This second semester module explores how France has maintained exceptionally close political, economic and military ties with Black Africa since the end of Empire. It shows how this unique relationship has served France’s quest for power while also embroiling the French state in scandal, acts of domination and even genocide. The more contemporary issues studied normally include France’s neocolonial policies towards Africa, its widely criticised role in the Rwandan genocide and its more easily defensible aid and counterterrorist operations in West Africa.

The course assumes no prior knowledge of any of the above topics.

• Demonstrate a sound knowledge of, and evaluate critically, France’s present-day political, cultural, economic and military relations with Africa;
• Articulate well-constructed arguments and participate orally in debates and discussions over course material;
• Present written arguments in a structured, logical and coherent manner;
• Work independently and in cooperation with other students; and
•  Apply basic word-processing skills.

The module will be taught through a blend of live online classes and guided, interactive online tasks and activities, designed to fulfil the learning outcomes. These will be delivered remotely, and on-campus if the University deems it safe and practicable.

Online lectures will highlight key arguments and background material, and this information will feed into discussion boards and more interactive online seminar discussions that will probe more deeply into the preceding lecture topic. Extensive use will be made of DVD/ Video material and a movie on Rwanda may be shown out of hours (attendance optional). Students are invited to make individual / group presentations on key topics covered. These are optional formative activities which are not formally assessed.

All students are expected to engage with online discussion boards and undertake independent study, preparing for tutorials, carrying out guided study and reading handouts.

• Online lectures will develop the student’s capacity to absorb information, including through note-taking.
• More interactive online seminars and online discussion boardswill develop the capacity to deploy this information and to integrate it with new information to produce coherent arguments orally.
• Through coursework essays students will develop research skills and enhance their capacity to evaluate and present clear written arguments.
• Oral presentations (entirely optional) will enable students to develop public speaking skills, including synthesising an argument in a short presentation, using empirical evidence to support an argument and responding to questions and feedback for peers and the tutor
• Other academic and key skills developed include organisational skills, basic-word-processing skills, intercultural awareness as well as interpersonal and cooperative working skills.

The method(s) of assessing the learning outcomes for this module are set out in the Assessment Table, which also contains the weightings of each assessment component.

Indicative syllabus

This course will seek to follow the syllabus below:

Semester S

Weeks 1-2: Contemporary French African Policy: Exceptionalism or just Neocolonialism?

Weeks 3-4: Calling time on Neocolonialism (the so-called France-à-fric)?

Week 5: France and the Origins of the Rwandan Genocide

Week 6: Reading Week

Week 7: France’s Role during and after the Rwandan Genocide

Weeks 8-9: French Counterterrorist Operations in West Africa?

Week 10: (If time) French Aid Policy

Week 11: Revision

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

There is no single set text for this course. Detailed guidance will be given in the course-kit. These include:                

Contemporary French African Policy

Chipman, JMW8                   French Power in Africa, Oxford, Blacwell, 1989

Gounin, Y                               La France et l’Afrique, De Boeck University, 2009 Boisbouvier, C.                 Hollande l’Africain, La Découverte, Paris, 2015

Chafer, T.                               ‘Hollande and Africa Policy’, Modern and Contemporary France, 2014, 22(4) : 513-531

Marchal, R.                            ‘La France et l’Afrique sous Emmanuel Macron. Stagnation ou reconfiguration ? (https://www.aiepeditore.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Afriche_1-2-2018_Marchal.pdf)

            Rwanda

Millwood, D (ed)                   The International Response to Conflict and Genocide, ODI, 1996

Prunier, G                              The Rwandan Crisis, 1997

Lugan, Bernard                     François Mitterrand, l’armée française et le Rwanda, [Monaco] : Editions du

Rocher, 2005.

French Aid

Gabas, J-J (ed)                       L’aide publique au développement, Paris, Documentation française, 2005

Cumming, G.                          Aid to Africa: French and British Policies from the Cold War to the New

                                                Millennium, Ashgate, 2001.

Cumming, G.                           ‘The Makings of a Prototypical Case’, European Journal of Development Research, 2017.