Environment, Development, & Politics in

Africa's geography, climate, and resources have long been central to the array of economic and political institutions that have emerged on the continent or, indeed, been forced upon it by external actors." Colonizing is sanitizing," the old imperialist mantra held: environmental transformation as a precondition for developmental modernization and creating political order and stability. Debates today around how to foster economic growth, reimagine the state's role, and rework Africa's tumultuous relationship with the global political economy remain embedded in understandings and perceptions of environmental change. Focused on the trajectory of African states and their resource endowments since 1960, this course provides students with diverse perspectives on the political struggles waged over what constitutes development, who should drive it, and why that matters for urban-rural cleavages, industrialization, and the reconfiguration of identities in an age of global warming.

The course highlights the interplay between international structures and African agency in shaping environmental transformations, geopolitical options, and developmental outcomes- whether during the colonial period or after independence and in the 21st century. Drawing on in-depth case studies and rich interdisciplinary literature, students will delve into complex academic questions of tremendous real-world and practical importance. This will enable a deeper appreciation of political and economic trajectories on the continent and invites students to engage in contemporary conversations on democratization, energy transitions, and external intervention in Africa.