Stellenbosch University

Political Science 144

2022

Introduction to International Relations & African Politics

Lecturers: Mrs L. Kotzé and Dr C. Steenekamp

Part 1: Introduction to International Relations (18 July – 2 September)

Lecturer: Mrs L. Kotzé

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www0.sun.ac.za/politicalscience/
Office consultation hours: Mondays 15:00 – 16:00; Tuesdays 12:00 – 14:00

Part 2: Introduction to African Politics (12 September – 21 October)

Lecturer: Dr C. Steenekamp
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www0.sun.ac.za/politicalscience/
Office consultation hours: Tuesdays 14:00 – 16:00; Thursdays 10:00 – 12:00

• Important messages will be announced in class and posted in the announcement forum
at the top of the course’s SUNLearn page. Be sure to check your SUN e-mail at least
once every day, for the duration of this course.
• You can also post any questions about this module, the learning material, or online
activities on the discussion forum on SUNLearn. This way everyone can learn from
queries, as they come up.

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• Please email the applicable lecturer directly for personal matters that only apply to your
own situation.

Lecture times

Group 1 (Venue: Krotoa building, room 1012)

Mondays 14:00; Tuesdays 11:00

Group 2 (Venue: Jan Mouton building, room 3010)

Tuesdays: 10:00; Thursdays: 15:00

Note that group allocations are done for a specific reason, taking into account the seating
capacity of each lecture room; you are NOT allowed to switch groups.

Departmental rules on class attendance and recordings:

Stellenbosch University is not a distance-learning institution and class attendance is
compulsory. The in-person lectures will also be live-streamed, in real time, but they will not
be recorded and made available after the fact. Consult Part One: General of the University’s
Calendar for the necessary requirements in terms of requesting absence from classes.
Besides the module content, important information including assignments, test, and exam
preparation is covered in the lectures. If you choose not to attend lectures you accept the
responsibility for and consequences of not knowing these important details. Lastly, please
note that students are not allowed to use audio or other recording devices in class; you are
allowed to take your own written/typed notes, during lectures, but you are not allowed to
record the lectures.

Aims of the module

This is an exciting time to study international relations!

We find ourselves in a turbulent period of change in the international system. The world
recently experienced an economic crisis, climate change threatens the very existence of our
planet, Russia is engaged in a war in Ukraine, the USA competes with China for global
dominance, conflict in Africa and elsewhere continues unabatedly, tensions in the Middle
East are exacerbated by nuclear posturing and the situation in Syria, and the ongoing effects
of COVID-19 are challenging the very essence of the multilateral system.

Should we lose hope? Should we ask Elon Musk to put us on the first flight to Mars? Is there
a way for us to make sense of what looks like chaos? Where do states fit in in a world where
organisations, multinational companies, terrorist networks and other actors play an
increasingly important role? These are some of the issues that this module will address. This
is an introductory module on the systematic study of international relations, designed to
introduce you to the basic concepts, questions and theoretical perspectives that we deal with
in this field. We shall, amongst others, explore some of the most important actors in world
affairs, and the interactions between them. We shall also develop explanations for the way in
which the international system operates.

The section on introduction to African Politics (fourth term) is part historical, and part political.
The historical approach is reflected in the chronological treatment of state-development in
Africa, including the analysis of Africa’s pre-colonial states and the impact of the colonial era
on the African continent. This will be followed by analyses of the various processes leading
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to decolonisation, independence and finally a consideration of the most important post-
independence trends on the continent. In particular there will be analysis of Africa’s place in
the broader international system, specifically the rising prominence of the continent in
international relations.

