Video lectures by Dr. Jan Erk

Dr. Jan Erk previously taught political science at Leiden University until September 2016. Prior to his departure, Jan Erk published his MOOC ‘Federalism and Decentralization: Evaluating Africa’s Track Record’. Currently, Jan Erk continues to conduct research on the subject as the 2016-2017 Smuts Memorial Fellow at Cambridge University. The research project he is currently working on is ‘The enduring impact of Africa’s extinct kingdoms and invisible chieftaincies’. If you are interested in learning more about Africa’s systems of governance, please consider Jan Erk’s MOOC, which can be accessed at: https://www.coursera.org/learn/decentralization-africa

About this video course:

In this political science course you will learn about the twin concepts of federalism and decentralization. You will develop an understanding of the core ideas that federalism and decentralization rest on, and study the building blocks that make them both work. Following a general overview of both federalism and decentralization, we will examine a number of case-studies from Africa where federalism and decentralization have been changing the continent’s political landscape in the last twenty years, coinciding with unprecedented levels of economic growth.

What is federalism and how is it different from decentralization? What are the core ideas behind these concepts? Do federalism and decentralization enhance democracy, governance and diversity? Is that why virtually all countries south of the Sahara are now either federal or decentralized? We will be looking at Africa’s track-record in order to answer these questions. By the end of the course, you will have acquired a general knowledge of federalism/decentralization and additional empirical knowledge of a number of African cases. Upon completion you will also acquire the ability to unpack and understand a variety of potential consequences of federalism/decentralization reforms in the developing world.

Full Playlist of all videos:

Individual videos:

Module 0: Dr. Jan Erk: Introduction to the Course!

Module 1:1 Dr. Jan Erk: The Promises of Federalism

Module 1:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism and Decentralization part 1

Module 1:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism and Decentralization part 2

Module 1:4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview of Federalism and Decentralization Reflections and Implications

Module 2:1 Dr. Jan Erk: Self Rule and Shared Rule

Module 2:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Distribution of Power

Module 2:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Multiple Identities

Module 2:4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview of Foundational Issues

Module 2:5 Dr. Jan Erk: Weekly chat Modules 1 and 2 A message from beautiful South Africa

Module 3:1 Dr. Jan Erk: Legal Foundations

Module 3:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Political Foundations

Module 3:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Socio Economic and Socio Demographic Foundations

Module 3:4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview of Three Scholarly Angles

Module 4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview

Module 4:1 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism in South Africa

Module 4:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism in Ethiopia

Module 4:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism in Nigeria

Module 4:4 Extra video Dr. Jan Erk Interview with Assefa Fiseha

Module 5.1 Dr. Jan Erk: Decentralization in Africa

Module 5.2 Dr. Jan Erk: Economic Development and Decentralization

Module 5.3 Dr. Jan Erk: Unintended Consequences

Module 5.4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview

Module 5:5 Extra video: Dr. Jan Erk Interview with Nico Steytler

Module 6.1 Dr. Jan Erk: State Capacity

Module 6.2 Dr. Jan Erk: Imported Institutional Blueprints vs Local Solutions

Module 6.3 Dr. Jan Erk: International Involvement

Module 6:4 Extra video chat with Dr. Jan Erk

Module 6:5 Extra video Dr. Jan Erk Interview with Shawn Houlihan

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  Module 0: Dr. Jan Erk: Introduction to the Course!
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  Module 1:1 Dr. Jan Erk: The Promises of Federalism
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  Module 1:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism and Decentralization part 1
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  Module 1:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism and Decentralization part 2
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  Module 1:4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview of Federalism and Decentralization Reflections and Implications
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  Module 2:1 Dr. Jan Erk: Self Rule and Shared Rule
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  Module 2:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Distribution of Power
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  Module 2:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Multiple Identities
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  Module 2:4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview of Foundational Issues
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  Module 2:5 Dr. Jan Erk: Weekly chat Modules 1 and 2 A message from beautiful South Africa
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  Module 3:1 Dr. Jan Erk: Legal Foundations
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  Module 3:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Political Foundations
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  Module 3:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Socio Economic and Socio Demographic Foundations
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  Module 3:4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview of Three Scholarly Angles
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  Module 4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview
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  Module 4:1 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism in South Africa
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  Module 4:2 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism in Ethiopia
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  Module 4:3 Dr. Jan Erk: Federalism in Nigeria
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  Module 4:4 Extra video Dr. Jan Erk Interview with Assefa Fiseha
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  Module 5.1 Dr. Jan Erk: Decentralization in Africa
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  Module 5.2 Dr. Jan Erk: Economic Development and Decentralization
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  Module 5.3 Dr. Jan Erk: Unintended Consequences
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  Module 5.4 Dr. Jan Erk: Overview
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  Module 5:5 Extra video: Dr. Jan Erk Interview with Nico Steytler
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  Module 6.1 Dr. Jan Erk: State Capacity
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  Module 6.2 Dr. Jan Erk: Imported Institutional Blueprints vs Local Solutions
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  Module 6.3 Dr. Jan Erk: International Involvement
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  Module 6:4 Extra video chat with Dr. Jan Erk
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  Module 6:5 Extra video Dr. Jan Erk Interview with Shawn Houlihan