COURSE SYLLABUS: HISTORY 283
FARM AND FOREST IN AFRICAN HISTORY
WINTER TERM, 2008
Leighton 202, 3:10-4:55 pm
Professor Jamie Monson Office Hours: MW 10-12
Department of History Also by appointment
Leighton 211 Ext. 4213; email
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course we will explore the complex interaction between the African physical world or "nature" (plants, soils, water, climate) and "culture" or human society over time, from the pre-colonial through the colonial period to the present. We will also seek to understand the meanings (including cultural and symbolic meanings) associated with the African natural world, both for African societies and for non-Africans who have lived, worked, or been engaged with the continent. We will delve into controversies about land use, population growth, wildlife conservation, desertification and other topics. Each student will gain insight into a particular issue or case study through an independent research project.
The course will have a strong emphasis on Eastern and Southern Africa, where the professor has expertise and has done fieldwork. Students are encouraged to do research on any geographic region in their individual projects, or to do a comparative project.
COURSE OUTLINE
Books listed in the syllabus are available for purchase in the Carleton bookstore. Other readings have been placed on electronic reserve in the library. There may be changes in the readings during the course; check your email regularly to keep up. Please contact me immediately if you encounter any difficulty in acquiring any reading for this course.
The required books are:
Melissa Leach and Robin Mearns, The Lie of the Land: Challenging Received Wisdom on the African Environment, Heinemann, 1996.
Gregory Maddox, James Giblin and Isariah Kimambo, Custodians of the Land, Ohio University Press, 1996.
James McCann, Green Land, Brown Land, Black Land: An Environmental History of Africa,1800-1990, Heinemann, 1999.
Roderick Neumann, Imposing Wilderness: Struggles over Livelihood and Nature Preservation in Africa, University of California Press, 1998.
Nancy Jacobs, Environment, Power and Injustice: A South African History
Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Kate Showers, Imperial Gullies: Soil Erosion and Conservation in Lesotho, Ohio University Press, 2005
Wangari Maathai, Unbowed: A Memoir, Anchor Books, 2007.
ASSIGNMENTS
There will be two short (3-5) page essay assignments in this course, and one longer research paper on a topic of your own choosing (10-12 pages). The short essays will deal with the issues debated in the readings that we will discuss in class. The longer research paper should focus on a case study or topic of your own choosing. It is important to begin thinking about the longer paper early on in the course, in consultation with me. An outline and bibliography for the research paper will be due just after midterm, and will be graded as part of the final grade for the research paper.
IMPORTANT: SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS: A paper copy of each of your assignments must be submitted in my department mailbox (Leighton 211) by the assigned due date and time. I cannot accept papers sent as email attachments. I will only consider accepting a late assignment if you consult with me at least 24 hours before the due date, and have a significant reason. Otherwise, late assignments will receive a lower grade.
FIRST PAPER ASSIGNMENT: Culture and Nature in African History
In this short essay, you will discuss one or more of the questions about African environmental history that we have covered so far. You may choose, for example, degradation, images of nature, or poverty and population. In your essay, explain what the main scholarly approaches to the question have been, what methods and evidence are used by historians, and what the implications are for our understanding of African environments. For your source material, utilize the readings and class materials assigned for the course. It is not necessary to do additional library research.
Length of paper: 3-5 pages
Due date: Monday, January 28 by 4:30 p.m.
SECOND PAPER ASSIGNMENT: Colonialism and the African Environment
In this short essay, you will explore a topic of your choosing related to the environmental history of colonialism in Africa. For this essay, go beyond the course readings and discussions by using at least three additional sources for your evidence. Explain what the main arguments are, the methodologies used, and the implications for our knowledge and understanding.
Length of paper: 3-5 pages
Due date: Monday, February 11 by 4:30 p.m.
FINAL ASSIGNMENT: RESEARCH PAPER
The goal of this assignment is for you to research and write a paper on one aspect of African environmental history, of your own choosing. This might take the form of a case history ("the impact of South Africa's apartheid system on the environment", for example) or a theme/question in environmental history (perhaps "colonial approaches to forest conservation"). You are encouraged to start early, using the textbook by James McCann as a guide to possible topics and sources (look at the bibliography in the back!). Remember that environmental history is about the interaction between nature and human society, so your project must involve materials from a range of different disciplines, both scientific and humanistic. The more interdisciplinary you are able to be, the better! Consult with me early and often as you develop your ideas and resources.
You will need to identify a topic and to present it in class on Thursday, January 17. You will need to have an outline and starting annotated bibliography (a list of your sources with a paragraph describing each source and how you plan to use it) by Monday, February 4. You will need to have a rough draft of your paper by Monday, February 26. Remember that the resources you need will not all be available at Carleton, so you will need to start early to be able to order texts from Inter-Library Loan.
Length of paper: 10-12 pages Due date: Friday, March 8 by 4:30 p.m.
PARTICIPATION
A seminar course requires the full participation of each student. I expect each student to come to class on time, and fully prepared (having read the assigned reading and thought about it). Each student is required to make regular contributions to discussion, to respect other class members, and to use good listening skills. Attendance is mandatory, and will be part of your participation grade. The participation grade will be 20 percent of your final course grade. If you miss more than two class periods your participation grade will drop by one letter grade.
For each class period, I will ask 2-4 students to prepare formal thoughts and discussion questions in advance, and to bring their questions to class in written form.
______
GRADING SYSTEM
Short Papers: 15% each (30% total)
Research Paper: 50% total broken down as follows:
Outline and Bibliography for Research Paper: 10%
Research Paper Rough Draft: 10%
Final Draft of Research Paper: 30%
Participation: 20%
COURSE OUTLINE:
WEEK ONE: GETTING STARTED
Th 1/3 Introduction to the Course/Geography of Africa
WEEK TWO: OVERVIEW OF AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
Tu 1/8 What is African Environmental History?
