Concepts, theories, and methods project subjects of study beyond mere technical definitions. They widen views, heighten propositions, and broaden approaches befitting scholastic practices. The ‘Politics of Francophone Africa’ comprises of three flowing variables of ‘politics’, ‘francophone’ and ‘Africa’ This lecture discusses how to create and use concepts, theories and methods for the course theme.

1. BAZE UNIVERSITY ABUJA
Postgraduate School
IRD 715 23A - POLITICS OF FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
Department of International Relations and Diplomacy
Lecturer: Dr. Tanko Mahmood Ahmed, fwc
Week 3 - Mon Jan 30, 2023
Concepts, Theories, and Methods in the Politics of
Francophone Africa

2. Background
•Concepts, theories, and methods project subjects
of study beyond mere technical definitions.
•They widen views, heighten propositions, and
broaden approaches befitting scholastic
practices.
•The ‘Politics of Francophone Africa’ comprises of
three flowing variables of ‘politics’, ‘francophone’
and ‘Africa’
•This lecture discusses how to create and use
concepts, theories and methods for the course
theme.

3. CONCEPTS
Abstracts - Attributes - Dimensions
Ideas - Notions

4. Course Themes
• Politics refer to human affairs or activities
associated with decision making in groups and
power relations seen governance, leadership, and
the distribution of resources or status.
• Francophone is a lingua-geo-political group of
nations sharing common socio-cultural, economic
and political identities and practices across the
world.
• Francophone Africa are countries sharing same
colonial heritage as former colonies of France

5. THEORIES
Assumptions - Conjectues - Frameworks
Models - Suppositions

6. Theorising Politics of Francophone Africa
• Politics is theorised across time (momentarily)
event (situation), and space (place) with a wide
range of meanings in everyday life.
• Politics of Francophone Africa will proposition
the political culture, system of government and
the conduct and management of public affairs in
those countries.
• Theories would transverse two contradictory
approaches to politics in ‘narrow’ and ‘broader’
terms

7. METHODS
Organisation - Solution - System
Technique - Pedegogy

8. Narrow and Broader Methods or
Approaches to Politics
• Narrow methods see politics as what takes place within
the arms of governmentwith only politicians,
government officials, members of the political parties
as participants.
• Broader methods view politics as not only confined to a
particular sphere, but also across all aspects of human
affairs.
• Politics of Francophone Africa will cover the
government, public affairs, conflict resolution, and the
power dynamics in those countries.

9. Concepts, Theories, and Methods in the
Politics of Francophone Africa
Reading Material (Attached):
Valeri, M. (2010) The term politics reconsidered in
the light of recent theoretical developments, IBSU
Scientific Journal (IBSUSJ), 4/1, 39-44,
International Black Sea University, Tbilisi - Available
at http://hdl.handle.net/10419/54647

10. Lecture Exercise
• Review the attached Article:
‘The Term Politics Reconsidered in the Light of
Recent Theoretical Developments’
• Explain how you can formulate and apply concepts,
theories, and methods in ‘Politics of Francophone
Africa’
• In 300-500 words due by Friday, 3 February 2023