UCT2 - Organized Crime and Violence in Africa
This course is cancelled for 2016
Hosted by the University of Cape Town
Organised crime is present in all countries and frequently, but not always, manifests in violence. Such a dynamic most commonly occurs within the context of the illegal drug economy. In many African countries the relationship between organized crime and violence is acute and highly complex, and is linked to globalization, the nature of the state, and pro-violence conditions present in society.
Parts of Africa, particularly West Africa, have become key conduits in the global drug trade between Latin America and Europe, which has been accompanied by the rise of violent criminal syndicates and gangs in Africa. In addition, organized crime has been linked to terrorism, insurgency, the unregulated extraction of natural resources and the illegal trade in wildlife. Criminal organizations have also facilitated the trafficking in arms throughout the continent thereby further fueling violence.
This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to interrogating the nature of organized crime in Africa, as well as the means and conditions through which it contributes to violence. Further to this the course will explore possible strategies and mechanisms to reduce such violence.
Field Trip
A field trip to the township of Khayelitsha on the outskirts of Cape Town to have a discussion with the police and community based organizations about the impact of organized crime and violence on this community.
Target Audience / Prerequisites
The course is targeted to Master students and final year undergraduate students.
Proficiency in English (written and spoken); and have take at least one undergraduate course that focused on crime, violence, conflict or peace.
Delivery Method & Learning Outcomes
Seminar presentations, discussion and group work. Class will meet three times a week during the three-week period (9 seminars). Each seminar will be three hours in length. A tenth seminar will be held in which group projects will be presented (see below).
Students will be required to complete the reading assignments for each seminar and must be prepared to make presentations on some of the readings, as well discuss in class the key themes and debates in the readings.
Students will be divided into small groups and will be required to complete a group project under supervision. The presentations for these group projects will be held towards the end of the course.
After completing the course students will be able to identify the key drivers of organized crime in Africa and how it contributes to the manifestation of violence. In addition, through their group projects, students will be able to apply their knowledge to actual examples of how organized crime contributes to violence.
Assessment
Seminars: 3 essays (2000 words each - Total 45 marks); contribution to discussion in classes (15 marks)
Group Project: Content (30 marks); delivery (10 marks)
Credit equivalent at host university & contact hours
18.2 credits
This notionally equates to 182 hours of study time:
- 34 hours direct / contact time (30 hours in lectures and 4 hours on the field trip);
- 68 hours on self-study. (A 2:1 ratio of self-study to contact time);
- 48 hours on essays (16 hours per essay for 3 essays);
- 32 hours for group project
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) equates one credit with ten notional hours of learning.
Lecturer(s) / Tutor(s)
Prof Mark Shaw, Director, Institute for Safety Governance in the Global South
Mr Guy Lamb, Director, Safety and Violence Initiative
A/Prof Julie Berg, Centre of Criminology
Accommodation
Students must arrive by: the weekend (Saturday) prior to the start of the Programme.
Students will be able to check in from 2 pm.
Check-out date: the weekend (Saturday) after the end of the Programme.
Students have the option to stay longer, at their own cost, and provided the accommodation facility is alerted in good time to ensure availability of rooms.
Costs
Figures are estimates only. Click on each item for detail.
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Tuition Fees
USD 1,470 Including Programme Coordination & Academic Component
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Accommodation
USD 1,577 Including any deposits -
Field Trip
USD 264 Including excursions (transport & entry fees) to local attraction sites ie. Cape Point, Robben Island -
Miscellaneous
USD 1,933 Group facilitation -
Visa
Visa requirements are country specific & each student must ensure they check the RSA entry requirements that apply to their particular passports. Visa fees are for students’ own costs. -
Living Expenses
USD 282 Including Programme meals (lunches & closing dinner) & subsistence
Required and / or Recommended Insurance(s)
All students must secure a comprehensive insurance policy from their home country, covering all aspects of their visit to RSA (including travel insurance, medical care, accident & emergency cover, repatriation etc.)
Further Information
For further information about this course, please contact Ms. Nicola Latchiah This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.