Education

African Studies

Ph.D. and M.A.
Howard University

English

B.A.
Goucher College

Expertise

African political economy; transnationalism; critical theory in international relations; Sino-African diplomatic and trade relations; language in education policy; culture and globalization; colonial and post-colonial African politics

Academics

AFST 101 Introduction to Contemporary Africa

This course, Introduction to Contemporary Africa, seeks to illuminate and clarify the profoundly international character of the world we live in and to introduce a set of contemporary issues and challenges that affect every region of Africa. This interdisciplinary course is designed to introduce students to Africa’s history, geography, culture and political economy. Nevertheless, Africa is unquestionably diverse; it is the world’s second largest continent and the second most populous with 54 countries. In this course, students will challenge their assumptions, ask critical questions and seek new knowledge of Africa. Individual country cases will be used to explore contemporary theoretical debates in history, political science, geography, development economics and anthropology.

AFST 110 African Development and Underdevelopment

Nelson Mandela stated that, “poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.” Both economic development and globalization are complex and subjective concepts debated by practitioners and scholars alike. It’s generally understood that economic development is a process that leads to sustained and sustainable economic growth per capita, a reduction in poverty, an expansion of economic opportunities for all citizens and thus higher standards of living. This course unpacks the contested concepts of development with the intent to explain the development gap between rich and poor nations as indicated by income, life expectancy, health and education. The gap between rich and poor countries is evolving, in some cases widening and in others shrinking. This course explores the trends in uneven development and strategies to overcome it.

AFST 125 Africa and China

This course explores the historical and contemporary components of African countries’ diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations with China from the seventh century to the present. Students critically examine the foreign policies of African nations and China with a particular focus on how those policies impact local communities in Africa. The nature of this relationship raises questions about China’s ‘intentions’ in Africa—‘Is this a new scramble for Africa?’ Students employ a multidisciplinary analysis of Sino-African relations to unpack and then deliberate on the complexities of Africa and China’s relationship. Discussion topics include: China’s loan and aid programs, foreign direct investment, infrastructural development, governance, military cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and migration. 

AFST 271 The Rising Powers? Brazil, Russia, India and China in Africa

For the past decade, the combined economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and arguably South Africa have shifted power in the international system and Africa away from the G7 countries. This seminar course will address this shift and situate it within wider debates and processes around the changing nature of the international system, the politics of development, and the political relations of ‘South-South’ globalization. The BRICS have changed the nature of international political economy not only in the world system but also in developing countries where their investment will continue to shape local markets. This interdisciplinary course stands at the intersection of international relations, development studies and international political economy.

AFST 157 African Film, Literature and Society

Africa has had a rich tradition of expressive cultures from the griot to the Nollywood film director. This course explores the evolution of postcolonial African film and literature.  African films and literatures are a vital part of the cultural artifacts that reflect the creative imaginations of people of African descent.  This course approaches these mediums as art that should be interpreted and critiqued within a historical context that reflects a specific time and place. Film and literature often address, implicitly or explicitly, our assumptions, our values, our aspirations, and our fears. Thus, this course will explore how writers and filmmakers imagine their subjects in the midst of rapidly changing societies. This course will allow you to begin your exploration of the field by watching, discussing, and writing about films, and engaging in critical readings of major texts.

Research

Group Information

Africa-China Initiative Research Working Group

Demand, Disruption, and Transformation: African Agency in Digital Geopolitics

Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in partnership with the Center for African Studies at Howard University

African governments and China have recognized the importance of digital infrastructure and inclusion for promoting communication, commerce, education, entertainment, healthcare, and more. On the street-level, African publics are engaging with digital technologies in their everyday lives with social media, mobile banking, e-commerce, and e-government. This reality calls for a better understanding of Africa’s digital infrastructures from multiple disciplinary perspectives, especially with regard to how Africans are leveraging digital technologies to better their material conditions while also being aware of the attendant risks such as government surveillance and costs.