James McCann, Green Land, pages 1-51 (Introduction and Part I)
Lecture: Approaches to African Environmental History: Scales of Space and Time
Th 1/10 Thinking About Nature in Africa
Roderick Neumann, "Landscapes of Nature, Terrains of Resistance," in Imposing Wilderness, chapter 1, p. 15-50
Michele Wagner, “Environment, Community and History: ‘Nature in the Mind’ in Nineteenth and Early Twentieth-Century Buha, Tanzania,” in Maddox et al.,
Custodians of the Land, p. 175 – 200.
WEEK THREE: NARRATIVES OF NATURE
Present paper topics in class Thursday, January 18
Tu 1/15 Narratives of the Forest
James McCann, "A Tale of Two Forests: Narratives of Deforestation in Ethiopia, 1840-1996," in Green Land, chapter 5, p. 79-107.
Jamie Monson, “Canoe Building under Colonialism,” in Custodians of the Land, p. 200-12.
James Fairhead and Melissa Leach, "Rethinking the Forest-Savanna Mosaic: Colonial Science and its Relics in West Africa," in Leach and Mearns, Lie of the Land, p. 105-122.
Lecture: Narrative and Memory in African Environmental History
Th 1/17 Narratives of the Soil
James McCann, "Desert Lands, Human Hands," in Green Land, p. 55-78.
Jeremy Swift, “Desertification Narratives: Winners and Losers,” in Leach and Mearns, Lie of the Land, p. 73-90
Michael Stocking, “Soil Erosion: Breaking New Ground,” in Leach and Mearns, Lie of the Land, p. 140-154.
Library Tour and Research Orientation
WEEK FOUR: COLONIALISM AND CONSERVATION: WILDLIFE
Tu 1/22 Daniel Brockington and Katherine Homewood, "Debates Concerning Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania," chapter 5 in Leach and Mearns, Lie of the Land, p. 91- 104.
Rod Neumann, Imposing Wilderness, Introduction and chapters 2-3
Lecture: Colonialism and Empire in East Africa: Nature and Wilderness
Th 1/24 Rod Neumann, Imposing Wilderness, chapters 4-6 and epilogues
WEEK FIVE: COLONIALISM AND CONSERVATION: FARMERS
First paper assignment due: Monday, January 29 at 4:30 p.m.
Tu 1/29 Wangari Maathai, Unbowed, chapters 1-5.
Lecture: Colonialism in East Africa: Land and Agricultural Development
Th 1/31 Pamela Maack, "We Don't Want Terraces!" in Custodians of the Land, chapter 6, pages 152-174.
James McCann, “Soil Matters,” in Green Land, Brown Land, p. 141-173.
WEEK SIX: COLONIALISM AND CONSERVATION: SOILS
Outline and bibliography for research paper due Monday, February 5 at 4:30 p.m.
Tu 2/5 Kate Showers, Imperial Gullies, Introduction and chapters 1-2
Lecture: Empire, Colonialism and Apartheid in Southern Africa: Agriculture and Land Issues
Th 2/7 Kate Showers, Imperial Gullies, chapters 6-8
WEEK SEVEN: THE COMMONS AND COMMON RESOURCE REGIMES IN AFRICA
Second paper assignment due: Monday, February 12 at 4:30 p.m. on Moodle
Tu 2/12 Harding and his critics: read on website or on e-reserve
http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/articles/art_tragedy_of_the_commons.html
Liz Alden Wily, “Reconstructing the African Commons,” Africa Today, 48, 1, 2001, p. 77-99
Pauline Peters, “Inequality and Social Conflict over Land in Africa,” Journal of Agrarian Change, 4,3, 2004, p. 269-314.
Lecture: Customary Law and Environmental Conflicts in Africa: Negotiated Terrain?
Th 2/14 Film and Discussion: Darwin’s Nightmare
Student assignment: seek out diverse perspectives on this film from the internet and bring them with you to class.
WEEK EIGHT: POLITICAL ECOLOGY APPROACHES: POVERTY, POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
Tu 2/19 James McCann, Green Land, Brown Land, p. 55-78.
Mary Tiffen, “Blind Spots in the Study of the “Resource Poor” Farmer,” in Mearns and Leach, Lie of the Land, p. 168-185.
*William Moseley, “Environmental Degradation and ‘Poor’ Smallholders in the West African Sudano-Sahel: Global Discourses and Local Realities,” in African Environment and Development, Ashgate, 2004, p. 41-62.
Lecture: Poverty, Politics and Power in African Environmental History
Th 2/21 James Giblin, "The Precolonial Politics of Disease Control," in Custodians of the Land, chapter 5, pages 127-151.
Gregory Maddox, “Environment and Population Growth,” in Custodians of the Land, p. 43-66.
Film and Discussion: Maragoli
WEEK NINE: POWER AND JUSTICE IN AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
Draft of Research Paper due Monday, February 26 at 4:30 p.m.
Lecture: Power and the Land in South African History
Tu 2/26 Nancy Jacobs, Environment, Power and Injustice, chapters 1-4
Th 2/28 Nancy Jacobs, Environment, Power and Injustice, chapters 5-7
Film and Discussion: South Africa, the Wasted Land
WEEK TEN: ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
Lecture: Environmental Roots of African Political Movements, from Maji Maji to Mau Mau
Tu 3/5 Wangari Maathai, Unbowed, chapters 6-10
Th 3/7 Wangari Maathai, Unbowed, chapters 11-13
FINAL PAPERS DUE: FRIDAY MARCH 8 at 4:30 p.m.