Outcomes of the module

After completing this module you will have a solid foundation and understanding of the
dynamics of International Relations and of the unique challenges that the international
system poses to an array of state and non-state actors, be they students, captains of
industry, multinational corporations, or celebrities. You will also develop the ability to apply
the knowledge gained in this module to the way in which international politics influences your
daily life and to ask critical questions about the impact of globalization on South Africa, how
wealth and power is distributed in the world today, and whether this distribution can be
ethically, politically, and economically justified. More specifically, you should be able to
discuss the following questions in an intelligent manner:

• What are states, when did they become the main actors in the international system, and is
their power being challenged?
• What is the role of non-state actors in the international system?
• What is power in the context of international relations?
• Who benefits most from the current global order?
• Why do states (sometimes) choose to co-operate?
• When is war legal, and when is it illegal?
• How should we manage nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction?
• How do international law and international organisations function?
• How do the main theoretical approaches to International Relations differ?
• Which theory provides the best explanation for the most important challenges facing the
international system today?
• Why is the study of African Politics such an important endeavour?
• Why is an in-depth understanding of Africa’s colonial and post-colonial history so
important?
• What has been the impact of Africa’s colonial history on current political developments on
the continent?
• What impact did the Cold War have on the African continent?
• What has been the role and influence of African nationalism in the continent’s politics?
• Are African states prone to weakness, failure and collapse?
• To what extent have ethnic or religious differences influenced the political processes and
outcomes of African politics in the post-colonial era?
• What was the justification for African leaders centralising states and imposing one-party
rule?
• Which factors have contributed to military coups taking place in Africa?
• Is Africa emerging as a major actor in the world economy?
• What have been the key obstacles towards the achievement of democratic consolidation
in Africa?

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Module requirements and mark allocation

This module will make use of flexible assessment. In order to pass this module, you are
required to:

1. Complete an online quiz during the third term (this will contribute 20% towards your end
result);

2. Complete an online quiz during the fourth term (this will contribute 20% towards your end
result);

3. Complete a written assessment during the third term (short essay of 1,200 words) (this
will contribute 20% towards your end result);

4. Complete a written assessment during the fourth term (short essay of 1,200 words) (this
will contribute 20% towards your end result);

5. Complete four online tutorials: two in the third term, and two in the fourth term (each of
the four tutorials will contribute 5% towards your end result);

6. Attend all the lectures, either in person or via the online live stream,* and

7. As a Political Science student we assume that you will be on top of news events both
nationally and internationally. You are therefore expected to expand your knowledge of
current affairs by regularly reading newspapers, news magazines and the Internet, and
by following news bulletins on television, radio, and on social media.

Students require a minimum mark of 50% in order to pass this module. While it is
possible to achieve the minimum mark without completing all the assessments,
students are strongly encouraged to make use of all assessment opportunities as
there will be no second opportunity for missed online quizzes, written assessments,
or online tutorials, unless you provide a valid medical certificate that excuses you
from the assessment/activity for the full duration that it was open/active.

If not provided here, or below, the scope and dates of these assessments will be
announced in the lectures and on the SUNLearn page.

Prescribed books

1. Third term: Baylis, J., Smith, S. and Owens, P. (eds.) (2017) The Globalization of World
Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (2nd international ed.) Oxford: Oxford
University Press. [Check that the version that you will be using has the following ISBN:
9780198796367].

2. Fourth term: Thomson, A. (2016) An Introduction to African Politics (4th ed.) London &
New York: Routledge.

*
If, in the course of the semester, all social distancing requirements are lifted, then only in-person
lectures will be offered.

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There are a number of ways to get hold of these books:

• Contact the Van Schaik bookshop in the Neelsie Student Centre and order it directly from
them. (Tel: 021 887 2830; E-mail [email protected]; www.vanschaik.com).

• The E-book is available for purchase via VitalSource: https://www.vitalsource.com/za/.

• Purchase the books second-hand.

• Copies of the prescribed textbooks are available in the Short Loans section of the SU
Library. These can be located in the Department of Political Science section under
FOURIE and STEENEKAMP respectively.

Written assessments (essays)

You will be expected to submit two written essays in the course of the semester; each of the
two essays counts 20% towards your final mark. The essays have been designed to develop
your analytical, communication, and research skills. Please note that the essays must be
typed, and submitted on time, via the SUNLearn space that will be set up to receive
submissions. E-mailed essays will not be marked, and will receive a mark of zero.

