In this course, we will uncover why African politics today often faces instability, leadership struggles, and conflict. These patterns are shaped by colonial history, identity politics, and governance challenges. Using Alex Thomson\u2019s core text, we\u2019ll examine colonial legacies, ethnic and religious politics, one-party states, military regimes, democratization, and interstate and intrastate conflict. Each topic builds on the last, showing how historical forces still influence today\u2019s political realities. By the end, you will see how these themes connect, helping you understand Africa\u2019s political system and its conflicts in a deeper, holistic way.
\nDuring this course, you will study ten interconnected topics. First, we\u2019ll examine colonial inheritance and state formation, where we\u2019ll explore how colonial borders and structures still shape modern African states. Second, we\u2019ll discuss ethnicity and identity politics, looking at how group identities shape political power. Third, we\u2019ll explore how religion influences political mobilization. Fourth, we\u2019ll cover the rise of one-party rule after independence. Fifth, we\u2019ll examine military coups and authoritarian regimes. Sixth, we\u2019ll chart the path to democratization. Seventh, we\u2019ll study electoral politics and democratic consolidation. Eighth, we\u2019ll analyze interstate conflicts and their causes. Ninth, we\u2019ll look at intrastate conflicts and civil wars. Tenth, we\u2019ll study how the African Union approaches conflict resolution. Each topic will build on the previous one, leading us to a full understanding of Africa\u2019s political system and conflicts.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In this course, we will uncover why African politics today often faces instability, leadership struggles, and conflict. These patterns are shaped by colonial history, identity politics, and governance challenges. Using Alex Thomson\u2019s core text, we\u2019ll examine colonial legacies, ethnic and religious politics, one-party states, military regimes, democratization, and interstate and intrastate conflict. Each topic builds […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"slim_seo":{"title":"AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS & CONFLICTS - Nexa Centre","description":"In this course, we will uncover why African politics today often faces instability, leadership struggles, and conflict. 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