The ACI Research Working Group (ACI RWG) is a multi-disciplinary group of scholars to examine how African individuals and institutions utilize Chinese-funded digital infrastructures. The rapid progress of digital technologies in Africa has led to changes in how people communicate, create, and consume. Analyzing how diverse actors engage with these technologies should provide a rich source for case studies and comparative analyses of the varied experiences, perspectives, and realities across Africa’s digital and physical spaces. For this project, we encourage research that draws from different fields in the social sciences and humanities to unpack the complexities of emerging technologies and what they mean for individuals, communities, and societies. Comparative approaches that also include other (non-Chinese) suppliers of digital infrastructures are particularly welcome. 

Investments from both private and public actors and institutions from China (and elsewhere) have helped facilitate the hard and soft infrastructures that have enhanced Africa’s digital connectivity. This has raised critical questions about how these investments will help or hinder African-centered development and governance in light of existing institutional frameworks and policies along with issues of digital access, equity, and inclusion. 

Digital infrastructure refers to the fundamental technology that enables our digital environment on the internet or computer networks. This encompasses tangible components such as fixed, mobile, and satellite networks, as well as data centers. Additionally, it includes intangible elements that support economic, social, and cultural activities—often referred to as soft infrastructure. Soft infrastructure comprises skilled experts in fields like development and entrepreneurship along with governmental policies addressing cybersecurity and privacy protection frameworks tailored for serving populations' needs. Digital users, from individuals to organizations, engage with these technologies in a diverse range of contexts where these platforms are utilized. 

The ACI RWG focuses on three broad themes: Demand, Disruption, and Transformation.

Demand

An important aspect of sustainable development in Africa is meeting the market demand for accessible and affordable new technologies. This includes addressing the needs of individuals and communities with limited or no access to digital resources, such as women, youth, and rural communities. Increasingly, individuals and communities articulate demands for equitable and sustainable access, resilient and reliable networks, digital readiness, and literacy. How are investments in Africa’s digital infrastructure meeting demand and building capacity across different sectors?

Disruption

The adoption of new technologies in Africa has led to significant disruptions and innovations. One notable example is the use of social media as a tool for political participation and protest, which has sparked socio-political changes on various scales within African nations. This development showcases the transformative power of digital platforms in empowering citizens to voice their opinions and bring about change. Conversely, governments are leveraging digital technology to monitor communication, support law enforcement, manipulate social media, shut down the internet, and collect biometric data from citizens. China’s interest in expanding its economic and political influence in Africa has implications for expanding African-centered democracy, yet online platforms also provide spaces for dissent or manipulation of publics. This is particularly relevant to how government institutions utilize digital infrastructures, which unchecked can lead to digital authoritarianism. It is essential to examine how to ethically harness these technological advancements in Africa while also creating opportunities for collaboration in policymaking and implementation efforts. How are digital technologies disrupting social, economic, and political realities in African countries?

Transformation

Public and private entities from China have made substantial investments in Africa's ICT backbone and digital infrastructure. This investment has led to significant transformations across the continent, including increased availability of affordable smartphones and the deployment of communication satellites. As a result, tech companies serve consumers in Africa, while governments utilize e-government tools through digital infrastructures. The implications of these interactions, transactions, and markets vary depending on an individual's proximity to power and access. By examining these developments in detail, we can gain valuable insights into how increased connectivity is shifting societies. What do these transformations mean within particular African contexts? How and why?

ACI RWG Goals

• Cultivate interdisciplinary, cross-institutional faculty and student collaborations amongst Africa, China, and US-based scholars.
• Identify forward-moving emerging issues and engagements between Africa and China.
• Develop and disseminate research and curriculum outputs.
• Center marginalized voices, contexts, and perspectives.
• Engage in innovative theoretic and methodological approaches.
• Conceptualize emerging issues using evidence-based research.

Accomplishments

2021 Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Arts and Sciences

Anita Plummer interview on Africa Today

https://africanstudies.howard.edu/articles/anita-plummer-featured-pacifica-radios-africa-today