Prospectus

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History of the Modern Middle East: Transformations and Challenges

Course
2021-2022

Admission requirements

None.

Description

The goal of this course is to introduce students to major intellectual, political, social and cultural issues and practices in the Middle East from late 18th century until the present. The emphasis throughout will be on identifying the ways in which specific events and long-term processes such as the impact of colonialism and nationalist movements, political Islam, political liberalization, the role of non-state actors, gender, ethnicity, class, and popular culture have informed social and political realities in the contemporary Middle East. The second half of the course will deal with contemporary issues ranging from the Arab-Israeli conflict, the impact of the Iranian Revolution, the emergence of Islamic movements, and the recent Arab revolutions. In addition, the class will be based on various types of readings ranging from primary documents, historical narratives, and historiography, to works of fiction and movies. This is intended to familiarize students with the craft of historical work and the process of creating the historiographies of the Modern Middle East.

Course objectives

  • Acquired knowledge and understanding of history, its processes, structure, actors, factors, and events, and has familiarised themselves with the academic understanding of history and the history specific to the chosen area, with an emphasis on the last two centuries. Furthermore, the student has acquired a basic understanding of the theories used in the field of History and those with specific relevance to the Middle East.

  • The student has acquired basic research skills, which he/she has put into practice for the first time in the shape of a small individual research project.

  • Acquired a comprehensive understanding of the historical, political, social, and cultural developments of the Middle East.

  • Acquired familiarity with the main debates in the histiography of the region, as well as the research methods used to investigate and explain trends and events of the contemporary Middle East.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

Lecture.
Attendance is not obligatory for lectures. The conveners do not need to be informed in case of missed classes. Information and knowledge provided in the lectures greatly contribute to the subsequent courses of the programme. In order to pass the course, students are strongly advised to attend all sessions.

Assessment method

Assessment

Each student will be graded on the basis of two formal assignments: (1) midterm project (50%) (2) final project (50%). Further information will be discussed in class.

Weighing

Resit

If the end grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), or the weighted average of Midterm- and Final projects is lower than 5.5, there is a possibility of taking an exam, replacing both the earlier Midterm- and Final project grades.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

  • Anderson, Betty. A History of the Modern Middle East: Rulers, Rebels, and Rogues. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2016.

  • Cleveland, William and Martin Bunton. A History of the Modern Middle East. New York: Westview Press, 2016.

  • Shlaim, Avi “Israel and the Arab Coalition.” In The Modern Middle East: A Reader, ed. by Albert Hourani, Philip Khoury, and Mary C. Wilson, 535-556. New York: IB Tauris, 2005.

  • Other selected readings.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website.

Contact

Remarks