DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
BAYERO
UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL 4301: MILITARY, SOCIETY AND POLITICS
SUB-THEME: MILITARY STATE AND SOCIETY
2019/2020,
FIRST SEMESTER
INSTRUCTOR:
M.M. YUSIF
Introduction
It’s
a matter in dealing with knowledge that every field of science should be a
discourse. This is because each discourse undergoes constant change as new ideas
and theoretical architecture are created in it to make it a thriving science.
This is also the case of military science.
Orientation of the Course
Coup
d’etat had occurred in several countries, both developed and under-developed
its planners is a restricted group as coups are made by armed forces and
practically never by anyone else. Since it is by armed forces, imposes a symbol
of force, violence or in short political violence on the society.
Academic
intellectuals who observe and study military intervention in politics by
violent change of Government often overlook the reality of politics and
concentrate on official versions and simplistic observations. This leads to
conclusions that coups are said to be radical and in favour of the left which are
very rare or are conservative or at best for a corporate self-assertion of the
armed forces as a special economic and professional pressure group within the
status quo.
It
is strategic to know that political reality is at variance with what coup
makers told the public. One way to understand this reality is in power
relationship in the society. We may wish to ask does coup go against state?
Does change of Government imply a new state structure? These would give further
questions. what is the relationship between Government and state? Where is the
power of political domination being located? What is the place of military in
these relationships?
To
examine the question of change of Government by coup d’etat as a problem of
power relationships in society I will lead you through theoretical discourse of
Michel Foucault conception of Government, then on state theory and on political
power, to be followed by case studies on coup d’etat and military politics with
a view to understand reality of military intervention in politics.
The
course is more a theoretical exercise intended to carry students to develop
capacity of theoretical argument with empirical evidence
Topics on the Course
1. General Introduction
2. Theory and method: A path to critical
knowledge
3. Clarification of the key concepts:
society, military armed forces, coup d’etat, Government, power, violence.
4. The theory: state theory and military
5. Further theoretical thinking: Government
beyond the state
6. Military, society and political power.
7. Case study I chile
8. Case study II Ethiopia
9. Case study III Nigeria
10.
Theoretical
conclusion
11.
Closing
up: reports by seminars
Recommended Reading
1. Michel Foucault, “politics and the study
of discourse” in Graham Burchell (eds). The Foucault effect.
2. David Harvey, “space a key world”
3. Trevor Bernes, “Between deduction and
dialectics: David Harvey on Knowledge”
4. Andrew S. Method in social science! A
realist approach chapter one
5. Otwin M. “Essence and Empiricism in
African politics in yolamu B. (ed)
political science in Africa: A critical review.
6. Eboe H. And bathily A (eds) The Military
and militarism in Africa. Introduction and chapter One.
7. E.J. Hobsbawn, Revolutionaries contemporary
essays chapters 19 and 21 on “coup d’etat” and “The Rules of Violence”
respectively.
8. Martin C. The state and political theory
chapters 2 and 9
9. Lucio colletti, “Lenin’s state and
Revolution” in Nation and class struggle: A reader in Marxist politics.
10.
Nicos
poulantzas, state power socialism pgs 11- 46 and 123- 154
11.
Bob
Jessop, “putting states in their place: once more on capitalist states and
capitalist societies.
12.
Johnn K. “They theory of force” in his the
theory of the state pgs 98-100
13.
Jose
Nun, “The middle class military coup in R.I. Rhodes (ed) Imperialism and
under-development: a reader.
14.
A.G.
Frank, “The National Bourgeorisie and the coup in Brazil, in his latin America:
underdevelopment or Revolution.
15.
Jack
Woodis, Armies and Politics
16.
Ralph
Miliband, The state in Capitalist society
17.
Michel
Foucault, “Governmentality” in Graham Burchell (eds) The Foucault, effect.
18.
Thomas
lemke, Foucault, “Governmentmentality” and critique
19.
Barry
Allen, “Government in Foucault” in Canadian Journal of Philosophy Vol. 21 No.4
20.
Nikolas
R. And Peter M. “Political Power beyond the state: problematic of Government”
in BJS Vol.43
21.
Nel
A.E. Governments against State: The logic of self-destructive Despotism. IPSR
Vol. 28
22.
Nicos
poulantzas, political power and social classes chapter 3
23.
Gary W. “power and power analysis beyond
Foucault” in Economy and society Vol.2
24.
