International Organizations: The History and Historiography of the Organization of African Unity - Einzelansicht

The history of international organizations is a research field which is increasingly attracting the attention of historians; scholars such as Sandrine Kott have recently devoted attention to important Geneva-based international organizations. This development is connected to a renewed interest in global history with its ambition of tracing ‘globalizing’ tendencies in themes and practice. This course examines if we can apply a similar approach to the Organization of African Unity (1963-2002). We study how and why the OAU came into being in the early 1960s, how it functioned and to what issues and processes it devoted its attention over time. These range from African decolonization and political unity to refugees and economic integration. We ask about its success and functionality, as well as about its failures, in respect to continental, regional, and local politics on the African continent and beyond. Furthermore, we investigate what led to the abolishment of the OAU and the founding of the African Union (2002-present).

NB: This course will take place online until further notice. When you sign up on PULS you will receive a message with the details of how to access the Moodle course. Please allow some time to pass. If you experience any difficulties, please email Hannah Schulze hannahschulze@uni-potsdam.de.

Readings:

• Kott, S. (2011). "International Organizations – A Field of Research for a Global History." Zeithistorische Forschung, Studies in Contemporary History 3: 446-450.
• Adi, H. (2018). Pan-Africanism: A history. London, New York, Oxford, New Delhi, Sydney, Bloomsbury.
• Harris, G. (1994). Organization of African Unity. New Brunswick; London, Transaction Publishers.
• Sharpe, M. (2018). The Regional Law of Refugee Protection in Africa. Oxford, Oxford University Press
• Bandeira Jerónimo, M., José Pedro Monteiro, Ed. (2017). The Pasts of the Present: Internationalism, imperialism and the formation of the contemporary world. London/New York, Palgrave Macmillan.
• Barnett, M. and M. Finnemore (2004). Rules for the World: International Organizations in Global Politics, Cornell University Press.

All students are required to write reading responses to the weekly course readings, comment on the reading responses of their classmates, and write an essay.