Federalism & Decentralization: Evaluating Africa's Track Record
4.6
76 ratings
Federalism & Decentralization: Evaluating Africa's Track Record
Universiteit Leiden
À propos de ce cours
In this political science course you will learn about the twin concepts of federalism and decentralization. You will develop an understanding of the core ideas that federalism and decentralization rest on, and study the building blocks that make them both work. Following a general overview of both federalism and decentralization, we will examine a number of case-studies from Africa where federalism and decentralization have been changing the continent’s political landscape in the last twenty years, coinciding with unprecedented levels of economic growth.
What is federalism and how is it different from decentralization? What are the core ideas behind these concepts? Do federalism and decentralization enhance democracy, governance and diversity? Is that why virtually all countries south of the Sahara are now either federal or decentralized? We will be looking at Africa's track-record in order to answer these questions.
By the end of the course, you will have acquired a general knowledge of federalism/decentralization and additional empirical knowledge of a number of African cases. Upon completion you will also acquire the ability to unpack and understand a variety of potential consequences of federalism/decentralization reforms in the developing world.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
Welcome to this course. The Three Promises of Federalism and Decentralization
Great that you are joining us. In this course you will learn about Federalism & Decentralization in Africa. Before you start, we invite you to first go through our intro module and introduce yourself in the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck & we hope you enjoy studying in this course. In this first module you can also find the introduction video and an exploration of the three promises of Federalism and Decentralization.
5 videos (Total 46 min), 10 readings, 1 quiz
5 videos
1. The Promises of Federalism10m
Federalism and Decentralization part 111m
Federalism and Decentralization part 211m
Overview - Federalism and Decentralization: Reflections and Implications7m
10 readings
Meet the instructor & his team5m
Syllabus5m
Readings Overview5m
Welcome to Leiden University!5m
Complete our short survey10m
Study tips for studying online5m
Being succesful in an international virtual learning community5m
Behaving in an academic way5m
Readings Module 130m
Transcript10m
1 practice exercises
The three promises of federalism20m
2
Section
Core Ideas in Federalism and Decentralization
This module will cover important concepts such as shared-rule and self-rule, autonomy, multiple identities and distributed authority. Don't forget to keep up with the readings for optimal understanding and application of this week's material. Do you have any questions, statements, remarks or other points you would like to discuss? Do not hesitate to post them in the Discussion Forums and a staff member or other course participants will be able to help you out.
5 videos (Total 42 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
5 videos
Distribution of Power9m
Multiple Identities9m
Overview - Foundational Issues8m
Weekly Chat: A Message from Beautiful South Africa2m
1 readings
Readings Module 230m
1 practice exercises
Core ideas about federalism20m
3
Section
The Building Blocks of Federalism and Decentralization
In this module we will discuss the various legal, political, and social foundations of federalism and decentralization. As you can see, this topic requires a true interdisciplinary perspective.
5 videos (Total 44 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
5 videos
Political Foundations13m
Socio-Economic and Socio-Demographic Foundations7m
Overview - Three Scholarly Angles7m
Weekly chat2m
1 readings
Readings Module 330m
1 practice exercises
The building blocks20m
4
Section
Federalism in Post-Conflict Societies
In previous modules, you've learned the theory behind federalism and decentralization, as well as the most important concepts and building blocks, This module, we will look at three case studies to acquire insight into how federalism and decentralization work in practice: Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia.
5 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
5 videos
Federalism in Ethiopia12m
Federalism in Nigeria9m
Overview7m
Interview with Assefa Fiseha9m
1 readings
Readings Module 430m
1 practice exercises
Federalism in Post-Conflict Societies20m
5
Section
Decentralization, Democracy and Economic Development
While previous modules focused on federalism, Module 5 is all about decentralization. We will analyze the related but different dynamics decentralization presents. In particular, we will focus on the economic implications of decentralization on Africa. We will cover various perspectives that highlight state capacity, international factors, design of decentralized institutions, unintended long-term consequences, and uncodified home-grown practices of local governance.
5 videos (Total 49 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
5 videos
Economic Development and Decentralization8m
Unintended Consequences8m
Overview8m
Interview with Nico Steytler11m
1 readings
Readings Module 530m
1 practice exercises
Decentralization, Democracy and Economic Development20m
6
Section
Critical Issues in Federalism and Decentralization
This module will cover critical issues in Federalism and Decentralization, and will bring the knowledge and insights from previous modules together. The notion of state capacity will be unpacked into political, administrative, infrastructural, and economic components. We will also evaluate the relative importance of international know-how and local traditions.
5 videos (Total 32 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes
5 videos
Imported Institutional Blueprints vs. Local Solutions6m
International Involvement10m
Interview with Shawn Houlihan7m
Weekly chat1m
2 readings
Readings Module 630m
Complete our short survey10m
2 practice exercises
Critical issues20m
Final Exam40m
4.6
83%
Top Reviews
By DB•Sep 2nd 2017
I truly enjoyed the course on Federalism and Decentralization: Evaluating Africa's Track Record and a big thank you to the entire team.
By MS•Jul 18th 2017
Proud to be part of this learning space, looking forward for more of your offerings.
Instructor
About Universiteit Leiden
Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia.
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden after they had withstood a long siege by the Spanish. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis — Bastion of Liberty.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Yes! Coursera provides financial aid to learners who would like to complete a course but cannot afford the course fee. To apply for aid, select "Learn more and apply" in the Financial Aid section below the "Enroll" button. You'll be prompted to complete a simple application; no other paperwork is required.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center
Coursera propose un accès universel à la meilleure formation au monde,
en partenariat avec des universités et des organisations du plus haut niveau, pour proposer des cours en ligne.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. Tous droits réservés.