More information with regards to the essays will be provided during the course of the
semester.

Departmental rules on late submission of essays and non-completion of tutorials:

With regards to the online tutorials, a valid excuse (e.g.an acceptable medical certificate)
must be provided for the full duration that the assessment was available / open.

Five per cent (5%) will be deducted per day (or for part of a day) for late essays, or for
incomplete essay submissions (this includes Saturdays and Sundays).

Essays submitted late without a timely and valid excuse (e.g. an acceptable medical
certificate) will only be accepted for a period of up to three days after the submission date.
After the third day you will have to submit a valid excuse and verifiable documentary
evidence (e.g. an acceptable medical certificate), or the essay will not be accepted at all.

The following general rules apply for the handing in or the handling of medical
certificates:

1. A medical certificate connected to the absence from any assessment or to the late
submission of an academic assignment will only be considered if it has been issued
within 24 hours from the time the assessment occurred or the submission date of an
academic assignment (unless the certificate explicitly states why it could not be issued
within 24 hours), and handed in within 7 days after the submission date of the academic
assignment;

2. Medical certificates issued by family members will not be accepted;

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3. In cases of mental health conditions, only medical certificates issued by psychiatrists,
medical practitioners, and registered clinical psychologists will be accepted.

Plagiarism penalties: Turnitin similarity percentage: 24-29 (-5%); 30-39 (-10%); Above 39%
(0% + disciplinary procedures). Similarity scores above 39% will be reviewed by the relevant
lecturer and referred for disciplinary action.

Criteria for the evaluation of essays

The essays will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Have you answered the question or addressed the topic in a satisfactory manner?
2. Have done your own research?
3. Do you use some examples of your own?
4. Did you develop a solid, logical argument? In other words, did you adopt a position, and
is it supported by evidence and convincingly presented?
5. Are concepts clearly defined? Do you apply some of the key concepts from this course?
6. Do you reflect critical, independent thinking, and show an understanding of the material?
7. Are references correct and complete – both in the text and in the bibliography?
8. Do you cite a good number of sources? (Use your own discretion about the quality and
quantity of the sources; by now you should have a sense of which and how many
sources are appropriate).
9. For the essays, does the structure include an introduction, conclusion and clear
paragraphs, and is there coherence across paragraphs (in other words, does the
argument ‘flow’?)
10. Are statements and sentences clearly and unambiguously formulated?
11. Note that we are less interested in a ‘right’ or a ‘wrong’ answer, than your ability to
construct a logical, simple (not simplistic) argument, and to state it elegantly and
typographically perfect.

Technical requirements for essays

The essays should be typed in 12 font (Times New Roman or Arial) with 1.5 line spacing and
0 pt spacing before and after each paragraph.

The essay content should be 1,200 words (excluding the cover page, table of contents, and
the bibliography). You are allowed to go 100 words under or over the prescribed word count
(i.e. 1,100 to 1,300 words); however, a word count outside of these parameters will be
penalised.

The essay must be uploaded via SUNLearn, in MSWord (.docx) or in PDF format, as a
single file/document. E-mailed essays will not be marked, and will receive a mark of zero.

Essay 1 (third term)

Due date and submission protocol: Friday, 19 August by 5 p.m. via SUNLearn.

Very important: Only ONE submission opportunity is allowed; you will not have multiple
opportunities to upload your essay. Make sure that your essay is the correct version, and
contains no plagiarism – you will not be able to check and improve on your similarity
index/score.

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Write an essay on any one of the following four topics.

Topic 1: In June 2020 the influential online journal Foreign Policy noted that “[race] is a
central organizing feature of world politics. [….] Yet mainstream international
relations (IR) scholarship denies race as essential to understanding the world,
to the cost of the field’s integrity.”

What do they mean? Do you agree? Explain your response.

