Law and Society in Africa
- Module Code:
- 155200033
- Credits:
- 30
- FHEQ Level:
- 6
- Year of study:
- Year 2, Year 3 or Year 4
- Taught in:
- Full Year
Objectives and learning outcomes of the module
- Encourage the students to take a critical approach to the production of knowledge by engaging with material (books, blogs, newspapers and other media) written about African peoples and States and interrogating the perspective of the author(s).
- Show an understanding of the legal policies and culture of most of Commonwealth African countries;
- Differentiate how such topics as customary law, courts and the settlement of disputes, human rights, gender, conflict resolution, land reform and family law are dealt with in different Commonwealth African countries;
- Explore through examples the effectiveness of law as an instrument of social change.
Method of assessment
- Coursework: 20% (2000 words) and 20% (2000 words)
- Unseen written exam: 60%
Suggested reading
- Anthony Appiah In my Father’s House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture (Oxford, OUP, 1992).
- Moyo, D Dead Aid: Why Aid is not working and there is another way for Africa (Penguin, 2009)
- Tamale, S. (ed) African Sexualities (Pambazuka, 2011)
- F. Viljoen Human Rights in Africa (Oxford, OUP, 2012)
*Wainaina, B. “How to Write about Africa” in The View from Africa Granta vol. 92 (http://www.granta.com/Magazine/92/How-to Write-about-Africa)