PS249/250 Senegambia
Professor Emil Nagengast Fall 2017/Winter 2017/2018
Fall semester meeting time: To be determined
Departure: Dec 29(tentative) Return; Jan 18 (Tentative)
Credits: 4 (Course Distribution: I, S, CA)
Course Fee: $3500 (Includes: Round Trip flight: JFK-Banjul, Visa, Housing, Meals, Transportation in Africa, Field Trips, Laundry, Donations, 4 JC Credits)
Pre-requisites: None
Registration by permission only
Overview: This course provides practical experience in African political and social systems. We will spend three weeks exploring the political culture and society of The Gambia in West Africa. Through extensive visits to numerous important sites, and interaction with traditional institutions, we will attempt to discover and understand both the indigenous and modern African political cultures. The course combines pre-departure lectures at Juniata with lectures and field trips in The Gambia. This course provides practical experience in African political and social systems. We will spend three weeks exploring the political culture and society of The Gambia in West Africa. Through extensive visits to numerous important sites, and interaction with traditional institutions, we will attempt to discover and understand both the indigenous and modern African political cultures. The course combines pre-departure lectures at Juniata with lectures and field trips in The Gambia. During the spring semester you must take a quiz each week, write a five page take-home midterm exam, and take a final exam. After the trip you must write a ten page paper that will combine research and personal experiences. We will devote time each day during the trip to a group “debriefing” about that day’s experiences.
ADA Statement: “In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, students with a documented disability are eligible to request reasonable accommodations. To make such a request or for more information, please contact Steve Ankney, Interim Director of Academic Support, in the Academic Resource Center by visiting his office in Founders Hall, emailing him at , or calling 814-641-3405. It is best to submit accommodation requests within the drop/add period, however, requests can be made at any time in the semester. Please keep in mind that accommodations are not retroactive.”
Academic Dishonesty
Improper use of information found on the internet or elsewhere for your research papers will result in AT LEAST an F on your paper, and most likely an F in the course. If you are not sure about what constitutes plagiarism it is your responsibility to find out (i.e. ask me or refer to the Pathfinder). Plagiarism entails either: illegal collaboration with a classmate (e.g. using someone else’s work as your own); using someone else's words or ideas without providing a citation; OR providing a citation, but "cutting and pasting" from a source without using quotation marks to indicate that you are using someone else's exact words. To avoid plagiarism you must paraphrase the cited information (i.e., put it into your own words). Unless I give explicit permission, you are not allowed to use any notes or any other material during any quiz or exam. http://www.juniata.edu/academics/provost/integrity.php
Format: This course will meet for one hour per week through the spring semester. The remainder of the course will be the three week trip to The Gambia.
In the fall Semester, students must file an Eagles Abroad application in the Center for International Education, submit a reference from an advisor, a health check and obtain clearance from the Accounting Office and the Dean of Students’ Office in order to go on the trip.
Grading:
Quizzes 40%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final writing project 30% (Due After the trip)
There is no required textbook. Readings, full length films, and short documentary videos will be assigned each week throughout the semester.
Tentative Course Schedule:
Week 1 Introductions
Week 2 Historical Background: The European Conquest of The Gambia
Week 3 Historical Background: British Colonialism
Week 4 Historical Background: President Jammeh
Week 5 Peanuts versus Rice: Food Security in The Gambia
Week 6 Women Rights and Cultural Tolerance
Week 7 Women Rights and Cultural Tolerance
Week 8 No class (Spring break)
Week 9 Human Rights versus Stability and Development
Week 10 Modern and Traditional Medicine in The Gambia
Week 11 Trip Advice from Juniata’s “Gambia Veterans”
Week 12 Debates about Western Charity
Week 13 Gambia’s Ethnic Groups; Basic Language Lesson
Week 14 Economics and Poverty in The Gambia
Week 15 Final logistical preparations
My goal is that by the end of the winter trip, you will gain a better understanding of:
· When and how the region that we now call The Gambia was conquered by the Europeans.
· How the arrival of the Europeans affected the economy of the region.
· Why the shift to peanut production is a major reason that The Gambia struggles to achieve food security today.
· How and why President Jammeh has tried to promote rice production.
· When and how The Gambia became an independent country.
· When and how Jammeh became the president.
· The prevalence and indigenous justifications of FGM in The Gambia.
· The role that culture and religion play in determining the status of Gambian women.
· The reasons that many observers condemn the poor human rights record of Jammeh’s government.
· The reasons that many Gambians defend the human rights record of their government.
· The political system of The Gambia.
· The relationship between traditional and “modern” medicine in The Gambian health care system.
· The reasons that US and European charitable aid to Africa is so controversial.
· The ethnic and religious diversity in The Gambia.
· The reasons that The Gambian economy receives so little private investment capital.
I also hope that you will be able to analyze and evaluate the following questions:
· What would The Gambia look like today if they had never experienced British colonialism?
· Who is to blame for The Gambia’s food insecurity crisis?
· Should we praise or condemn Jammeh’s performance as president?
· Can/should we use our “democratic values” as the standard for judging Jammeh?
· Is it a sign of tolerance or condescension if we respect a government that has a poor human rights record?
· Can/should we tell a Gambian woman that she is wrong when she defends cultural practices that are (by our cultural standard) abusive to women?
· Can charity be detrimental?
· How do we define poverty?
· What can we do to lessen poverty in The Gambia?
· Should you feel guilty that you have more rights, money and opportunities than 95% of the Gambians?