POL 286 - Contemporary South Africa Politics

Prerequisite: instructor consent.
Corequisite: INTR 453 - International Internship
FDR: SS2 Social Science - Group 2 Distribution
Credits: 3

This summer, study abroad course examines post-apartheid politics of South Africa. Our initial focus is on the Apartheid era, emphasizing the domestic and global politics that led to the rise and fall of the National Party Government. This includes an overview of apartheid, a detailed account of the transition process, and how this process structured the post-apartheid political system and societal landscape. We also explore important current questions facing South Africans, from national identity to economic inequality. Overall, this course aims to give students the tools to look beyond an uncritical adoption of the “miracle rising” and “rainbow nation” discourse on South Africa.