Description
Some of the most dramatic and crucial conflicts and political events over the last century have occurred in the Middle East region. This course will provide students an exciting opportunity to examine them in detail. The course will initially examine the imperialist legacy of the region and the different forms decolonization took. It will subsequently analyse how nationalism, religion and identity politics have influenced Arab-Israeli, inter-Arab relations and domestic politics in general within the Middle East. Given the “Palestinian question’s” influence over many aspects and issues of Middle East international politics, the course will then go on to examine in great detail the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts as well as more recent regional and international diplomatic efforts at resolving them.
The latter part of the course will focus on conflict and diplomacy in the Arab/Persian Gulf region. It, furthermore, address the internal as well as inter-state stability concerns that have arisen, for example, as a result of the growth of demographic and economic inequalities within Middle Eastern states, the advent and development of transnational Islamist terrorism as well as U.S. diplomatic and military efforts at defeating it, and as a result of growing WMD proliferation concerns within the greater Middle East.
The general aim of this course, in sum, is to provide students an overview of the strategic, diplomatic, political and historical factors that shape the politics of the modern Middle East region. The seminar course also seeks to provide students with the concepts and instruments to develop an analytical approach to comprehending the predicaments of conflict and peace in the Middle East.
__Objectives_: On completion of this course students will demonstrate, amongst other things: – An in-depth understanding of the sources, conduct and outcomes of the various inter-state, intra-state and transnational conflicts that have afflicted and still afflict the Middle East today. – A comprehensive understanding of the main historical developments and issues in modern Middle Eastern political and security affairs. – A systematic and reflexive understanding of the modern Middle East by applying a synthesis of historical knowledge and strategic and/or IR theories to Middle East international politics since the turn of the twentieth century. – Familiarity with a range of primary and secondary sources in the relevant literature and the ability to engage critically with such material; – Develop key research as well as written and oral skills through research papers and oral presentations in the seminar programme.
Lecture/Seminar Session Themes
- Introduction to course syllabus; situating the study of the Middle East within the context of international relations.
- The end of Empires and the emergence of the Middle East state system.
- Nationalisms, religion and identity politics in domestic and international politics.
- Arab-Israeli Conflict and Diplomacy
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Diplomacy
- Energy and the Geo-economics of the Middle East
- The international politics of the Arab/Persian Gulf.
- Current Trends and Future Prospects.
Methods of instruction
This course is based on active student participation regardless of the specific session’s format. I see myself as a facilitator of your learning experience during this course. I do not have all the answers to the questions and dilemmas raised in this course. I will contribute with my expertise, of course, but I strongly encourage students to develop their own analytical skills by not only challenging much of the received wisdom about how to think about conflict and diplomacy in the Middle East, but also by challenging my own expertise on this subject by engaging critically at all times the vast literature on this subject as well as the specific empirical case studies of the conflicts and attempts at their resolution within the Middle East region.
Students are encouraged to ask generic questions that would normally constitute a “frequently asked question” in class or on the course discussion board provided by Blackboard, so that everyone may benefit. Those wishing to discuss personal matters or ask questions specifically relating to their coursework or course assessments or any other issue may do so during my office hours or by appointment.
Format :
The course will normally be divided into two two-hour sessions each week.
The first session will consist of an introductory 2-hour lecture by the course instructor who will address the main issues and provide a general overview of the topic for that particular week’s discussion topic. The student will carry out general background reading prior to the lecture and will be encouraged to participate actively.
The second session will run on a seminar discussion format whereby selected students will provide oral presentations on the weekly seminar topic. Thereafter a structured discussion will take place under the moderation of both the presenters and the course instructor.
Occasionally some variation will occur in the teaching/learning format. Introductory lectures may be given by a guest lecturer. A number of illustrative films may be viewed. These films will reflect upon central themes and issues related to the course and also illustrate crucial background events.
Study material
Literature (approx. 1000 pp.)
Students will be required to purchase one or two core textbooks prior to the start of the seminar. A comprehensive course syllabus will be available at least a week before the start of the seminar.
Further reading will be available through the electronic journals database, Blackboard and through the reserved reading files in the library.
Students, in any case, will be encouraged to make full use of the resources available in the library and online that go beyond the course reading list.
Examination
Participation
It is expected that all students attend all lectures and seminars and participate actively in seminar discussions. If for legitimate reasons in your work or personal life you are unable to attend certain lectures or seminars, then you should contact your tutor beforehand or as soon as possible after your absence by email. More than three unjustified absences may result in disciplinary action.
Methods of Assessment
Students will be required to give an oral presentation on one of the seminar discussion questions.
Students will also be required to hand in the week following the session in which they give their oral presentation a 1,000-word research brief based on the same seminar question they presented on.
Students will be required, by the end of the seminar course, to write a 3,000-word research paper on one of the seminar discussion questions other than the one presented on. Alternatively, students are permitted to set their own question related to some theme on the Middle East only through prior approval by the course instructor.
Students have the opportunity to write a short essay outline of 250-500 words and to seek some guidance by the course instructor before progressing with their 3,000-word research paper. However, the course instructor cannot review full or partial drafts as this would bestow an unfair advantage on students seeking such help.
The weighting of each assessment on the final grade for the seminar course will be the following:
-Oral Presentation: 10% – Research Brief: 20% – Research Paper: 70%.
Plagiarism (and Academic Fraud)
According to Leiden University, generally, ( plagiarism) is understood as presenting, intentionally or otherwise, someone else’s words, thoughts, analyses, argumentations, pictures, techniques, computer programmes, etc., as your own work. Since plagiarism is cheating, and because plagiarism by definition undermines the scientific enterprise, cases of plagiarism are taken very seriously by the university community and are punishable by sanctions. For students, these sanctions amount to a maximum of twelve months’ exclusion from all examinations. When a student has doubts about what constitutes plagiarism, he or she can always consult with the course instructor” ( Regulations).
Further information will be provided in the course syllabus.
I look forward to teaching you!
Time table
Tuesday October 28, till December 16, 9.00-11.00 a.m., in 5A42 (except December 9, instead of that meeting: Friday December 11, 11.00 a.m.-13.00 p.m., in 5A43) and
Thursday October 30, till December 18, 9.00-11.00 a.m., in Ch01. No meeting on Thursday Nov. 13. Instead: Wedn. 12 November 17-19 p.m.: room 5B04