David
C.H, “Power, Repression Progress: Foucault, Lukes, and the Frankfurt school” in
his edited work Foucault: A critical Reader
25.
Philleppe
D. “The discourse of Power or the power of discourse” Alternatives 1983.
26.
Ralph
Milibrand, “The coup in Chile” in socialist Register 1973.
27.
Lan
Roxborough, Chile: the state and Revolution chapters 8,9and 10.
28.
Halliday
F. And Molyneux, The Ethiopian Revolution
29.
John
Markakis and Nega Ayele, class and Revolution in Ethiopia.
30.
John
Markakis, Garrison socialism in Ethiopia: power and Knowledge.
31.
Bois
D, “Nigeria: the Army takes over again” The African Communist No. 97, 1984.
32.
Caccia
G. “Oil plot or Oil glut”? Journal of African Marxist issue 3, Jan. 1983
33.
Falola
T. And Ihonvbere J, The Rise and Fall of Nigeria’s second Republic 1979-1984.
34.
Ikoku
S.G Nigeria’s fourth coup d’etat: option for modern state hood.
35.
Othman
S. “classes, crisis and coup: the demise of shagari’s regime” in African
Affairs Vol.83
36.
Terisa
T. “Multinational corporations and the instability of the Nigeria state” ROAPE
No.5.
37.
Terisa
T. And Badru “Oil and instability: class contradictions and the 1983 coup in
Nigeria JAM, Issue 7.
38.
Terisa
T. “Nigeria: Oil fraud, Opec and the IMF” 1984
39.
Terisa
T. And Baker A. “Soldiers and oil: the 1984 coup in Nigeria” 1984
40.
Graf
B. “Explaining the 1983 Nigerian coup: some hypotheses” 1984.
41.
Ekhuerhare
B.U, “crisis of state capitalist model
of accumulation on and collapse of second Republic in Nigeria” NPSA Ilorin 1985
42.
M.M.
Yusif, “The Rise of Industrial Boungeosie: the 1983 coup and prospects of
Dependent Industrialisation in Nigeria” NPSA Ilorin 1985.
43.
M.M.
Yusif, “Economic crisis, accumulation and class confrontation in Nigeria 1979-1983”
July 1985 Seminar paper.
44.
Tom
Forrest, Politics and Economic Development in Nigeria.
45.
David
Chutter, “Why Military” Defence Transformation Bulletin No.49.
46.
Y.B
Usman, “Nigeria-shortcomings of Military Rule” in the African communist No.26,
1966.
47.
J. Allen Whitt, toward class-Dialectical model
of power: An empirical assessment of three competing models of political power
in ASR Vol.44, 1979.
Ø Note that more texts may be added along
the way, especially for class discussion and debates
Ø Students are strongly advised to be
adventurous in reading beyond these to build critical arguments.
COURSE REQUIREMENT
Ø Evaluation of Students will be based on
end of the semester examination (70%) and Continuous Assessment (30%).
Ø The last 30 minutes of each contact
period is for discussion of a disputed question or an important text on the
course.
Ø On the continuous Assessment Students
will be required to do so many things to meet the standard.
a) Weekly assignment: This is as important
as the end of the semester examination because any student who failed to do one
will miss all the points ear-marked for the weekly exercise.
b) A seminar small research project. The
importance for this is as the weekly assignment.
c) There is going to be small research
project Response paper as one seminar will review the work of another.
d) Working Group Discussion would be
organized during contact hours.
e) A supervised-test the type which test
effective performance of the students in learning.
f) Class attendance is a compulsory
requirement:
Ø In order to build competence and skills
in work you will be expected to improve on usage of ICT for learning. Make use
of recommendations of Mauro and Rosanna earlier circulated.
Ø You are going to be divided in to
groups-called Seminars-build and sustain capacity to work as a team.
Ø The relationship between students on the
hand and the teacher on the other determines a successful teaching, learning
and research programme for development of knowledge. So among you the students
talk to each other. Then with your teacher there should be no fear. Fear and
learning are incompatible.
Ø All other things at lower level are
applied here:
a) For example, plagiarism and other
academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
b) Secondly, active participation by asking
questions, making observation and comments is the best way of learning which
each student is advised to use and indeed would be rewarded.
c) Finally, my watch word is being
critical, ruthless criticism of all that exist as Karl Marx said. Indeed,
criticism facilitates growth of knowledge. In knowledge, there is no absolute
truth. Make your contribution.
