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IR4027: MIDDLE EAST POLITICS (2017-2018)

Last modified: 24 May 2018 15:30


Course Overview

The course examines the politics of the modern and contemporary Middle East. It looks at relevant theories, history and case studies of the region, providing an in-depth understanding of the political, economic and cultural facets of the region's politics by looking at its political systems, its regional and international relations, conflict, political economy, and the 'politics of identity' such as nationalism and Islamism. The course assumes no prior expertise in regional politics or history.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Andrea Teti

Qualification Prerequisites

  • Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either International Relations (IR) (Studied) or Politics (PI) (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course examines the politics of the modern and contemporary Middle East by looking at relevant theories, history and case studies. It provides students with an in-depth understanding of the political, economic and cultural facets of the region's politics by looking at its political systems, its regional and international relations, conflict, political economy, and the 'politics of identity' such as nationalism and Islamism. Assuming no prior expertise in regional politics or history, the course will cover a selection of the following elements: (i) approaches to Middle East politics: key concepts, theories and issues; (ii) the regional states system and global dimensions; (iii) foreign-policy making in the Middle East: a comparative framework; (iv) state-society relations: Kin, Class, Gender, Monarchy, Military Control, Ideology and Bureaucracy; (v) Key regional issues such as Islamism, Nationalism, Oil, Water, Wealth, Power, Migration, Conflict: through case studies (Arab-Israeli Conflict, Iran-Iraq war, Gulf Wars, Algerian Civil War, terrorism).

Further Information & Notes

Available only to students in Politics OR International Relations degrees.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: Two 2,500 word essays (30% each); presentation (20%) (a visual aides and printed notes of the presentation will be available for external examiner scrutiny); in-course test (20%).

Resit: 1 three-hour examination (100%) (3 essay-style questions in 3 hours).

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided to students in the following means:

  • essays; formal feedback, with the possibility of additional informal feedback
  • presentations; formal feedback, with the possibility of additional informal feedback
  • test; formal feedback, with the possibility of additional informal feedback
  • weekly consultation times; specific hours are reserved for students in which an 'open door policy' allows them flexible access to feedback on any aspect of the course, as well as discussion of pastoral issues as required

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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