Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Middle Eastern Studies (research). Students from other departments are kindly referred to the course description of the regular MA course.
Description
This course analyses the Middle East in the Global Political Economy (IPE). Overall, it surveys the field of international political economy and examines the interactions of the Middle East within the global economic order. It seeks to familiarise students with the various roles of commodities, labour, and finance across the region. In so doing, it not only examines that which is unique about the political economy of the region but also the ways in which the region is more integrated and less exceptional than often purported. The course begins with a theoretical orientation to the field of IPE, and proceeds to situate the region within the field in historical and contemporary debates. The remainder of the course progresses thematically, examining topics such as oil and energy markets, trade, financial crisis, labour, global value chains, and integration.
Course objectives
Understand the broad theoretical debates within the field of Global Political Economy
Evaluate the role of various Middle Eastern states in the GPE
Assess the impact of oil on the region
Deepen understanding of the various economic challenges and opportunities facing the region, considering historical and potential future trajectories
Articulate how changes in the global economic order and technological innovation impact domestic, regional, and international economic development
Discuss historical and contemporary trends in the Middle East, and the region’s interactions with the global economic order
Analyse the impact of state and non-state actors on domestic and regional development
Interpret the constraints, challenges, and prospects for greater economic integration
Timetable
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Attendance and participation are obligatory for seminars. Students are required to attend all sessions. The convenors need 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. Being absent without notification can result in a lower grade or exclusion from the term end exams and a failing grade for the course.
Course Load
EC: 10 (= 280 hours)
Attending seminars: 30 hours, with an half hour extra class time per week for ResMA students.
Reading / studying material: 125 hours
Completing assignments: 125 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
Engagement, Response Papers and Final Paper
Weighing
EVALUATION
I. Engagement 30%
a. Active participation
b. Presentation
c. Discussant duties
II. Response Papers 30%
III. Final paper 40%
Resit
In order to pass the course, students must obtain an overall mark of 5.50 (=6) or higher. (The paper deadline mentioned in uSis is a fictional date for administration purposes only. The actual date will be communicated by the convenor of the course.)
The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Exam review
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam/paper results, an exam/paper review will be organized.
Blackboard
Note: there is no separate Blackboard page available for this ResMa course. Please subscribe to the Blackboard page of the regular MA course.
Reading list
The book titles and / or syllabi to be used in the course, where they can be purchased and how this literature should be studied beforehand will be posted on blackboard.
For the Research MA students additional readings will be determined by the convener at a later stage taking into account the students’ fields of interest. Extra sessions will be organized to discuss this extra literature.
Reading material:
Articles and book chapters can be found on the library catalogue or online.
All reading materials must be read in advance of class. Students should arrive at class having examined the material thoroughly, and therefore ready to engage thoughtfully in seminar discussions.
Tentative Seminar Topics
1. Analysing the Global Political Economy
2. Situating the Middle East in the GPE: Beyond Exceptionalism
3. Globalization: Forces, Trends, and Development
4. Colonial Legacies, and Interactions in the Global Economy
5. Hydrocarbons and Energy Markets
6. Global Institutions and Business Politics: State, Society, and Region
7. The Political Economy of Labour Flows and Migration
8. Integration and Regionalism
9. Production and Power: From Local Production to Global Value Chains
10. Trade and Foreign Direct Investment
11. Global Finance, Sovereign Wealth Funds, and Commodity Markets
12. Dealing with Crises: Financial Crisis and Political Upheaval
Registration
Students are required to register through uSis. To avoid mistakes and problems, students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetable in the column under the heading “Act.nbr.”.
Not being registered, means no permission to attend this course. See also the ‘Registration procedures for classes and examinations’ for registration deadlines and more information on how to register.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Studeren à la carte nor Contractonderwijs are possible for this course.
Contact
Remarks
Students with disabilities
The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol (especially pages 3-5). Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accommodations can be made in time conform the abovementioned protocol.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).