Solomon Onyango, a 2017 ICNC Curriculum Fellow, developed, offered and moderated a hybrid in-class & online course on civil resistance in Fall 2017 at the Institute of Regional Integration and Development (IRID) at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. His course ran from August 21st until October 13th. Ten students graduated from the course.

The information featured below was submitted as part of the fellowship requirement for a classroom-based course that required a detailed course proposal with clearly developed sections on civil resistance, assigned readings, assignments relevant to the subject matter and evaluation tools.

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About the Curriculum Fellow
Course Abstract
Learning Gains Survey Results 
Final Evaluation Results

Solomon Onyango received his Bachelor in Social Sciences & his Masters in Public Administration and Management from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. He is currently a lecturer of Political Science at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and a PhD candidate with the Social Transformation (Governance and Democracies) Department at Tangaza University College in Nairobi, Kenya. His doctoral dissertation, “Strengthening Accountability through Deliberative Citizen Participation in Sub-National Government” seeks to examine the nexus between deliberative citizen participation and accountability at the sub-national government level in Lamu County, Kenya. Solomon’s teaching and research is anchored in a multi-disciplinary intersection of governance, democratization and decentralization within Africa. He regularly teaches core topical courses on Public Administration, Democracy and Governance, and Social & Public Policy in Africa. Solomon also holds distinguished awards from the South-South Institute and the Democratic Governance Institute of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa.

Course Title: Theory and Practice of Non-Violent Resistance in East Africa

Location: Institute of Regional Integration and Development (IRID) at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya (August-December 2017)

Course Abstract: In this course, participants will become familiar with nonviolent resistance, from the era of colonial and post-colonial Africa to the Arab Spring. It will explore facets of nonviolent resistance as a proven social action movement capable of destabilizing colonies, establishing independent states or toppling rogue regimes and recasting the geopolitical landscape in East Africa. It will explore questions surrounding the ethics of nonviolent action, when and where civil resistance is used, the conditions under which it is more or less effective, and its consequences for local communities, state polities and the international system. The course will draw from seminal philosophical texts, historical accounts and cutting-edge social science research. Students will gain an understanding of both the normative and empirical debates surrounding the practice of civil resistance and a familiarity with key cases within and outside the East Africa. The course will cover major topics related to the general field of civil resistance as well as case studies specific to East Africa and Kenya.

The Learning Gains Survey aims to measure knowledge gains among course participants. Participants take the Pre-Seminar Survey at the beginning of the course and take an identical survey (Post-Seminar) at the end of the course. Included below are the graphed responses to selected questions from the Pre-Seminar and Post-Seminar Surveys. In general, the surveys illustrate a positive trend in the knowledge gains achieved by participants as a result of the course.

1. On the scale below, select the number that best represents your current knowledge of theory and practice of nonviolent resistance in East Africa
   

2. On the scale below, identify your comfort level in speaking to others about theory and practice of nonviolent resistance in East Africa.

3. On the scale below, select the number that best represents your view about how important you think participation is in a successful civil resistance movement.

4. On the scale below, select the number that best represents your view on how successful you think nonviolent resistance campaigns in East Africa against repressive states have been in the past. 

Included below are graphed responses to selected questions from the Final Course Evaluation.

1. The goals of the course and its sessions were clear
   

2. I now have more knowledge about civil resistance and its various topics than I had before taking the course

3. I learned about civil resistance from other course participants

4. I found weekly module summaries shared by course moderator(s) relevant and helpful