Spring Break
'African Politics' dispels negative stereotypes of impoverished continent
Amy Recktenwald
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Politics. It is one of those taboo party topics that people try to avoid when looking for a good time. But not all political discussions are bad, and the classes on them can be outright fascinating. For example: African Politics?
But wait; does Africa really even have politics?
"People assume there's a policy of aid," said Ruth Iyob, associate professor of political science, "But where is the gas in your car coming from?"
Politics is not just an argument-inducing topic. According to Iyob it is to "understand power relations, institutional capabilities and political economy" of a country or region and "how all these interact."
She further explained, "It's more than parties; It's how power relations impacts daily life and foreign relations."
Iyob teaches the African Politics class on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Social Science Building. She said that one of the goals of the class is for students to "get an understanding of the centrality of Africa."
Iyob said, "When we talk about any country, we're talking about power relations: local, national, international." Further, African politics are misunderstood or considered to not exist ..at all. She disputes that misconception. "Africa is central to our way of life."
"They remember the negative, but not the basics about waking up," said Iyob about Americans and their Ethiopian coffee drinking. "We only hear about the poor in need, never the transactions."
In the class, Iyob illustrates the inclusion of Africa into everyday existence by naming imports that people do not commonly consider, including oil, industrial diamonds, pharmaceuticals for perfume making, and coffee. She said that it is a puzzle "for a culture that is so present to be so invisible."
This semester, Iyob is concentrating the course on francophone Africa. Because of the sheer expanse of the continent, and different regions within the continent and countries, it is not possible to cover everything in one course. Even the range of just the francophone countries is huge. "From Madagascar to Morocco is francophone," Iyob said.
But wait; does Africa really even have politics?
"People assume there's a policy of aid," said Ruth Iyob, associate professor of political science, "But where is the gas in your car coming from?"
Politics is not just an argument-inducing topic. According to Iyob it is to "understand power relations, institutional capabilities and political economy" of a country or region and "how all these interact."
She further explained, "It's more than parties; It's how power relations impacts daily life and foreign relations."
Iyob teaches the African Politics class on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Social Science Building. She said that one of the goals of the class is for students to "get an understanding of the centrality of Africa."
Iyob said, "When we talk about any country, we're talking about power relations: local, national, international." Further, African politics are misunderstood or considered to not exist ..at all. She disputes that misconception. "Africa is central to our way of life."
"They remember the negative, but not the basics about waking up," said Iyob about Americans and their Ethiopian coffee drinking. "We only hear about the poor in need, never the transactions."
In the class, Iyob illustrates the inclusion of Africa into everyday existence by naming imports that people do not commonly consider, including oil, industrial diamonds, pharmaceuticals for perfume making, and coffee. She said that it is a puzzle "for a culture that is so present to be so invisible."
This semester, Iyob is concentrating the course on francophone Africa. Because of the sheer expanse of the continent, and different regions within the continent and countries, it is not possible to cover everything in one course. Even the range of just the francophone countries is huge. "From Madagascar to Morocco is francophone," Iyob said.
Click here for info on movie passes!
Be the first to comment on this story