| . |
SECTION 2:
Dominance and Dependence:
European Influences on the Development of Africa and Oceania
Prof. D.B. Freeman
Room N417A Ross Bldg.
dfreeman@yorku.ca
|
| Introduction |
| Some less-developed parts of the world, notably Africa and the small island nations of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans (together called Oceania), are experiencing severe problems in their struggle for development. Many of these were colonies of European powers before winning independence in the second half of the twentieth century. The geography of Africa and Oceania still bears the scars of European colonization, although by no means all of the development problems in these regions are a result of their former colonial dependence on Europe. Political, social, economic and environmental stresses since Independence have become acute in some of these areas.
In this section of the course we examine particular countries or regions of Africa and Oceania in some detail with a view to gaining a better understanding of the problems and development prospects of these peripheral areas. For each region we examine local environmental, socio-cultural and economic-political patterns as well as international relationships. Rather than simply providing factual information we select important issues affecting distinctive aspects of the geography of each chosen region. The areas and topics selected are listed in the lecture schedule below. Readings from the course text that relate to each area/topic are also listed. Please note the topics and deadline for the written assignment, the dates of the tests, and the grade breakdown for this section of the course.
|
| Dates and Grading of Assignments/Tests |
| Test #3 |
Wednesday, December 5, 2001 |
10% of final grade |
| Assignment #2 |
Monday, January 21, 2002 |
13% of final grade |
| Test #4 |
Wednesday, January 30, 2002 |
10% of final grade |
| . |
Total Section 2: 33% of Final Grade
|
|
| Written Assignment |
| Students will select one of three essay topics, conduct library and Internet research, and submit an essay on that topic for grading no later than the deadline. All essays must be handed personally to a TA in Ross N424 before 4:00 p.m. Monday, January 21 (after this deadline, take late essays to N430 for date-stamping).
Note that the Geography Office (N430) is closed to students after 4:00 p.m. each day. NEVER leave an assignment on or under an office door. Be sure to keep a copy of your assignment. If it appears that you might miss a deadline due to illness or bereavement, contact the lecturer promptly.
|
| Lecture Schedule |
Friday, November 9, 2001 - Wednesday, January 30, 2002
|
Date
|
Region/Topic
|
Readings from Course Text
|
| Fall Term 2001 |
|
Fri., Nov. 9
|
Africa: tragic past, troubled future
|
Ch 22, pp 477; 499-509; Ch 24, pp 540-551
|
|
Mon., Nov. 12
|
Africa and Europe: the ‘carving up’ of the continent
|
Ch 22, pp 486-489
|
|
Wed., Nov. 14
|
Africa’s physical environment I: landforms and climate
|
Ch 22; overheads, slides
|
|
Fri., Nov. 16
|
Africa’s physical environment II: resource patterns
|
Ch 22, pp 480-483; Ch 23, pp 511-515; Ch 24, pp 538-9.
|
|
Mon., Nov. 19
|
Africa’s physical environment III: hazards that challenge development
|
Ch 3, pp 46-7 (inset); Ch 23, pp 516-519; slides
|
|
Wed., Nov. 21
|
Cultural diversity of Africa and its traditional roots
|
Ch 22, pp 483-486; 489-496; slides
|
|
Fri., Nov. 23
|
Legacies of colonialism and cultural fragmentation: violence and political instability
|
Ch 23, pp 520-522; 527-531; Ch 24, pp 535-536
|
|
Mon., Nov. 26
|
Land for food, or land for wild animals?: tourism versus agriculture in 21st century Africa
|
Ch 22, pp 497-498; slides
|
|
Wed., Nov. 28
|
Contemporary problems of African cities: infrastructure, housing, services, jobs
|
Ch 22, pp 499-500; slides
|
|
Fri., Nov. 30
|
Ethnicity and Development: The Maasai
|
Slides
|
|
Mon., Dec. 3
|
Overview of Africa: preparation for test
|
Review chapters 22, 23, 24
|
|
Wed., Dec. 5
|
TEST #3: In-class multiple choice test (45 minutes)
|
.
|
| Winter Term 2002 |
|
Fri., Jan. 4
|
Sugar and spice: European competition for trade and colonization of Oceania
|
Ch 1, pp 7-9; Ch 4, pp 80-87; Ch 25, pp 561-562
|
|
Mon., Jan. 7
|
Island colonies in the year 2001: the Atlantic colonies of St. Pierre and Miquelon (France) and Bermuda (Britain). The contested colony of the Falklands (Malvinas).
|
Ch 26, pp 594-598; Special reading list; Slides
|
|
Wed., Jan. 9
|
Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar: the Indian Ocean Islands and the beginnings of Indian indentured labour
|
Ch 22, p 490
|
|
Fri., Jan. 11
|
The French in the Pacific I: tourism, nuclear testing and attempted assimilation in French Polynesia
|
Ch 13, pp 271-272
|
|
Mon., Jan 14
|
The French in the Pacific II: mineral exploitation, settlement, and Kanak rebellion in New Caledonia (French Melanesia)
|
Slides
|
|
Wed., Jan. 16
|
The British in the Pacific: Fiji, sugar and 19th Century indentured labour
|
Special reading list; slides
|
|
Fri., Jan. 18
|
Troubled Fiji in 2001: Interracial violence and the failure of European-style democracy
|
Special reading list; slides
|
|
Mon., Jan. 21
|
ESSAY DUE: 4:00 pm The USA in the Pacific: Colonization in Hawaii and Samoa, nuclear testing, strategic military bases |
Ch 13, p 275
|
|
Wed., Jan. 23
|
Ecological problems in the Pacific I: the High (volcanic) Islands
|
Special reading list; slides
|
|
Fri., Jan. 25
|
Ecological problems in the Pacific II: Atolls and “Continental” Islands
|
Ch 23, pp 273-274; Special reading list
|
|
Mon., Jan. 28
|
Overview of Oceania and preparation for test.
|
Review readings and lecture notes
|
|
Wed., Jan. 30
|
TEST #4: In-class multiple choice test (45 minutes) |
. |
|
|
