in 21^st century Africa.

Issues for treatment are deliberately selected to give background on the controversy about class and state power, especially on current topical problems in Africa.

It is expected that the course will be covered in fifteen (15) weeks. Weekly meetings of three hours each will be divided into three track display of ideas: first is 30 minutes of talk on the subject of the week by the course instructor – followed by two working sessions – one is discussion and review of a selected text related to the topic and two a discussion of a specific research work by a student. There are going to be working group discussions.

                                                                                      

The texts selected for reading are meant to give theoretical and methodological guide to students on analysis of the issues. There are many other texts as literature which have covered the themes, either narrowly or broadly, or as case studies. Texts on Nigeria are abundant and can be obtained. Students are expected to read widely. Online sources are relevant. Become independent researcher and leaner now!

Description of the course

The twenty-first Century coincided with the logic of capital of neo-liberal globalization. This has resulted in profound changes in process of class formation, the formation and role of state as well as in structure of power in Africa.

The question is who wields power? Where is the power of capital? What of the power of various social classes in African society? These and other questions posed many critical questions about theory and action of the state. For instance, if state represents class interest what is the logic of characterizing it weak or strong? Again, if it is said that globalization has weakened the state, one may ask is it not the state which has generated globalization? Or is it globalization which has necessarily shaped the power of the state?

The central focus of this course, in this academic year is class, power and the state in 21^st century Africa. The teaching programme contains many issues to give theoretical lens on the subject under discussion.

Topics to be treated

1.     General Introduction: introducing the course and what it is about; course requirements; method for students of political science; methodology and the state and social classes; contribution of students on the teaching programme

Essential Reading

1-    Catherine C.V. “Research on an African Mode of Production”.

2-    Stephen V.F. Guide to methods for students of Political Science

3-    Mouroc and Rosanna D. “E-Research: An Introduction to Online Political Science for beginners and skeptics” IPRS Vol. 28 No. 2

4-    Margaret Stacey (1977). Methods of Social Research

5-    I. T Smith (1999). Decolonizing methodology

6-    APA (2010). Publication manual

7-    Erik O.W. (1978). Class, crisis and the state. Chapter 1

For Discussion

a.     The unity of theory and empirical evidence strengthens the quality of scientific work.

2.     Conceptualizing Political Economy of Africa

Essential Reading

a-     Chris Allen (1976). A bibliographical Guide to the study of the Political Economy of Africa”. In Peter C.W. Gutkind and Immanuel Wallenstein (eds.). The Political Economy of Contemporary Africa.

For Discussion

(a)  Bring out and discuss, showing the relevant literature the various perspectives on Political Economy of Africa

(b) Fill the gap on the work by Chris Allen.

3.     Africa in a globalizing Economy

Essential Reading

a-     Samir A. (2002). “Africa: Living on the fringe”. Monthly Review vol. 53

b-    Loxley J. (1987). The IMF, the World Bank and Sub-Saharan Africa: “Policies and Politics. Kjell I.J. The IMF and the World Bank in Africa: conditionality, impact and Alternatives

c-     Lipietz A. (1984). “How monetarism has choked Third World Industrialization”. New Left Review No. 145

d-    Ishrat H. and Rashid F. (eds.). Adjustment in Africa: Lessons from country case studies. The World Bank. Washington

Discussion Question

a-     The beneficiaries of neo-liberal economic programs are not African communities but rather the thin layer of elites and foreign enterprises who sponsor such programmes. Do you agree?

4.     The Theory (1): Traditional Marxist theory of state: from Marx to Lenin

Essential Reading

a.     Bade Onimode, (1985). An introduction to Marxist Political Economy. Zed, London chapter II

b.     Marcin Carnoy (1984). The state and political Theory. Princeton press, New Jersey chapter 2

c.      Lenin V.I. State and Revolution

d.     Engels, F. The Origin of the family, private property, and the state

e.      Karl Marx, The class struggle in France

f.       Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brummaire of Louis Bonaparte

g.     Draper, Hal. Karl Marx’s Theory of Revolution. Vol. 1. State and Bureaucracy

For Discussion

a.     In view of Marxian Theory of State review Y.B. Usman’s book titled “For Liberation of Nigeria

5.     The Theory II: Globalization and the State

Essential Reading

a.     Ellens M.W. (203). “Globalization and the State: where is the power of capital”? in Alfredo S. (ed.). Anti-capitalism: A Marxist introduction

b.     Alessandro B. and others. “Global post-fordism and concepts of the state

c.      William I. R. “Capitalist globalization and the transnationalisation of the state”

d.     William I. R. “Towards a Global Ruling? Globalization and the Transnationalist class”

e.      Leslie S. “The Transnational capitalist class and the Discourse of Globalization”.

f.       Jan A.S. “Global capitalist and the state”.

g.     Ander S. “Global power relations and state formation in Uganda”.

