Giving up the Ghost: Dispelling Common Myths and Misconceptions of Contemporary African Politics
Taught by Allison Grossman
Allison Grossman is an educator, learner and erstwhile activist. Hailing from Hershey, PA (the sweetest place on Earth), she graduated from Barnard College in 2012. At Barnard, Allison studied comparative politics and human rights, earning highest honors on her thesis, which analyzed peacebuilding efforts in Liberia and Somalia. Recently, Allison worked in Guinea (West Africa, not Papua New) as a public health educator with the Peace Corps. She can now be found in Brooklyn, searching for the perfect taco. You can find her on twitter @allisonnamias.
One out of every seven of the earth’s inhabitants lives in Africa, yet we rarely see or hear nuanced accounts of the continent’s diverse cultures, societies, or political realities. Most often, we hear about African countries and peoples only in moments of conflict, when complex dynamics are distilled into bite-sized tales of good and evil. These understandings orient international action and can result in misguided or detrimental efforts, which can be seen from Somalia to Sudan to Congo.
In this class, we'll look at several stories about African countries that dominate the world news headlines. This class welcomes individuals with all levels of knowledge of contemporary Africa. Join us if you often mix up Mogadishu and Timbuktu or if you promised yourself that this was the year you’d actually read your subscription to The Economist. This class provides not only a solid grounding in the historical dynamics that shape today’s realities, but also tools and resources to inform further exploration.
