LEAD 403
Making it in Africa: Business in African History
Last Offered Fall 2011
Division II
Cross-listed AFR 404 / HIST 403
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Class Details

Although Africa has come to be known as a continent that relies heavily on foreign aid, that aid rarely reaches ordinary people. In fact, recent studies have suggested that foreign aid has not helped develop Africa. In spite of the staggering problems that ordinary Africans face, many see Africa–now more than ever before–as a place bursting with promise and opportunity, even if that opportunity may require challenges to conventional economic and political thinking. Increasingly, an innovative class of entrepreneurs is emerging in Africa that is hustling in the formal and informal economy in order to accumulate capital. This seminar will trace the social and cultural history of entrepreneurship in Africa from the 19th century to the present. We will explore the individual journeys of several entrepreneurs, the values and objectives they nurtured, the changes in the strategy and structure of the businesses they created, and the dynamic environments in which they each lived and worked. The course will also examine the long-term impact of entrepreneurial innovation and market evolution on African communities and governments. Readings will include histories, biographies, autobiographies, ethnographies, and novels.
The Class: Format: seminar
Limit: 15
Expected: 10-15
Class#: 1901
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: evaluation will be based on participation in discussion, several short papers, and a final research paper
Prerequisites: previous courses in HIST
Enrollment Preferences: History majors and Africana Studies concentrators
Distributions: Division II
Notes: This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
AFR 404 Division II LEAD 403 Division II HIST 403 Division II
Attributes: HIST Group A Electives - Africa

Class Grid

Updated 9:09 am

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