Political Science 353:

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN

SOUTHERN AFRICA

 

INSTRUCTOR: Urbanus B. Dax, M. Ed .

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  

After a period of over 100 years of colonization, repression, apartheid and racial discrimination, the era of white minority domination came to an end. Namibia (1990) and South Africa (1994) became politically independent. Constitutions were drawn up and implemented. Educational, political and social issues of the previously disadvantaged majorities continue to surface daily. These issues need to be addressed toward finding lasting solutions at political, educational, economic and social levels. During this course, students will have the opportunity to be able to connect the legacies to colonialism and apartheid. Students will participate in a 10-day urban home stay in Windhoek followed by a 6-day rural home stay in a designated area in Namibia. Before arrival in Namibia, students would have participated in a ten day introductory travel seminar in Johannesburg and Pretoria that culminated with a weekend  urban home stay in Soweto. At the end, students travel to Cape Town where they do service learning activities with NGOs as well as engage in activities that enable them to learn more about the issue of identity, with specific reference to the colored people. They submit a short paper on this.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:

1. Students will delve into the educational history of Namibia and South Africa to gain a better insight into the types of education offered during the apartheid era to date.

2. Students will develop thorough understanding of the policy of apartheid and its effects on the lives of the majority non-white peoples of Namibia and South Africa.

3. Students will deepen their understanding of the constitutional provisions of the Namibian Constitution, especially those aspects dealing with fundamental human rights.

4. Students will explore and examine the democratic model adopted in Namibia and compare that to their own model in the United States.

5. Students will analyze and study issues around African politics in general to gain thorough insight into the political culture and practices in Africa in general.

6. Students will actively participate in a land redistribution panel discussion to gain better understanding of attempts aimed at achieving an amicable solution to this thorny issue.

7. Students will reflect upon their role as change agents to impact on social and economic justice through  involvement at different educational, social and political levels.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY: The instructor will make use of student-centered methodologies and approaches and  experiential participatory approaches Teaching strategies include lectures by the course leader; small and large group discussions of required readings; videos, powerpoint presentations, journaling, exercises; interviews; use of artwork and music which express course themes; guest lectures by members of parliament, liberation struggle veterans and local politicians.

 

COURSE OUTLINE:

Unit 1:  Introduction to Apartheid in South Africa and Namibia

Unit 2:  Colonial and post colonial education in Namibia

Unit 3:  The Namibian Constitution

Unit 4:  Democracy

Unit 5:  African Politics

Unit 6:  The land reform process

Unit 7:  Reconciliation

Unit 8:  Politics Wrap-up and Final Project Preparation

             Final Integrative Project Presentations