Peter M. Lewis, Director
The African Studies Program focuses on key political, economic and social questions in contemporary Africa. The program covers domestic and global aspects of African development, drawing on comparative approaches from the social sciences along with extensive contexual and historical knowledge of African countries. Students gain a strong foundation in both theory and applied knowledge. The study of Africa is organized along three broad themes: Governance: The establishment of capable, effective, and legitimate government is among the most central dilemmas in post-colonial Africa. The study of governance includes themes of state formation; institutions; authoritarianism and democracy; public policy and administration; civil society and political participation; and the management of heterogeneous societies. Development: The study of development includes economic growth and structure; social provisions and public welfare; the interplay of domestic and global markets; and the institutional foundations of economic performance. Africa’s prolonged economic stagnation, and efforts at economic revival, form another major theme. The role of governance and the development of institutions are important elements of economic change. The crucial issues of poverty, inequality, gender disparities, HIV/AIDS, and services such as education and health, are central to the study of development. Security: Security is a fundamental condition for effective governance and development. Failing states, interstate wars, and conflicts over natural resources have proliferated throughout the continent. Ethnic, religious and regional violence is a common syndrome, while in many countries criminality reaches through society and infuses the state. The study of security in Africa thus has important global and domestic aspects.
Academic Requirements
Students concentrating in African Studies must take the non-credit Introduction to Political Inquiry course the first semester and six courses in the field, which may include one course outside African Studies on an African topic. In addition, students must pass Comparative National Systems and one other core exam and must meet language requirements in Arabic, French or Portuguese.
In the fourth semester, students submit a major research paper which should be of publishable quality and may be the product of a regular course or of supervised independent research. In previous years, students have published program papers in journals such as Security Dialogue, Journal of Modern African Studies and Journal of African Law. The paper is due April 1 of the second year and must be approved before the oral examination can be scheduled. A prize for the best paper is awarded at graduation.
Campus Options
Students studying at the Bologna Center may concentrate in African Studies. Since the number of African Studies courses offered by the Bologna Center is limited, students are advised to work toward fulfilling their SAIS economics and core requirements prior to their second year.
Research Opportunities
Students may have the opportunity to conduct research on their own projects during a six-week independent study field trip to Ghana, Senegal or Tunisia between the first and second year. Students should pre-register during the first semester; the proposal deadline date is in February of the spring semester. Proficiency in French is required for Senegal and proficiency in Arabic or French for Tunisia.
Co-curricular Activities
The African Studies Program sponsors weekly speakers and the annual Conference on Africa. In addition, the Hopkins All--University Seminar on Africa (HAUSA) brings together Africanists from the university’s various disciplines and -academic ranks to present current research on a variety of topics. The seminar convenes at a different campus of the university each year.
Ph.D. Program
The African Studies Program accepts a small number of doctoral candidates. In addition to coursework and comprehensive examinations, doctoral students normally write an article for publication. Each candidate’s dissertation prospectus must be presented in public and approved by the African Studies faculty. The African Studies comprehensive examination is scheduled in consultation with the Director.
Click here to view the African Studies Ph.D. Program requirements.
Typical African Studies Courses
(See www.sais-jhu.edu/courses for course descriptions.)
• Africa in World Affairs: Security and Development
• Case Studies in African Conflict Analysis
• Contentious Politics: Protest & Revolt
• The Darfur Crisis in Regional Perspective
• Democracy and Politics in Africa
• Economic Development of Africa
• Energy, Politics and Development in Africa
• Ethnicity, Identity and Politics in Africa
• Introduction to Political Inquiry
• Political Economy of African Development
• Politics and Development in Southern Africa
• Politics of Foreign Aid: Africa
• Post-Colonial Politics in Africa
• Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia Summer Research Workshop
• South Africa’s Transition: Genesis and Legacy
• U.S. Policy Toward Africa
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