Admission requirements
Admission prioritized to students of the MA Middle Eastern Studies.
Students should have had approximately 30 EC worth of courses in Middle Eastern Studies at BA or MA level. Students of other relevant MA programmes and/or those who are interested in taking this course, but who do not fulfill the abovementioned requirements are requested to contact the Coordinator of Studies, or Dr. Tsolin Nalbantian prior to registration. See also below, under “registration”.
Description
This course is a bottom-up sociopolitical history of sectarianism in the modern Middle East. We begin in Lebanon. By closely studying its construction, we explore every-day interactions with the state, struggles against state power, anti-colonial resistance, struggles for national liberation and against occupation, civil wars, and revolutions. In doing so, we will investigate how people in the region both fight against and preserve the status quo and discuss the complex relationships between power and resistance through sectarianism. Related, we will inquire whether common experiences, through political struggles or other processes, create new collective identities, and address how national memory is formed and changed.
Course objectives
To encourage students to think critically about the causes, uses, effects, and locations of sectarianism, power and resistance.
To consider the changing daily interactions between the state and its inhabitants.
To familiarize students with past struggles that continue to play a role in the Middle East today.
To help students critically engage with scientific literature and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various theoretical approaches.
To help students improve their capacity to present ideas orally and in written form.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Attendance and active participation are obligatory for seminars. The convener needs to be informed without delay of any classes missed for a good reason (i.e. due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family issues, problems with residence permits, the Dutch railways in winter, etc.). In these cases it is up to the discretion of the convener(s) of the course whether or not the missed class will have to be made up with an extra assignment. The maximum of such absences during a semester is two. Being absent without notification and/or more than two times can result in exclusion from the term end exams and a failing grade for the course. In case of unforeseen absences make sure to have another student report on what you missed; you are responsible for seminar information and announcements whether present or not.
Assessment method
Assessment and weighing
Students will be graded on the basis of three assignments:
| Partial Assessment | Weighing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Attendance, Preparation, & Participation | 55% | ||
| At least one in class presentation | 20% | ||
| At least one in-class oral “reaction” to the presentation | 15% | ||
| Participation and preparation in the general | 20% | ||
| 2. Peer assessment/feedback on the draft of your final project | 15% | ||
| 3. Final project | 30% |
Late submissions of the final version will result in a deduction of paper grades as follows: 1-24 hs late = -0.5; 24-48 hs late = -1.0; 48-72 hs late = -1.5; 72-96 hs late = -2.0. Submissions more than 96 hours late, including weekends, will receive a failing grade, in casu a 1.0 for this partial assessment.
The final mark for this course is formed by the weighted average.
In order to pass the course, students must obtain an overall mark of 5.50 (=6) or higher.
The course is an integrated whole. All assessment parts must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Resit
Only if the total weighted average is insufficient (5.49 or lower), the insufficient grade is the result of an insufficient project, a re-sit of the project is possible (50%). In that case the convener of the course may decide to assign a (new) topic. The deadline for this version will be determined by the instructor. A re-sit of the other components is not possible.
Exam review
How and when a term paper review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the course results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the course results, a term paper review will be organized.
Reading list
Check the course syllabus on Brightspace.
Registration
MA Middle Eastern Studies students may enroll directly through uSis. The number of places is limited and the principle is first come, first served.
MA Middle Eastern Studies (research) students are strongly advised to opt for the Research MA version of the course. They may enroll directly through uSis. The number of places is limited and the principle is first come, first served. Students opting for the regular MA version should contact their Coordinator of Studies, dr. N.A.N.M. van Os for information on the enrollment procedure.
MA International Relations students should contact their Coordinator of Studies, Drs. E.J. Walstra for information on the enrollment procedure.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office de Vrieshof.