For Discussion

a.     The weakness of African state: from the literature to reality

6.      Globalization and class politics in Africa

Essential Reading

a.     Karl Marx, wage labour and capital

b.     Robin Cohen (1976). “The evolution of the class structure in Africa”. In Peter C.W. Gutkind and Immanuel Wallerstein (eds.). op.cit

c.      William K. Tabb. “Capital, Class and the state in the global political Economy”.

d.     Harry Cleaver, “The inversion of class perspective in Marxian Theory: from valorization to self-valorization”.

e.      Alejandro colas, “The class politics of globalization”.

For Discussion

a.     Can African Bourgeoisie use the state to serve their General interest?

7.     Globalization, state and Labour in Africa

Essential Reading

a.     Melisa Serrano and others (eds.) (2011). Trade unions and the global crisis. Labour visions, strategies and responses. International Labour Force. Geneva

b.     Jeremy W. (ed.). Globalization and patterns of Labour Resistance. Marsell. London and New York

c.      Ronaldo Munck (2002). Globalization and Labour Zed Books. London and New York

d.     Gavin Williams (ed.). Democracy, Labour and Politics in Africa and Asia: Essays in honour of Bjorn Beckman

e.      Ismel Akca, “Globalization, state and Labour: Towards a Social Movement Unionism”.

f.       Leo-panitch (1986). Working class politics in crisis: essays on Labour and the state chapters 6 and 7

g.     Beckman, B. and Sachikonye L.M. (eds.). (2001). Labour regime and Liberalisation. The restructuring of state and society relations in Africa. AAPS Books. Zimbabwe

h.     Beckman B., The politics of reforms: responses of African Trade Unions with a south African case

i.       Yusuf Bangura and Beckman B. “African workers and structural Adjustment Programme: The Nigerian case

For Discussion

a.     Fordist state in Nigeria became a reality in Labour control but post-fordist is as if the concept is a myth

8.     Globalisation, state and Democracy in Africa

Essential Reading

a.     Alan H. (1980). Marxism and Democracy. Lawrence and Wishart. London.

b.     Barry H. (ed.) (2000). Global Democracy: key Debates. Roudledge. London

c.      Svetozar S. (1981). “Marxism and Democracy: The ruling class or the dominant class?

d.     Richard J. (). State, conflict and Democracy in Africa. Parts I and II

e.      Nnoli O. (2000). “Globalization and Democracy in Africa”.

f.       D.W. Nabudere (ed.) Globalization and the Post-Colonial African state. AAPS Books Zimbabwe

g.     Ake C. Democracy and Development in Africa. Spectrum Books. Ibadan

h.     Peter G., Yusuf, B. and Arve, O. (1992). Authoritarianism Democracy and Adjustment: The politics of Economic reform in Africa. The SIAS Uppsala chapters 1 and 2

For Discussion

a-     Examine the sense of the argument that since the Ruling-class has become transnational the state too is Transnational and Democracy ought to be global

b-    Neo-Liberal globalization has made sense in creating liberalisation out of dictationship but from democracy point of view is nonsense

c-     Democracy manages state power but since the local base in the era of neo-liberal globalization is weak Democracy too is superficial.

9.     The Left, Neo-Liberalism and the state

Essential Reading

a.     Jibrin I. and Y.Z. Ya’u (eds.). (2010). The Left and the Human Rights Struggle in Nigeria. CRD. Kano. Chapters 1,3,and 8

b.     Adebayo Olukoshi. “The Left and Struggle for Democracy in Nigeria”.

c.      Dale T.M. (2012). “The Crisis of the Left in Contemporary South Africa”. In Marcelle C.D. and Luke S. (eds.) Contesting Transformation: Popular Resistance in Twenty-First Century South Africa.

d.     John Holloway (2005) Change the World without taking power: The meaning of Revolution Today. Pluto Press. London.

For Discussion

a.     Neo-Liberal capitalism has disarmed the Left of its negativity yet it is not dead.

10.                        The anarchists, Neo-Liberalism and the State

Essential Reading

a.     Lucien V. and Michael S. (2009) Black flame: The Revolutionary class politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism – counter power vol. 1 AK Press UK

b.     Richard I.F.D. (2005). Gramsci is Dead: anarchist currents in the Newest Social Movements. Pluto Press London and Toronto

c.      John Holloway (2002). Op. cit.

