NS4311 Resources, Politics and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa

Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have abundant natural resources, which have deeply affected the development of states, and the nature of politics, economics, and conflict in these countries. Understanding how natural resources have affected these countries is key to gaining insight into their contemporary political dynamics. In this class, students will learn about the impact of natural resource abundance on state formation, politics, and economics; the relationships between natural resources and conflict; and assess attempts to manage the effects of resources on both politics and conflict in countries with abundant natural resources. This is an advanced topics class and will require deep analysis of the dynamic relationships in these processes. As foreign policy professionals, understanding the challenges faced by countries is as important as thinking about how to respond to them.

Prerequisites: Suggested to take the introduction to politics in Sub-Saharan Africa course before this one. 

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

0

Course Learning Outcomes

As foreign policy professionals who will engage in policy formation and conflict response at combatant commands, embassies or elsewhere, at the end of this course you will be able to:  

• Understand the dynamics of how resources influence politics and state formation; 

• Appreciate how access to natural resources cause and/or affect the course and duration of internal wars; 

• Learn which of these conflict dynamics are amenable to policy manipulation; and 

• Students will learn how to apply this knowledge to new cases and use it to assist in risk management in their future positions.