Topic 2: In May 2020 the influential newspaper The Washington Post noted that “[t]he
coronavirus pandemic has produced a […] tsunami of international relations
hot takes. They range from the end of U.S. hegemony to the end of
globalization to the rise of a new Sino-American Cold War to the observation
that a Cold War with China would be a dumb idea.”

Do you agree? How will COVID-19 change international relations?

Topic 3: Do you agree or disagree with the South African government’s position on the
Russia-Ukraine war of 2022? Explain your answer.

Topic 4: Is Russia’s war with Ukraine of 2022 legal or illegal? Explain your answer.

Essay 2 (fourth term)

Due date and submission protocol: Friday, 7 October by 5 p.m. via SUNLearn.

Very important: Only ONE submission opportunity is allowed; you will not have multiple
opportunities to upload your essay. Make sure that your essay is the correct version, and
contains no plagiarism – you will not be able to check and improve on your similarity
index/score.

Write an essay on any one of the following two topics.

Topic 1: Ideologies have been important in shaping African political culture, socialisation
and behaviour. These ideologies influence various aspects of political life and
the decisions that political leaders make. In Africa, ideologies have also played
a major role as a form of political thought in the post-colonial era.

Select ONE case study from below and describe the characteristics of scientific
socialism under the given nationalist leader within your selected country and
critically discuss the influence of scientific socialism on the social, political and
economic development in that country.

Case study options: Agostinho Neto in Angola OR Mengistu Haile Mariam in

Ethiopia OR Samora Machel in Mozambique.

Topic 2: Legal-rational institutions did not prosper in Africa after independence and
elements of liberal democracy were quickly abandoned as political leaders
experimented with various forms of governance.

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 Describe the characteristics of a centralised state and personal rule and
critically discuss these concepts in relation to the rise and fall of Zaire (now
known as the Democratic Republic of Congo) under Mobutu Sese Seko.

Important dates

Start of second semester: Monday, 18 July

Written assignment (essay) 1: Friday, 19 August

Online quiz 1: Friday, 2 September

Mid-semester recess: 5 – 9 September

Written assignment (essay) 2: Friday, 7 October

Online quiz 2: Friday, 21 October

Last day of term: Friday, 21 October

Lecture schedule

PART 1 (THIRD TERM): INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (textbook: Baylis, Smith & Owens)

WEEK 1 (18-22 July): International Relations: Key concepts and historical

overview
Prescribed reading: Introduction, and chapters 1-4

WEEK 2 (25-29 July): Theoretical approaches

Prescribed reading: Chapters 6-8, 10-11

WEEK 3 (1-5 August): Theoretical approaches (continued)

Prescribed reading: Chapters 6-8, 10-11

WEEK 4 (8-12 August): War, security, and terror

Prescribed reading: Chapters 12, 14, 24, 26, 28

WEEK 5 (15-19 August): Trade, poverty, and development

Prescribed reading: Chapters 13, 21, 22

WEEK 6 (22-26 August): Global governance

Prescribed reading: Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18

WEEK 7 (29 Aug. to 2 Sep.): Gender, race, and the environment

Prescribed reading: Chapters 19, 20, 23

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PART 2 (FOURTH TERM): AFRICAN POLITICS (textbook: Thomson)

WEEK 8 (12-16 September): The study of African politics

Prescribed reading: Chapter 1

WEEK 9 (19-23 September): Africa’s pre-colonial and colonial history

Prescribed reading: Chapter 2

WEEK 10 (26-30 September): Africa’s political ideologies, ethnicity and religion

Prescribed reading: Chapters 3 and 4

WEEK 11 (3-7 October): Personal rule and military intervention in Africa

Prescribed reading: Chapters 6 and 7

WEEK 12 (10-14 October): External influences and Africa’s political economy

Prescribed reading: Chapters 8 and 9

WEEK 13 (17-21 October): Legitimacy and democracy in Africa

Prescribed reading: Chapters 10 and 11