The Middle East in Global Order (952M1)
The Middle East in Global Order
Module 952M1
Module details for 2021/22.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)
Module Outline
The Middle East is almost constantly in the news. From Israel and the West Bank to Saudi Arabia and Iran, the region is both a byword for political instability, and a recurring site of Western political and military interventions. This course explores some of the political, economic and ideological dynamics that lie behind the crisis-ridden headlines. It examines the emergence of the Middle East from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire and the specificities of the modern state-formation processes in the Middle East. It studies the interplay of the international and domestic factors in the Middle Eastern states and societies looking at their political economies and patterns of development. It critically investigates the problems of authoritarianism and democratic change in the Middle East. The course also engages in more in depth analysis of some important contemporary phenomena in the Middle East such as political Islam, The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iraq War, and the 'Arab Spring'.
We start by examining some key methodological and theoretical debates in the study of the Middle East. We then move on to consider the processes of modern state formation and the legacies of (neo)colonialism and imperialism. We then consider the impacts of neo-liberalism on Middle Eastern polities and economies, international (geo)political economy of the region with special reference to oil, and the theme of human development including gender issues in the Middle East. We then examine some key political forms and forces, including the authoritarian 'rentier' state, processes of democratisation and liberalisation, and political Islam. The final part of the course concentrates on three particularly important issues in contemporary Middle East: the causes and consequences of the Iranian Revolution and the 'Arab Spring', Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the Iraq War.
Module learning outcomes
Familiarity with the basic theoretical, conceptual, and normative issues involved in the study of the modern poltics and history of the Middle East.
Sensitivity to historical, political and cultural specificities of the Middle East and their interactive development within the wider context of international relations.
Articulating theoretically-informed, historically-grounded, and empirically-supported arguments on the main aspects of modern Middle Eastern politics and society.
Acquiring a sound knowledge of the historical and international dimensions of the contemporary social and (geo)political structures and processes in the Middle East.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (5000 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 2 Tue 16:00 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Workshop | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Mrs Daniella Kiernan
Assess convenor
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Mx Emilia Moscardini-Powers
Assess convenor
/profiles/214700
Dr Kamran Matin
Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/138207
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Assess convenor
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