Unit name | The Politics of HIV/AIDS in Africa |
---|---|
Unit code | POLI30030 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Payne |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
HIV/AIDS is no longer 'simply' a health or development issue - arguably it now lies at the heart of the 'African Crisis'. However, while images of the pandemic have served to reinforce a one-dimensional outsider view of sub-Saharan Africa as a continent rife with pestilence and disease, war and misery, the reality is, as ever, far more complex. This unit provides a socio-political context for the spread of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, considering the root causes and continuing proliferation of the pandemic. It assesses both internal (gender inequalities, patriarchy, poverty, poor governance, indigenous knowledge systems) and external (intellectual property rights, globalisation, skewed donor programmes, low levels of aid) contributing factors. The views of African 'AIDS dissidents' including former South African president Thabo Mbeki are analysed and weighed-up: freedom of expression versus harm. Finally, the course considers approaches to HIV/AIDS governance and management that have seen some success where they have been employed and how these might be applied more generally.
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
One 3 hour seminar per week.