This course will be first an analysis of the democratic experience of independent African countries (around 1950s). Then, specific examples will be isolated and studied in detail.

The course will look at a group of countries that share the same colonial heritage. The success or failure to sustain democracy is without a doubt a key factor in the stability (or lack) of some countries.

In the area of security, we will look at themes such as civils conflicts and peace building, poverty and resilience, corruption, migrations (brain drain), remnant of authoritarianism, etc.