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Africa and Europe: Entangled Pasts and Presents

Vak
2019-2020

Admission requirements

This course is available for students of the Humanities Lab
If you have received your propaedeutic diploma within one academic year, your academic results are good and you are a very motivated student, you may apply for a place in the Humanities Lab.

Description

Migration, trade, military intervention; relations between Africa and Europe are making the headlines. In this course we will examine the histories of relations between Africa and Europe since the early 20th century to the present. We will analyse the interaction from both African and European perspectives and see how this entanglement plays out in relation to (geo)politics, economics, migration and culture. We will also consider the representation of these perspectives in society. Excursions to examine these representations in society, for example to museums, will be part of the course.
While the title of the course suggests a continent-wide approach, and while there are commonalities between the countries and regions within Africa and within Europe, significant differences exist as well. These differences can be present on many levels. We will therefore not just focus on a continental, or an institutional approach (European Union, African Union etc.), but use a number of different units of analysis and for example examine relations between Africa and Europe on more individual levels as well.
Course materials include academic texts, contemporary pamphlets, blogs, videos, podcasts and exhibitions.

Course objectives

After completing this course you will:

  • have acquired knowledge about and insights in:
    The entangled histories and presents of Africa and Europe from a number of angles,
    The question of positionality when conducting research or enaging in public debate.

  • be familiar with approaches from political, economic, cultural and migration history.

  • be able to set up an academic research project and write about it for a number of different types of outlets.

  • have acquired some familiarity with using different forms of representation (written/visual/audio).

Timetable

Courses of the Humanities Lab are scheduled on Friday afternoon from 13.00 to 17.00hrs.
For the exact timetable, please visit the following website.

Mode of instruction

  • (Guest)Lectures

  • Seminars (group work, discussions and presentations)

  • Excursions

Course Load

This course is worth 5 EC (140 hours):

  • Seminar meetings: 6 x 4 = 24 hours

  • Excursion: 8 hours

  • Readings: 40 hours

  • Assignments: 6 x 4 = 24 hours (blog/column/video pitch/presentation)

  • Final research paper (ca. 2500-3000 words): 40 hours

  • Reserved: 4 hours

Assessment method

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average of the assessment parts.
If the final grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), there is the possibility of retaking the final research paper. Contact the course lecturer for more information.

Assessment

  • Active participation: 30%

  • Assignments: 30%

  • Final Assignment: 40%

Attendance

Attendance is compulsory for all meetings (lectures, seminars, excursion). If you are unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control, notify the Humanities Lab coordinators in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence, and hand in your weekly assignment in writing to the lecturer (if applicable). Being absent without notification and valid reason may result in lower grades or exclusion from the course.

Resit

If the final grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), there is the possibility of retaking the final research paper. Contact the course lecturer for more information.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Brightspace

Brightspace will be used for:

  • communication

  • submitting assignments.

Reading list

For each session specific chapters of books or articles will be assigned in the syllabus.

Registration

Students of the Humanities Lab will be registered via uSis by the administration of the Humanities Lab. More information about registration for courses will be provided on Brightspace.

General information about uSis is available on the website

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable

Contact

Lecturer: Mr.dr. A.I. Richard
Humanities Lab office: e-mail

Remarks

This course is part of the Humanities Lab programme, visit the website for more information.
Visit the Honours Academy website for more information about the Honours College.