Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of African Countries
MAIRD 108: Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of African Countries
Objective
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an intensive introduction to the broad structures and processes of international politics and foreign policy in Africa.
Content
This course examines the key concepts and schools of thought in the study of foreign policy and Diplomacy of African Countries. Concentrating on the process of decision making, internal and external factors which influence foreign policy and Diplomacy as instruments available to foreign policy decision makers.
The course will provide an understanding of the role and effect that foreign policy and Diplomacy have on international politics. Students will learn about:
The linkage between foreign policy and diplomacy;
The differing strategies that African states employ in achieving their aims;
Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making process with focus on the decision process, dynamics, and outcome, using diplomacy as tool.
Students should be able to place foreign policy and diplomacy of African countries within their historical, political, economic, and geostrategic contexts. Major themes of foreign policy as well as diplomacy debates over them will be discussed.
The foreign policy and diplomacy challenges posed by the significance of new foreign policy powers like China.
Mode of delivery
Teaching methods on this course include
Introduction to the various topics under the course
Recommended reading list
A specific material to be read and analysed
Discussion board
An assignment
guest presentation via podcast
Reading material
Englebert, Pierre and Kevin C. Dunn. 2013. Inside African Politics. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN: 978-1-58826-905-8.
Herbst, Jeffrey. 2014. States and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control. Princeton University Press. New Edition. ISBN: 978-0-691-01028-1.
Gordon, April A. and Donald L. Gordon (eds.). 2007. Understanding Contemporary Africa. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-11-58826-466-4.
Cheeseman, Nic. 2015. Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-13842-0.
Alden and A Aran, Foreign Policy
Analysis–new approaches, 2ndEdition (Routledge 2017).
International Non-Governmental Organizations
MAIRD 404: International Non-Governmental Organizations
Objectives
At the end of the course student will be able to:
Identify the theories, history and major actors that govern the modern operations of IOs and INGOs.
Develop professional-level proficiency in written communication skills.
Critically analyse and evaluate the roles and activities of IOs and INGOs in international affairs.
Demonstrate managerial and operational skills relevant to the activities of IOs and INGOs.
Evaluate the consequences of the political and moral choices of IOs and INGOs
Content
The course discusses principles, concepts, commonality and distinction between two broad types of development agent;
state and non-state actors, in their attempts to institutionalize’ cooperation at the international level. Historical origins, ostensible functions and the roles in global politics and development,
external and internal political factors that impact their operations and effectiveness.
theoretical and methodological issues relevant to IOs and INGOs.
the importance of INGOS
Global governance, international regimes, transnationalism, pluralism, and collective social action apart from the basic understanding about NGO’s organization structure.Mode of delivery
Lectures, seminars, independent study, tutorials consisting of presentations and discussions.
Reading material
Weiss, T. (2018), Would the World Be Better Without the UN? Cambridge, UK, Polity Press,
Mathiason, J. (2007). Invisible Governance: International Secretariats in Global Politics, Bloomfield, CT. Kumarian Press
Barnett, M. & Martha Finnemore, M. (2004). Rules For The World: International Organizations In Global Politics, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2004.
Hurd, I. (2014). International Organizations: Politics, Law, Practice. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Charnovitz, S. (2006). Nongovernmental Organizations and International Law, 100 A.J.I.L. 348Introduction to International Law
MAIRD 105: Introduction to International Law
Objective
Identify the nature of international law and the structure of the international legal system and explain the basic elements of public international law.
Undertake legal research using primary and secondary material to resolve practical and theoretical problems.
Apply international law in practical contexts, including the law surrounding the use of force, space law and human rights.
Analyse the impact of international law on diverse peoples and critique the operation of international law from a range of ethical perspectives.
Reflect on and justify a legal position in a social context. Use feedback to inform individual improvements.
Description
This course provides students with an introduction to law in its global context in this age of trans-national and inter-jurisdictional practice, with particular focus on public international law and its significance to Ghana law.
The course covers:
Introduction to the development and nature of public international law as well as distinctive elements of international legal reasoning.
Key features of international law,
The sources of international law with emphasis on customary international law and the law of treaties;
International fact finding;
The peaceful settlement of international disputes; state responsibility; jurisdiction and immunity;
The use of force; international human rights;
Mode of delivery:
Lectures, seminars, independent study, tutorials consisting of presentations and discussions.
Reading material
James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (Oxford University Press, 8th ed, 2012).
Donald R Rothwell et al, International Law: Cases and Materials with Australian Perspectives (Cambridge University Press, 2011).
Gillian D Triggs, International Law: Contemporary Principles and Practices (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2nd ed, 2010).
Vaughan Lowe, International Law (Oxford University Press, 2007).
Donald K Anton, Penelope Mathew and Wayne Morgan, International Law: Cases and Materials (Oxford University Press, 2005).
Sam Blay, Ryszard Piotrowicz and Martin Tsamenyi, Public International Law: An Australian Perspective (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed, 2005).
Theories of International Relations
MAIRD 201: Theories of International Relations
Objective
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
Explain the major theories of international relations;
Identify and describe the main similarities and differences among the major IR theories;
Identify the leading authors in the IR field, as well as the theories, seminal works and key concepts they are associated with;
Understand the historical evolution of IR theory over time;
Apply theoretical frameworks to understanding practical international relations issues;
Content
The course examines the core international relations paradigms: realism, liberalism and social constructivism. It presents their historical origins, the evolution of their various branches (classical realism, neo-realism, neo-liberal institutionalism etc), and studies the contemporary application of the most important theories in the field. The course also explores the core concepts and assumptions around which the study and practice of international relations revolve, such as anarchy, sovereignty and the nature of power.
Mode of delivery
Lectures, seminars, independent study, tutorials consisting of presentations and discussions.
Reading Materials
Mearsheimer, J. (2014). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, W.W. Norton Company, Second edition.
Walt, S. (2005). “The Relationship between Theory and Policy in International Relations.” Annual Review of Political Science 8: 23-48. (BB)
Rosenau, J. (2009). “Thinking Theory Thoroughly.” In Paul Viotti and Mark Kauppi’s International Relations Theory. New York: Longman, 17-24. (BB)
Walt, S. (1998). “One World, Many Theories.” Foreign Policy (Spring): 25-35. (BB)
Snyder, J. (2004). “One World, Rival Theories.” Foreign Policy. November/December): 52-61. (BB)