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Essay Instructions: Criteria for Evaluation
a. Competence and conciseness; you must cover all the decision and issues required.
b. Quality; clear communication of ideas supported by a good organization and sequence of section, "professional" writing (spelling, typing, correct usage of economic terms, etc).
c. Coherence; there is a logical flow of ideas in the paper (as opposed to being a disorganized sequence of details).
d. Term paper related to Africa' political crisis and major events in a selected country (post-indepence).

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Essay Instructions: I require a critical book review on one of the books listed below. The writing level is masters level work.

The book review should review the major questions the book addressed, what ground is covered, what the major conclusions are, what other experts in the field have offered regarding similar topics, how well the author presents the information, and a recommendation for potential readers on the book’s value to the subject matter.

Please choose one of the following books to review:

Decalo, Samuel. COUPS AND ARMY RULE IN AFRICA: Motivations & Constraints; Second Edition; New Haven (Ct.): Yale University Press, 1990; ISBN: 0-300-04045-8

Guimaraes, Fernando Andersen, THE ORIGINS OF THE ANGOLAN CIVIL WAR: Foreign Intervention & Domestic Political Conflict. NY: Saint Martin’s Press, 1998. ISBN: 0-312-17512-4

Beckett, Paul A. & Crawford Young, ed. Dilemmas of Democracy in Nigeria. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 1997. ISBN 1-878822-98-5

Clayton, Anthony. COUNTER-INSURGENCY IN KENYA: A Study of Military Operations Against the Mau Mau, 1952 -1960; Manhattan, (KA): Sunflower University Press, 1984; ISBN: 0-89745-061-2

Edgerton, Robert B. AFRICA’S ARMIES: From Honor to Infamy – a History From 1791 to the Present; Boulder, (Colorado): Westview Press/ Perseus Books Group, 2002; ISBN: 0-8133-3947-2

Rich, Paul B. & Richard Stubbs, The Counter-Insurgent State: Guerrilla Warfare and State Building in the Twentieth Century; NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1997. ISBN 0-312-16527-7

Essay Instructions: This is an analysis paper on Colin Legum's book Africa since Independence. There should be an analytical thesis statement. The paper should not just summarize the book, if you summarize what the author is saying please do so in no more than ONE paragraph. This paper should be a “jumping off” paper where you use the author’s ideas to go beyond his/her argument with your own questions, analysis, and conclusion. Please answer the following questions within the essay:
1. How does the work shed light on social, cultural, and/or political contexts in African history?
2. How does the reading relate to other issues in the world today?
3. What did you learn from the reading? Why is this knowledge important?
4. What will you walk away with from the reading after this class is over?
5. Colin Legum characterizes Africa's recent history into four periods (romance, disillusionment, realism, renaissance). Is this analysis effective? Does it assess Africa's experiences since independence successfully?
6. What is Legum's outlook for the future of Africa? Is he optimistic, pessimistic? Do you agree with his predictions? What is your view of Africa's future?
7. What comparisons (similarities, differences) do you see between Africa's transition to independence and the experiences of other countries in the world?
8. What does Legum say about Africa's ambivalent relationship with the West? Describe the various "Africas" seen through Western eyes and African eyes.



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Essay Instructions: Please read "Africa since 1940" by Frederick Cooper Pages 1-90.

What does the author argue was the main cause of Nationalism in Africa. Discuss with examples.