In response to the university’s strategic commitment to internationalization and the growing academic and political interest in Africa, LUISS has established a course in African Politics and Institutions—delivered in English—within the Faculty of Political Science. This initiative is particularly timely in light of recent international developments, including Italy’s Presidency of the G20 in 2020, its Presidency of the G7 in 2024, the launch of the Mattei Plan and the Italy–Africa Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government both in 2024. These events underscore the increasing geopolitical and strategic relevance of the African continent, not only for Italy but for the European Union as a whole. This course, unique in the Italian academic landscape, is designed to offer an in-depth analysis of African political systems from a historical perspective, as well as the processes of regional and continental political-economic integration. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a focus on the internal dynamics shaping contemporary African political affairs.

Students will gain a thorough and proactive understanding of Africa’s pivotal role in contemporary geopolitics, supported by the analysis of key policy documents. They will also develop the critical capacity to assess the most influential perspectives on Africa’s position in today’s international discourse. Within this framework, the course will examine Carlos Lopes’ concept of “The Self-Deception Trap,” exploring the economic dimensions of charity dependency in Africa–Europe relations. This theme challenges students to interrogate how persistent aid-driven paradigms, often rooted in paternalistic assumptions, may obstruct Africa’s economic sovereignty and obscure its strategic centrality. Course topics will be explored through intra-African perspectives—such as the African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)—as well as international frameworks, including the United Nations, the European Union, and other multilateral bodies. Special attention will be devoted to sustainable development as a cornerstone of Africa’s socio-economic growth, with emphasis on the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Students will be introduced to major developmental trends shaped by interrelated factors: rapid technological diffusion; favorable macroeconomic conditions; agricultural policy advances; a decline in inter-state armed conflict; decreasing foreign debt; and an increase in structural, priority-driven foreign direct investment. Despite persistent negative narratives, Africa is the world’s second fastest-growing macro-region after Asia and is projected to become the fastest in the 21st century. Although starting the millennium from a relatively disadvantaged position, the continent is now achieving significant gains across trade, investment, and global financial flows—shifting from the margins to the centre of international economic dynamics. In response, the course offers a multidisciplinary, evidence-based, and current exploration of Africa’s strategic trajectories, beyond ideological framings. Political and economic developments will be analysed through international, continental, and regional lenses, using diverse and often contested sources. Students will further examine how Africa is shifting from a model of aid dependency to trade-driven growth in the context of global economic integration. Increasingly, it is emerging not as a passive recipient of international aid but as a key destination for investment and private-sector engagement in a Post-ODA World. These critiques will provide a lens to reassess Africa–Europe economic relations, revealing the limits of charity-based frameworks and emphasizing the importance of equitable, mutually beneficial partnerships. Finally, the course will consider the circular economy’s transformative role in African development. Emphasis will be placed on how the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents a unique opportunity for Africa to enhance productivity and economic growth—both domestically and for export. The curriculum will explore structural reforms needed to harness this potential: mobilizing domestic resources, promoting diversification, strengthening infrastructure, fostering regional integration, and addressing climate change. Africa’s urban transition—particularly the rise and evolution of intermediary cities (i-Cities)—will be analyzed through the lenses of adaptation, resilience, and infrastructural modernization.

The course will address a set of fundamental issues essential for understanding contemporary African dynamics. These include critical reflections on the effectiveness of development aid and the growing body of critiques surrounding it; the role of financial cooperation in fostering sustainable development—particularly in relation to climate action and the energy transition—and the socio-economic importance of remittances from the African diaspora. Particular attention will be devoted to environmental challenges, especially those related to climate adaptation, with a focus on the transformative potential of renewable energy. In this context, the interrelationship between wellbeing (as a development objective), climate change (as a global challenge), and energy transition (as a strategic solution) will be explored in depth. Specific space will be given to crucial themes such as the role of the social sciences in the study of pre-colonial Africa; the re-appropriation by Africans of “their own history”; types of African identities currently projected by African philosophy. The course will also examine Africa’s evolving relations with Global South multilateral institutions, notably the BRICS+, in order to assess the extent to which these platforms may enable African states to negotiate more effectively on the international stage and to assert their strategic interests. Additionally, a detailed analysis will be provided of the institutional architecture responsible for economic and political integration on both regional and continental levels, including the African Union and the Regional Organizations. This discussion will take into account the destabilising effects of non-state actors (NSAs)—particularly those associated with transnational terrorism—on various regions of the continent. Within this framework, the European Union’s foreign policy instruments for development, peace, and security will be critically evaluated. In particular, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI), and the European Peace Facility (EPF) will be analysed for their relevance to Africa–EU relations. Finally, the course will situate African affairs within broader geopolitical and strategic considerations, including the interests of the European Union and Italy. Africa, frequently referred to as the world’s final economic frontier, will be explored as a key arena for long-term engagement. This analysis will highlight the advantages of adopting a forward-looking, coherent, and strategic approach to Africa's role in global politics.

Course Textbooks (COMPULSORY): Zeinab Badawi, An African History of Africa. From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence, Penguin, London 2024. ISBN: 9780753560129. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455231/an-african-history-of-africa-by-badawi-zeinab/9780753560129 Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Africa’s Critical Choices. A call for a Pan-African Roadmap, Routledge, London 2019. ISBN: 9780367150518; 9780429619694 (ebook). Choose one of the two following books (COMPULSORY): Carlos Lopes, The Self-Deception Trap. Exploring the Economic Dimensions of Charity Dependency within Africa-Europe Relations, Palgrave McMillan, London 2024. ISBN: 978-3-031-57590-7; ISBN: 978-3-031-57591-4 (eBook) - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-57591-4_5#DOI Carlos Lopes, Africa in Transformation. Economic Development in the Age of Doubt, Palgrave Macmillan, London 2019. ISBN: 9783030012908; 9783030012915 (ebook). One chapter chosen from the following book: Kwasi Wiredu (eds.), A Companion to African Philosophy, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2004. ISBN: 9781405145671. Recommended Reference Publications (optional): Raffaele Marchetti (eds.), Africa-Europe Relationships, A Multistakeholder Perspective, Routledge, London and New York 2020. ISBN: 9780367467197 (hbk); 9781003030621 (ebook). Marco Massoni, Africa-Europe: Intercontinental Relations in a Multipolar World and the Way Ahead, Special Report, Dialogue of Civilizations (DOC) Research Institute, Berlin 2019. URL: https://doc-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Intercontinental-relations-in-a-multipolar-world_Download-file.pdf Dambisa Moyo, Dead Aid: Why Aid is not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa, Farrar Straus Giroux, New York 2009. ISBN: 9780374532123. Valentin Yves Mudimbe, The Invention of Africa. Gnosis, Philosophy and the Order of Knowledge, Indiana University Press, Bloomington-Indianapolis 1988. ISBN-13: 978-0-253-20468-4; ISBN-10: 0-253-20468-2.

Lectures on campus.

Oral exam: 50% Course attendance: 50%

Strong interest in the subject of African Studies.