Professor: Jean Faye

credits 4.00

• CRN 22625: Monday & Wednesday, 10:00-11:20am @ CHA 201
• CRN 22626: Monday & Wednesday, 12:00-1:20pm @ CHA 201

Africa is rich in natural resources like arable land, forests, water, wildlife, minerals, oil, and natural gas. For example, about 60-65% of the world’s arable land and 30% of the world’s mineral reserves are in Africa. These natural resources create wealth through social, economic, and environmental contribution. However, African’s environment is worsening faster because of unsustainable exploitation of its natural resources by a growing population, unprecedented climate conditions and extreme weather events, expected to become even more extreme, and the historical pressures from colonial and postcolonial regimes to increase production for export and large-scale growth. There have been common misconceptions and misrepresentations of Africa and the public in the West is often unaware that Africa also has a rich history and is the world’s second largest and most culturally diverse continent, with dynamic and vibrant societies. We will explore what’s wrong and what’s right with Africa’s environment, health, and model of development and examine why Africa has emerged as a place of such deep contrasts between crisis and hope.