INAF 303 The Making Of a Region: Conflict and Nationalism in West Africa

Day & Time: Monday 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

In this course we will study the relationship between conflict and nationalism in West Africa by paying special attention to the historical, social, political, and economic factors that gave rise to both of these phenomenon. We will approach West Africa as an integrated region, with a shared history in order to more accurately compare and contrast how specific movements for national recognition were rooted in larger historical issues specific to West Africa’s strategically significant place in global affairs. We will pay attention to key nationalist movements and their leaders, as well as the ideological and economic forces—locally, regionally, and internationally—that they had to navigate in order to better understand how some of these movements led to conflict in the region while others did not. Lastly, we will discuss the dual legacies of conflict and nationalism in regards to contemporary issues in West Africa.