African politics/ book used in class: Thomson, Alex. 2010. An introduction to African politics.3rd Edition. New york: Rutledge.

Answer the following 4 questions at length (1 double spaced page should be considered a minimum). Please base your answers on class lectures and assigned readings. No outside research is necessary. Do not work with others, and write all answers in your own words (no quotes/no citations needed). Each question is worth 10 points.

1. Discuss the transatlantic slave trade, how it operated and its consequences on the African continent.

2. Explain the ways in which the colonial period affected the political, economic, and social landscapes of Africa.

3. In the place of legal-rational institutionalization, what strategies have African leaders used to maintain and extend their power? What are the consequences of these strategies?

4. Compare the state building experiences seen in Botswana and Somalia. Discuss at least three contrasts that help explain Botswana’s success and Somalia’s failure.