Foreign policies of sub-Saharan African countries 2104-M-D3PZAS-SRG

1. Determinants of Africa’s foreign policy – geopolitical, legacy of colonialism, pan-africanizm and idea of unity of the continent, neutralism and independent. External factors - the evolution of international governance and powers policy.
2. Conditions, objectives and directions of the foreign policy of selected African countries
- Senegal
- Ghana
- Nigeria
- Angola,
- South Africa (2 stages - up to 1994 and after 1994)
- Tanzania
- Kenya,
- Ethiopia,
- Morocco.
3. Regionalism in Africa’s foreign policy.
4. Africa’s foreign policy and the policy of powers (USA, France, China).

Estimated student workload (2.0 ECTS = 50 hours of work):
Contact hours: Attendance at seminars in the lecture theatre – 30 hours.
Independent study: Studying the reading list and preparing for classes – 12 hours.
Independent study: Preparation of a final essay / project analysing the foreign policy of a selected country – 8 hours.
TOTAL STUDENT WORKLOAD: 50 hours.

Term 2026Z:

The course will cover the following topics:
1. Factors shaping the foreign policy of African states – geopolitical factors, the legacy of colonialism, Pan-Africanism and the idea of continental unity, neutrality and non-alignment. External factors – the evolution of the international order and the policies of the major powers.
2. Factors, objectives and directions of the foreign policy of selected African states
- Senegal,
- Ghana
- Nigeria,
- Angola,
- South Africa (two phases – up to 1994 and after 1994),
- Tanzania,
- Kenya,
- Ethiopia,
- Morocco.
3. Regionalism in the foreign policy of African states.
4. The foreign policy of African states and the policies of major powers (the USA, France, China).

Estimated student workload (2.0 ECTS = 50 hours of work):
Contact hours: Participation in seminars in the lecture theatre – 30 hours.
Independent study: Studying the reading list and preparing for classes – 12 hours.
Independent study: Preparing a final essay / project analysing the foreign policy of a selected country – 8 hours.
TOTAL STUDENT WORKLOAD: 50 hours.

Course coordinators

Wiesław Lizak
Michał Nadziak
Anna Wróbel

Prerequisites (description)

Students commencing this course should have a basic knowledge of international relations, political geography and general history of the 20th and 21st centuries. They should demonstrate the ability to critically analyse academic texts, press sources and official government documents. The ability to independently formulate sound arguments in academic discussion and to prepare analytical written assignments is required.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge (K):
K_W03 / S2_W01: Explains the mechanisms and provides an in-depth analysis of the objectives, priorities and determinants of the foreign policy of the main state actors in Sub-Saharan Africa
K_W05 / S2_W07: Synthesises, in depth, the complex dilemmas and megatrends of contemporary civilisation (migration, conflicts, great power rivalry) influencing the diplomatic relations of African states

Skills (S):
K_S01 / S2_S02: Applies theoretical knowledge to evaluate and critically analyse strategic documents and diplomatic decisions taken by states in the region
K_U03 / S2_U05: Presents arguments in academic discussions and engages in advanced-level debate on the role of regional organisations (e.g. the African Union) in multilateral diplomacy [

Social competences (K): K_K01 / S2_K01: Demonstrates a willingness to critically assess the information received and their own knowledge of political processes taking place in Sub-Saharan Africa
K_K04 / S2_K04: Independently plans their own cognitive development pathways and demonstrates responsibility for the reliability and academic integrity of the analyses they produce

Assessment criteria

Formal requirements and assessment criteria:
Absence limit: Students are permitted a maximum of 2 absences per semester. Any further absences must be made up by attending a consultation session with the lecturer or by writing an essay of approximately 5 typed pages on a topic related to the missed classes.
Final assessment criteria (weighting): [
Written analysis (essay) on the foreign policy of a selected country in the region: 50 per cent. Substantive participation in class discussions: 50 per cent.

Rules for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools:
In accordance with Resolution No. 29/2025 of the Teaching Council of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, dated 7 May 2025, Level 3 of the AI usage scale applies to this course: AI-assisted editing. Students may use AI tools solely for linguistic, stylistic and editorial correction of their own texts in order to improve the final version of their work. AI tools must not be used to generate the structure of the work, hypotheses or substantive content.

Practical placement

Not applicable.

Bibliography

1. E. J. Jaremczuk, Konflikt kongijski, Toruń 2006
2. B. Kaczyński, Organizacja Jedności Afrykańskiej. Charakter i działalność, Warszawa 1976
3. M. M. Kenig-Witkowska, Unia Afrykańska ze stanowiska prawa międzynarodowego, „Państwo i Prawo” 2003, nr 9, s. 41-57
4. J. Krasuski, Wspólnota Francuska w Afryce. Communaute, Poznań 1983
5. J. Kukułka, Historia współczesna stosunków międzynarodowych. 1945-2000, Warszawa 2000
6. W. Lizak, Afrykańskie instytucje bezpieczeństwa, Warszawa 2012
7. T. Łętocha, Granice i spory terytorialne w Afryce, Warszawa 1973
8. T. Łętocha, Wybrane współczesne problemy polityczne Afryki, Warszawa 1973
9. M. Malinowski, Cień Marsa nad Czarnym Lądem, Warszawa 1986,
10. M. Malinowski, Ekspansja RPA na Czarnym Lądzie, „SM” 1982, nr 10
11. M. Malinowski, Ideologie afrykańskie, Wrocław 1986, s. 26-52
12. J. Mantel-Niećko, M. Ząbek (red.), Róg Afryki. Historia i współczesność, Warszawa 1999
13. J. J. Milewski, Polityka zagraniczna Nigerii, Warszawa 1972
14. J. J. Milewski, W. Lizak (red.), Stosunki międzynarodowe w Afryce, Warszawa 2002,
15. S. Parzymies, Spór wokół Sahary Zachodniej, „Sprawy Międzynarodowe 1976, nr 3
16. M. W. Solarz, Republika Południowej Afryki. Trwałość czy zmierzch potęgi w regionie, Warszawa 1999
17. K. Trzciński, Wojny w Liberii i Sierra Leone, Warszawa 2002
18. B. Davidson, Społeczna i polityczna historia Afryki w XX wieku, Warszawa 2011
19. M. Meredith, Historia wspólczesnej Afryki. Pół wieku niepodległości, Warszawa 2011
20. B. Sidi Diallo, Afrykański regionalny system bezpieczeństwa zbiorowego w świetle prawa międzynarodowego, Poznań 2018
21. D. Faloyin, Afryka to nie państwo, Kraków 2024
22. A. Polus, Afryka Subsaharyjska w stosunkach międzynarodowych
23. W. Lizak, Separatyzmy w stosunkach międzynarodowych w Afryce, Politeja 2024, nr 21(2(89)), s.139-158 oraz inne artykuły w tym tomie
24. J. Czerep, Wybijanie się Afryki na podmiotowość w stosunkach międzynarodowych, Politeja 2025, nr 22(2(96/1)), s. 115-130