For Discussion

a.     Examine in broader sense what is anarchism. Why do you think neo-liberal capitalism needs to be tackled through Anarchist tradition. What role would Africa play in this kind of class war?

11.                        Neo-Liberalism, the state and urban youth in Africa.

Essential Reading

a.     Kaplan, Robert (1994). “The coming Anarchy”. The Atlantic monthly No. 273 No. 2

b.     Frank Longstreth (1979). “The city, Industry and the state”. Colin Crouch (ed.). The Economy in contemporary capitalism

c.      Asef Bayat (1997). “Uncivil society: The politics of the Informal sector”. Third World Quarterly vol. 18 No. 1

d.     Mike Dewis (2004). “Planet of slums: Urban involution and the informal proletariat”. NLR No.26

e.      M. M. Yusif (2012). The Dilemma of neo-liberal youths in Nigeria: The Post April 16^th Violence (Online)

For Discussion

a.     Neo-Liberal Youths violence is anti-politics. Discuss

12.                        The state and New Social Movements in Africa

Essential Reading

a.     Cyrus E.Z. “Crossing Frontiers: Theoretical Innovations in the study of Social Movements “IPSR Vol. 29 No. 5

b.     A. G. Frank and M. Fuentes. Nine thesis on Social Movements internationally

c.      Peter Waterman (1991). Social Movement Unionism: A new model for a new world

d.     Peter Waterman (2001). Labour and Social Movements confront a globalised, informatized, capitalism.

e.      Monoranja, M. P, and Olle T (eds.) Peoples Rights: Social Movements and the state in the Third World. Sage publications. London.

f.       Mahmood Mamdani and Ernest dia-homba (eds.) (1995). African studies in Social Movements and Democracy. Codesrio Book Series.

g.     Tom Mertes (ed.). A Movement of Movements: Is another World really possible?

For Discussion

a.     New Social Movements come up with what Immanuel Wallenstein called “New Revolts against the system”. Comment on this statement.

13.                        Conclusion: closing up; Discussion of classroom experience including criticism-Self-Criticism

Additional Reading

1-    Simutary N. “New-Liberalism and the relevance of Marxism to Africa: The case of Zambia

2-    Arne T.T. and Mariken V. (eds.). (2001). Associational Life in African cities: popular Responses to the Urban crisis. Nordisxa African Institute

3-    Bjorn Beckman, Eva H. Anders S. (2001) Civil Society and Authoritarianism in the Third World. PODSU

4-    Bjorn Beckman, “Interest Groups and the Construction of Democratic space.

5-    Peter Anyang Nyongo (ed.). Popular struggles for Democracy in Africa. Zed Books

6-    Y.B. Usman, For the Liberation of Nigeria

7-    Y.B. Usman, Nigeria against IMF: The home-market strategy

8-    Alxassum Abba, The Nigeria Economic crisis: causes and solution.

9-    Erik. O. W. (1978) class, crisis and the state

10-                       Harry Goulbourne (ed.). (1980). Politics in the Third World. Macmillan. London. Chapters 1, 2 and 3

11-                       John Holloway and Sol Picciotto (eds.) (1978) State and Capital: A Marxist Debate

12-                       NICOS-Poulantzas and Ralph Miliband, “The problem of the capitalist state”. In Robin Blackburn (ed.) Ideology in Social Sciences: Reading in Critical Theory

14.                        Various on the state theory

Course Requirement

-         Teaching of the course is by a seminar form. Weekly reading of the recommended text is important

-         Students are expected to read all assigned materials, attend all classes and participate actively in discussions.

-         Questions that are raised at the end of each topic are guide for study by students. They are also for discussion

-         Again, text that are underlined and or marked with a start are to be read and received

-         Note that if you are not going to attend any class, tell me before the time. Yet when you return you must do and submit the work of the week

-         In order to purify learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary action against any student who is found on plagiarism

-         In our work we will be analyzing the thoughts, arguments, and evidence of others to reformulate to develop our ideas. So you must not copy or paraphrase some ones work and present it as your own. Don’t come across idea of one writer and claim you got it from the original text. Finally, all texts consulted should be properly acknowledged. These are elements of integrity of a scholar.

-         Assessment of students is based on end of Semester examination (60%) and CA (40%). The CA will be as follows:

a-     Attendance/class work/participation                             -        20%

b-    Course Research paper                                                  -        10%

c-     Review of any text on African studies                                     -        5%

d-    Literature –Review – Theoretical Framework Nexus     -        5%