Basic information

Colonialism and Postcolonialism course is based on a multidisciplinary perspective, with an emphasis on heritage of the European colonialism in various corners of the world. The students will develop critical thinking in historical processes which helped to form the world today with all its varieties including social and political organizations, globalization, linguistic hegemony of the West, and postcolonial structure of the world outside Europe.

The aim of the course is to offer a colorful picture of the phenomena of colonialism and postcolonialism. Students will broaden their knowledge in a variety of topics such as: colonialism and production of knowledge, colonialism and literature, construction of racial cate-gories, colonialism and ethnography, colonialism and gender, sexuality, social and ethnic inequalities, nationalism as a reaction on colonialism, postcolonialism in broader perspective, modernity, Empire, and culture in postcolonial environment, globalization and postcolonialism, and the future of postcolonial studies.

Jan Záhořík is an Africanist/social scientist specialized in the history and politics of the Horn of Africa. He is an associate professor of modern history, and his research focus includes modern and contemporary history and politics of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa; relations between former Czechoslovakia and Africa; mobility and migration; European-African relations; Cold War in Africa; conflicts in Africa; socio-economic development in Africa (with particular focus on Ethiopia and East Africa); terrorism and security.

Since 2006 Jan Záhořík has conducted research during multiple stays (50 in total) in Ethiopia ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months; minor research or academic stays include Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Morocco.

Students are required to write a long essay (10 pages, 1,5-spacing excluding cover page and references) based on a topic discussed with the instructor the first week of the semester. The deadline is the last class of the semester. The list of essay out of which the students will select their topics will be made available by the instructor the first week of the semester. 

Final Exam will be composed of materials covering the whole semester (lectures, readings, and related issues), the exact format of the exam will be announced two weeks before the exam date.