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The draft syllabus for my Fall 2017 graduate course on the politics of development and underdevelopment - comments/feedback/questions etc. are most welcome!
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Tutorial aims This conference aims first of all at helping students gain a comprehensive understanding of the main themes presented in the lecture and the assigned readings, thus contributing to their grasp of the fundamentals of Political Science. Second, the conference intends to provide students with both the methodological and conceptual tools necessary to successfully complete different types of oral and written assignments. Finally, the conference contains an important interactive dimension and will strongly encourage students to participate in class discussions. The course is divided into two large sections. The first section – " Systems and regimes " – will focus on the structural and institutional characteristics of politics and political competition. The second – " Actors and institutions " – will take a bottom-up approach to politics and show how it interacts with the structural features discussed in section one. Preparation For each conference, students are expected to have read all assigned readings and to have studied the content of the previous lectures and tutorials. Students are expected to study the literature carefully and prepare it in a critical and analytical way. There are lectures by the instructor, student presentations focusing on a critique of the articles, as well as general class discussion about the main issues. The lecturer will coordinate and lead the discussions together with the students that are assigned to give a presentation or participate in a debate. The students that are not directly involved in the presentation should demonstrate that they have prepared for the class by formulating two or three questions or critical reflections on the readings and presentations, based on their interests and knowledge as well as current events reported in the media. The core idea of the course is student participation.
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Political violence in Nigeria refers to the use of destructive means in an unlawful manner to achieve political, socioeconomic , or religious objectives. It encompasses acts of terrorism, destruction, coercion, and intimidation carried out systematically and planned to achieve political goals. The paper examine the causes of political violence in Nigeria include political marginalization, prebendal politics, corruption, sittight syndrome, poverty and unemployment, and ethnic and religious divisions. The period from 2007 to 2023 has been marked by incidents of political violence, such as electoral violence, insurgencies (Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen-farmers conflict), ethno-religious conflicts, and secessionist movements. Theoretical frameworks such as pluralism, conflict theory are mentioned to explain political violence in Nigeria. Political violence in Nigeria has significant implications for national development, including the disruption of governance, economic consequences, social divisions, erosion of trust in institutions, human capital and brain drain, humanitarian crisis, and security and stability challenges. This paper proposes that in order to mitigate political violence, recommendations include promoting political inclusivity, strengthening law enforcement and justice systems, encouraging intercommunal dialogue, investing in manpower development, strengthening the rule of law, educating and sensitizing the public, promoting media responsibility, and empowering youth. By adopting these recommendations, Nigeria can work towards a more peaceful and inclusive political environment, focusing on addressing other pressing challenges for national development.
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